From: Kim Toussaint (kimtoussaint_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Dec 19 2007 - 05:40:35 PST
"Approximately 12 months ago"
( Continued from Naomi's post )
_________________________________________________
Location: ANDALUSIA VII: HOLOROOM
Stardate: 2.61229.2306
Scene: Forest Clearing
NRPG: Written by Margie Benham
__________________________________________________
The two figures crept silently through the wood
together. Hoods covered their heads but each held a
long bow and each had a quiver full of arrows across
their backs. It was obvious that one was male and one
was female from the way they both carried themselves.
Pale watery sunlight glittered through the frost
covered trees, and their breath came in soft puffy
clouds. Every now and again a soft rustle of booted
feet on leaves broke the silence that filled the wood.
Suddenly the two hooded figures stopped and moved so
that they were hidden by trees, but could still watch
the clearing.
After a few minutes four tall armoured figures marched
into the clearing. They lifted their heads and the
lead figure sniffed the air. He made a few gruttral
noises and pointed to the far side of the clearing.
The two brown and green clad figures pressed
themselves closer to their concealing trees and slowed
their breathing down. Their ears straining to keep
tabs on the three other dark figures prowling the
edges of the clearing.
The male cloaked figure made a brief motion and his
partner nodded once and moved cautiously to the next
tree along.
The sound of horses hooves made the tall couple glance
at one another. They both turned their attention back
to the clearing.
A wooden cart appeared with a number of handcuffed men
in the back. It was surrounded by four soldiers on
horseback.
The male figure made another motion and the female
notched her bow. She quickly thrust a number of
arrows into the ground at her feet. Taking a deep
breath she pulled the bow string as tight as she
could. The feather of the arrow briefly grazed her
cheek, before she released her arrow.
In quick succession arrows thudded into the ground and
the wooden wheels of the cart. The horses reared and
disappeared with their riders clinging to their
saddles.
The two hooded figures stepped from the trees, their
bows drawn.
"Step away from the prisoners." The taller figure
growled.
The slimmer, slighter figure shot an arrow into the
ground between the feet of one of the creatures
prowling towards them. "Stay where you are." It
hissed, as another arrow appeared in its bow. "You
wont even get two steps."
The tall dark skinned creature paused and glanced at
its leader. Who nodded, it turned glowing red eyes to
the first of the two figures. "Weeee willl finddd
youuuuu..."
"I certainly hope so." The taller figure calmly
replied.
Without even a sign the four figures turned and loped
into the forest.
The smaller figure pushed her hood back and shook free
her long brown/red hair. "Smegau that was too easy."
Maddie grinned and stepped towards the cart. She
looked up at the prisoners and raised an eyebrow. "So
what exactly are you three doing in my programme?"
"Trying to join in." Peter calmly explained as he
jumped down from the cart and turned to help Kate
gracefully to the forest floor. "Except I didn't
check which part of the programme you were running and
got caught out."
The Vulcan hybrid smirked. "Good job Ty was keeping
track of the programme or we'd never have seen you
enter the deck." She jumped up onto the cart and cut
the ties on Cade's wristsThe tall greying man groaned.
"What's the matter with him?" She asked her acting
ExO.
"Hangover." Peter replied as he pulled an arrow out
of one of the wheels. "This is theraputic."
"Hence the cheer leader." Cade groaned.
Kate sniffed as she continued to look around
curiously, "Well it was this or you staying in the
brig." She drawled in her soft scottish lilt.
"Brig?" Maddie asked and looked at her Science
Officer, "Again?"
"Apparently so." Peter ran a hand through his dark
hair. "So what are we doing?"
"Apart from rescuing you?" Ty asked as he gripped
Peter's hand briefly in greeting. "Having some off
duty time together."
"I bet they were rescuing damsels in distress." Cade
moaned as he looked around. "Does it get any warmer
on this deck?"
"Not really it is winter." Maddie shrugged. "And we
don't do rescuing damsels, they deserve everything
that life throws at them." She winked. "We were just
out hunting." She lifted her head, "Though I think
we're going to be the hunted sooner then we'd
planned."
Peter smiled, "Computer pause programme." He waited
but the usual arch never appeared.
Ty looked puzzled, "That's not happened before."
"Well while you boys puzzle out what's going on, I'll
see if I can find something for us to eat."
-[/\]-
Scene: Daisy's Quarters
"What do you mean he's been missing for nearly four
hours?"
"Just that Daisy, he said he was going to go play with
Mads and Ty and that he'd only be an hour or so but
still hasn't returned."
"Well they can't have gotten into too much trouble."
The tall blonde woman muttered.
"Yeah right." Peter's husband rolled his eyes.
"Ok they do tend to lose track of time...."
"Track of time?" Matthew snorted this time, "Yeah if
he was an hour late but four?"
"Alright, alright." She waved her hands and tapped
her COMM Badge. "Daisy to Mad'hron?" She waited
patiently but got no response.
"Daisy to Peter." Again the only response she got was
silence.
Muttering under her breath Daisy waddled across to her
communications terminal. At that moment there was a
chime on the door. "Come." She shouted as she
dropped into the chair.
Aerdan appeared in the doorway, "Has anyone seen
Kate?"
"Not recently no." Daisy muttered.
"Just she was supposed to check on Rosie about half an
hour ago and didn't turn up."
"What is it with this crew." She slammed her hand on
the control panel, "I take it Maddie wasn't with her?"
"No Tre'r brought her down with the other children,
informed me that the Captain and T'halian had gotten
engrossed in their holoprogramme and had just lost
track of time."
Matthew raised an eyebrow, "Them too?"
"Apparently so." Daisy watched as the receptionist to
their hotel appeared, "I want to speak to the manager
of the holorooms." She informed the blue skinned
woman.
((At once Commander.))
A few seconds later a small ferengi appeared on the
screen. ((Can I help you?))
"I'm looking for two tall women and two men...."
Erek appeared in her doorway, "Make that three
apparently Cade didn't appear for his check up."
"Three males, all of which seem to have disappeared in
the last five hours." She leant closer to the screen,
"Now I know for a fact that at least two of them are
in one of your holorooms...."
{{Ah...}}
"Ah?" Daisy took a deep breath trying to keep her
temper under control. "What do you mean ah?"
{{There's a slight problem. Some of the rooms have
kind of gone slightly wrong.}}
"Slightly wrong?" Daisy groaned, "In what way have
they gone slightly wrong?"
{{In the way that we can't access them....}} He
finally admitted.
"Oh great just great." Daisy slumped back into the
chair. "Right we're on our way down and when we get
there those doors had better be opened."
--------------------------------
~*~*~*~
Location: ANDALUSIA VI
Stardate: 2.61228.2330
Scene: Workout facility
Time Index: All happens shortly before Margie's "This Started
OUt as Fun"
NRPG: Written by Jamie LeBlanc
~*~*~*~
The Andorian sucked in a deep breath, throwing a
towel over his shoulders as he finished his morning
exercise routine. Watching the holographic combatant
disappear on the floor after a good trouncing always
cheered his spirits, and he headed towards the showers
bright eyed and smiling. He paused, waiting for a
Bajoran technician to leave before thumbing down the
temperature inside one of the water chambers and
treating himself to a good old-fashioned cold-water
shower.
There were some days he believed that a good
shower could cure anything, and today was one of them.
After last night’s headaches it was all too welcome.
He watched his face in the mirror as he carefully
combed his snow-white hair upwards and arranged it
around his antennae until it looked suitably dashing.
Stretching, the doctor shrugged on his uniform and
started planning what he should have for breakfast.
On his way out of the gym he paused, twitching
his antennae slightly. He could hear approaching
footsteps before the voice reached him, and he turned
in a way that made the young human approaching him
wonder if he was somehow psychic. “Here are the
station reports Dr. Jos.” She gave him a small,
fresh-faced smile.
The Andorian nodded, gracefully accepting the
PADD. “Thank you Miss Baker.”
“You’re welcome, doctor.” With a nod of her head
she scurried off and Dr. Jos took up the PADD, idly
flicking through the headlines on his way to the
replimat café. One Andorian blackroot tea, and half a
plate of eggs with ice moss later he felt quite sure
that today would be a good day. He leaned back,
running down the list of the day-to-day business of
the station from the PADD when something in the little
read section of security records caught his eye.
Arjan Jos blinked and nearly spat his tea out all
over the screen of his PADD. He reread the line about
drunk and disorderly conduct and felt his cheeks burn
a deep blue tint. It took all of his self control to
swallow his tea and deposit his dishes into the
recycler in an orderly manner.
“I’m going to kill him…” he muttered.
~*~*~*~
Scene: Security offices
Peter stood, reading and rereading the reports of
the security officers that brought the two wayward
Starfleet doctors into the detention area, feeling the
frown furrow deeper into his expression. He had left
both of them to cool in the cell with the medkit and
breakfast.
The station security officer looked up at him,
calmly filing paperwork into its proper electronic
place. “It’s certainly not the first time.”
Peter snapped his eyes towards the older human
behind the desk. “…wha?”
The security officer waved a hand. He was a
slightly pudgy man with a calm smile and green eyes.
“Not the first time we’ve had Starfleet officers in
here after shore leave. Alcohol makes anyone a
different person.”
“It still not excusable” Peter murmured almost
inaudibly. The security guard didn’t quite hear and
decided with the expression on the Engineer’s face he
shouldn’t pry.
“It most certainly is not.”
The strange voice behind him made Commander
Aspinall jump slightly. Not only the fact that
someone heard him, but that they would butt into a
private thought unnerved and irritated the already
quite well irritated officer. He turned very slowly
to find a sour faced Andorian looking back at him.
“Excuse me… you are?” he started in a neutral tone.
He didn’t offer a hand and was fairly relieved when
the Andorian didn’t either.
“Dr. Arjan Jos, assistant director of this
medical facility.” His voice was clipped, dry.
The engineer shook his head a bit, not quite
understanding why an assistant director would be
coming to the security office when the name slowly
sunk in. “I… I’m commander Aspinall. I am taking
both doctor Foster and Doctor Jos back to our ship.”
He spoke in slow tones, as if trying to avoid a
familial confrontation.
Arjan waved a hand non-committally. “Commander,
please… I have no intention in interfering with you
and your ship’s business.” He paused, his voice
turning from mildly pleasant to dark. “I simply need
to… see with my own two eyes what I think has
transpired.”
Peter perked a brow. “Allright…” He had a
feeling in the pit of his stomach that this wasn’t
something he wanted to get into.
~*~*~*~
Scene: detention center
Aerdan Jos stood very, very still as the
hypospray started to kick in and his vision cleared.
“You’re a lightweight.” Cade grumbled, sipping
at his water.
“Light…weight? What’s that supposed to mean?”
the Andorian doctor quipped back, wagging his antennae
towards the grumpy human.
“I mean you don’t hold your liquor very well.”
Cade waggled his brows back, smirking.
“I thought that was a good thing.” Came the
muttered reply. Foster shook his head and made a
harrumphing sound, which prompted the neurosurgeon to
tip his head and perk a brow. “Let me rephrase, where
I come from that’s a good thing.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t get into the fight with the
Nausicaan…” there was a fractional pause and the elder
human gave a paint-melting grin.
The Andorian aCMO rolled his eyes and picked up
the dermal regenerator. “At least I can fix my
problems…” he murmured drily, placing the device on
his bruised cheek.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cade’s nostrils
flared slightly.
“Bruises heal, but your personality, that will
never go away.” Aerdan smiled fractionally back until
it hurt enough for him to wince and go back to
repairing the damage. The pain crossing his face
momentarily was just enough retribution for Cade to
let his anger settle into amusement.
“You missed a spot…” he taunted.
“I’m not done yet.” The Andorian muttered back.
“You’re going to look like a Dalmatian.” Aerdan
coulod hear the caustic wit dripping from Cade
Foster’s words.
“A what-a-tion?” the Andorian turned, confused.
The older man gave a short, barking laugh. “It’s
a dog, kid. A spotted one.”
Aerdan curled his antennae forward in dismay,
still working on the bruise. “I am not a dog…” he
growled. He received another short burst of laughter
in return as Foster lazily turned around, letting him
to his own devices for awhile. When the human turned
back around he found to his amusement that doctors
with a hangover were not, in fact, good at fixing
things, particularly on themselves.
“Now you look like you were hit by hundreds of
tiny Nausicaans…” his voice has a cackling quality to
it. Aerdan simply stared at him, turning away,
prompting Cade to stand up. “Here, let me fix it.”
He reached out only to be batted away.
“I will do it.” The aCMO hissed back.
Cade leaned against the bulkhead, watching for a
few seconds, before deciding that it was due time to
turn the tables on their previous conversation. “Are
you just plain stubborn or do you fear I’m going to
touch your head again?” He grinned slightly, a white
toothed expression as the Andorian snapped his head
back around.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked back in
a soft lisping tone.
Dr. Foster shrugged lightly. “Just that you have
some awfully odd quirks yourself Dr. Jos.”
“Perhaps its just things that reflect the past.”
Aerdan replied evasively.
Cade turned, staring directly at his former
assistant. “You know… I think you have trouble facing
your past, Dr. Jos.” He remarked shrewdly.
There was a long pause, and for a few seconds
Cade wondered if he was going to get punched again,
but as he watched the Andorian’s temper flare and then
cool he started to wish he would have been punched
instead.
“You know… I think you have trouble facing your
future, Dr. Foster.” The Andorian replied softly,
forcefully.
Both men stood there, at opposite sides of the
room, blinking at the suddenly raw wounds the words
opened up. They were still standing there, silent
when Peter walked back in.
“Foster, Jos…” The engineer waited for both men
to divert their attention towards him. “You’re coming
with me.” He paused, letting them stew with their own
thoughts. “The Captain wants to speak with you, Dr
Foster” he turned, addressing the human then the
Andorian in the cell, “And Dr. MacNeill is waiting for
you, Dr. Jos.” His voice was clipped, but inside Peter
felt a stream of relief that hopefully this would be
over and done with. He watched as the security guard
lowered the force field and both men stepped out.
As they walked Cade held his head high, feeling
good to get free of the cell and the questions of his
cellmate. Even a talking to from Mad’hron was
preferable to more psychoanalysis from the Andorian.
Aerdan kept his head down, and when he did make
the mistake to raise it, he caught the glower of his
brother’s face and withering glare, staring at him.
Arjan’s face clearly wore the expression of disbelief
and disappointment; as if he had been praying that he
misread the security reports and his brother wasn’t
actually detained. Aerdan felt his face burn a deep
violet color, and his antennae wilted under his shaggy
white hair. It was only when they were far past the
promenade area that he started to consider that what
Cade said might be right.
_____________________________________________
Location: ANDALUSIA VII: HOLOROOM
Scene: Forest Clearing
NRPG: Continuing from Margie's post
Stardate: 2.61231.0207
NRPG: Written by Kim Toussaint
___________________________________________
Peter smiled, "Computer pause programme." He waited
but the usual arch never appeared.
Ty looked puzzled, "That's not happened before."
"Well while you boys puzzle out what's going on, I'll
see if I can find something for us to eat."
Peter yelled over his shoulder to Maddie,
"You should see Matthew back at the Inn. He came
along - but stayed behind. "
Confident her engineer what was, of course, a minor
glitch of some variety, the Captain simply gave him
a wave and a smile before heading off in the direction
of the midevil village that offered a lovely little pub
with authentic cuisine and ale.
_______________________________________
Scene: Holoroom facility
_________________________________________
"Alright, alright." She waved her hands and tapped
her COMM Badge. "Daisy to Mad'hron?" She waited
patiently but got no response.
"Daisy to Peter." Again the only response she got was
silence.
Muttering under her breath Daisy waddled across to her
communications terminal. At that moment there was a
chime on the door. "Come." She shouted as she
dropped into the chair.
Aerdan appeared in the doorway, "Has anyone seen
Kate?"
"Not recently no." Daisy muttered.
"Just she was supposed to check on Rosie about half an
hour ago and didn't turn up."
"What is it with this crew." She slammed her hand on
the control panel, "I take it Maddie wasn't with her?"
"No Tre'r brought her down with the other children,
informed me that the Captain and T'halian had gotten
engrossed in their holoprogramme and had just lost
track of time."
Matthew raised an eyebrow, "Them too?"
"Apparently so." Daisy watched as the receptionist to
their hotel appeared, "I want to speak to the manager
of the holorooms." She informed the blue skinned
woman.
((At once Commander.))
A few seconds later a small ferengi appeared on the
screen. ((Can I help you?))
"I'm looking for two tall women and two men...."
Erek appeared in her doorway, "Make that three
apparently Cade didn't appear for his check up."
"Three males, all of which seem to have disappeared in
the last five hours." She leant closer to the screen,
"Now I know for a fact that at least two of them are
in one of your holorooms...."
{{Ah...}}
"Ah?" Daisy took a deep breath trying to keep her
temper under control. "What do you mean ah?"
{{There's a slight problem. Some of the rooms have
kind of gone slightly wrong.}}
"Slightly wrong?" Daisy groaned, "In what way have
they gone slightly wrong?"
{{In the way that we can't access them....}} He
finally admitted.
"Oh great just great." Daisy slumped back into the
chair. "Right we're on our way down and when we get
there those doors had better be opened."
Matthew helped the pregnant woman to her feet,
unaware he'd never left the holoroom. His palms
were sweatting and he sighed as they walked.
"I left them. I waited at the pub. I had some food
and then I left them a note and I just came home..."
The holographic pregnant woman squeezed his
arm and smiled. "You couldn't have known
something was going to go wrong with the
program, honey..."
The Security officer smiled weakly. "I know.
But, if he gets hurt and we can't get to him..."
"Shhhhhh...." the blonde smiled at him. "It's
gonna be ok."
_____________________________________
Location: Holoroom
Scene: Pub
______________________________________
Their horses at a stable across the dirt street,
Ty and Maddie sat with Peter and Kate. Cade
watched from a seperate table, still annoyed
to have been dragged along. He was on his
third glass of ale and atleast his 15th time of
rolling his eyes over Peter's worried sighs.
"His note said he was going home, Peter."
Maddie reminded the brit once again, padding
his hand consolingly. Kate's eyes wandered
in Cade's direction. Even though was relieved
to know that Foster would be working in the
Science department after their R&R was
concluded, she couldn't help worrying about
him when he looked as he did today, pale and
distant.
_________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: Office of the Prime magistrate
__________________________________________
"This corruption appears to be all over the city."
He sighed. " There are atleast 750 people trapped in
Holosuites. It's not just in the medical facility...."
"That many people..." Aerdan muttered softly.
"From what your engineers have told me, magistrate..."
the purple-skinned assistant Engineer began, "This
is a logic bomb?"
"One of many." the magistrate nodded. "It was
like a chain reaction all over the city."
"I've been discussing various techniques for
subroutine reprogramming...." Iweridd began softly.
"What's very tricky is having no idea what's going
on inside the holographic chambers. I know the
safeties have been disabled and if we trip the wrong
subroutine...."
"They could lose air, or be drowned or killed any
number of ways...." Daisy finished the sentence
for her. The pregnant woman closed her eyes and
exhaled deeply. Aerdan stepped closer and put his
hand on her shoulder.
________________________________________
Location: Andalusian Holoroom
Scene: Corridor outside Andalusian Holoroom
_________________________________________
Peter and Matthew flew into each other's arms.
"I was so worried...." Peter's husband sighed.
Unaware that neither of them had left the holoroom,
Peter hugged his husband tightly and sighed with
relief.
Maddie found herself hugging a hologram that
looked exactly like her XO.
"Dammit, woman...." Daisy complained in
typical "vulgar american fashion". I"m supposed
to be taking it easy, a woman in my condition.
But, every time I turn around - I gotta save your
pointy-eared ass. This is getting old."
Maddie laughed weakly, knowing Daisy was
teasing. "You've been spending too much time
with my science officer."
"I have it on good authority she was a bitch
long before she met me." Cade smirked.
Peter wanted to run to Daisy and scoop her
up in a hug, then put his hands on her stomach
and feel the presence of his children. Then,
he saw her and Cade embrace.
From the other side of the room, she looked
and sounded exactly like the Daisy he knew so
well. He left her and Cade alone with Maddie
and smiled at his husband.
"Let's go see Jackie."
Maddie was tired and dismissed the
"flatness" of Daisy's presence as just the
manifestation of her own fatigue.
__________________________________________
Scene: Foster's hotel room
___________________________________________
The pregnant woman walked quietly with him, right
to his door.
"Isn't the rugrat waiting for you?" he grinned weakly.
Daisy wrapped her arm around his and sighed.
"I was worried about you, Cade. Don't send me
away just yet..."
He rolled his eyes and sighed. "I didn't mean to
do that...I was just..."
Before he could finish the sentence, Daisy slid
her arms around his neck and hugged him
tightly. He inhaled sharply, surprised. Then, his
arms slid around the small of her back and he
pulled her close.
Her stomach pressed against him, he felt
a light jolt of the 'babies' kicking.
Daisy sensed his surprised and and pulled
back with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, I know. I'm hideous..."
He chuckled softly. "No, that wasn't....."
She blinked. "What?"
He cleared his throat and then pressed
the button to open his hotel room. She
was still looking at him questioningly right
until he grabbed her arm and pulled her
inside with him.
_____________________________________
Scene: Aspinall Hotel suite
______________________________________
Matthew stood there with a smile as what
looked like his daughter came running
towards them.
Everything about her seemed perfect to her
new Daddy. She smelled like Jackie, she
had Jackie's smile down to every dimple.
Peter felt the difference, though - when
he scooped her up in his arms. The years
he'd spent loving his daughter.....even with
his mild level of telepathy....he could "Feel"
that she wasn't real.
Matthew stared questioningly as he saw
the troubled look on Peter's face. Then, he
asked, "What is it?"
_____________________________________
Scene: Zanders hotel suite
_____________________________________
Maddie and Ty sat quietly on the couch in
their livingroom area, contemplating
what they'd sensed about their own children, too.
Frustrated, she jumped to her feet and began
tapping her comm badge again....
"Zanders to Davidson...."
______________________________________
Scene: Foster's hotel suite
______________________________________
The only comm badge that beeped in responce
to Maddie's inquiry was the one of the holographic
Daisy.
It beeped quietly, underneath a crumpled uniform
shirt on the floor. Next to that shirt was a pair
of pants....then, another.
Not a telepath, Foster had no clue the pregnant
woman he was so gently taking to bed wasn't
real. He let his guard down and was actually -
for the first time in a long time - happy.
__________________________________________
Scene: Kate's Hotel suite
__________________________________________
She'd done it. She'd taken the plunge and
introduced Aerdan to her parents. The scare
that she'd "thought" was over and left her nolonger
wanting to wait. She wanted her family to know
Aerdan and Ishe. She found the courage to
introduce them.
Malcolm and Elizabeth gave each other an awkward
look and then cleared their throats and stammered
slightly. Yet, they'd been scared as well - when
their daughter had been trapped on the holodeck.
So, they were inclined to be particularly supportive
and understanding.
Kate glowed for a while, thinking she'd overcome
this huge hurdle. Aerdan and Ishe were
charming Malcolm and Elizabeth.
It took her by surprise when her comm badge beeped.
[[{{ "Kate, it's Peter - we need to meet with you." }}]]
___________________________________________
Scene: Foster's hotel suite -> Bedroom
____________________________________________
Cade smiled as he watched Daisy sleeping. He
traced his fingers across her collar bone and just
sighed when she opened her eyes.
The pregnant woman smirked. "Don't even try it.
I'm exhausted." She rolled over on her left side
and he kissed the bare skin of her back while
rubbing his fingertip across her hip.
"Sleep." he spoke softly.
Then, he heard the faint beeping of his comm badge
from beneath his shirt on the floor....
_______________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: Prime Magistrate Office
___________________________________________
"Commander, you should sit down..."
She smiled weakly at him and squeezed his arm
lightly. "You're so sweet...."
The Magistrate himself got up from behind his desk
and said, "Commander, please....I insist. We've got
enough to worry about..."
"I assure you, magistrate....there won't be any more
punchbowls getting spilled because of me." Daisy
smiled politely. Though she protested their fussing,
she obliged when Aerdan when he lightly pulled her
arm towards the Magistrate's chair.
Her back resting comfortably against the fancy,
high-backed chair - Daisy lightly rested her hands
against the smooth surface of the desk and watched
as Iweridd began speaking more about holographic
circuitry patterns spontaneously appearing to
reprogram themselves and 'feed' on other areas of
the cities computer systems.
"Security records...historical databases....it's
spreading so quickly...." the purple-skinned woman
shook her head. "This was done by professionals."
"We have no enemies here." protested the magistrate.
"Our planet remains politically neutral...."
The Comm system beeped. Everyone turned to the
main viewer as a message came through.
If it hadn't been for Aerdan and the Magistrate
insisting she sit down, the shock of seeing who the
message was from would certainly have.
The face was Bolian.
It was Rixx.
He appeared to be hailing from the bridge of a ship.
By his side was a large Canine of Dagosin origin.
He smiled a sickeningly sweet smile and asked
coyly.
[[ {{ "Is everyone having a good time on ANDALUSIA
today? ]] }}
The mastermind of a criminal network that stretched
to multiple star systems looked smugly around the
lushly decorated magistrate's office and waited for
a reply.
[[ {{ "No one has anything to say? What happened
to the Andalusian Hospitality I thought I knew so
well?" }} ]]
Daisy's eyes widened in horror as the realization
sank in.
She had him. Just weeks ago, she had him and
she let him go for Maddie's sake, for the sake of
her family. And, today....not only were the lives
of her crew in danger once again....but hundreds
of others.
The pregnant woman stood up slowly.
"Rixx...."
The Magistrate looked to her and then back at
the screen and to her again. Then, he introduced
himself,
"I'm Prime Magistrate Esouh. How is it that you
were put directly through to my office, sir?"
[[{{ " Ydduc and I are old friends...." }}]]
Rixx smiled sweetly.
The pregnant woman leaned forward, resting her
hands on the desk infront of her and sighed.
"Nice dog."
[[{{ "I prefer to think of him as a wolf. }}]]
The animal sniffed Rixx's hand and the Bolian
smirked.
[[{{ "I read a story about a wolf once....what was
it the writer said.....oh, now I remember..}}]]
He grinned wickedly.
Aerdan felt a sickening knot in his stomach and his
thoughts were of Kate as the Bolian continued....
[[{{ "The wolf has come down from the
north and your fat little town is safe nolonger...}}]]
___________________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: Prime Magistrate's office
Stardate: 2.70108.1105
NRPG: Written by Me
________________________________________
Drake entered the Magistrates office and greeted
the statesman before turning to Daisy.
"Aerdan is back from the holosuite, now could I
have a word outside please?"
Daisy looked at him without responding, until
after a few moments she began to get up.
Drake, the gentleman he was offered her his hand
for help, which she took gratefully.
However as soon as they were outside alone he
wasn't quite so gentlemanly.
"What exactly DO you think your doing?"
She bit her lip for a second and then exhaled
sharply as one of the babies gave her kidney
a firm kick. Her back aching, she leaned against
the wall and sighed,
"Drake, don't start...."
He raised his eyes and laughed weakly.
"You're telling ME don't start?! You're
supposed to be resting..."
Daisy sighed and gave him a pleading look.
"I have to be here. I have to fix this. It's
my fault..."
His expression softened and he put his hand
on her shoulder.
"I had him, Drake. " Daisy gulped. " I had him
and I let him go. He's here and all these
people are in danger because of me...."
The exhausted pregnant woman looked up at him
with big, haunted eyes. He sighed, unable
to stay angry.
"Letting him go saved Maddie's life."
"And now look what's happening." her voice
choked with emotion. "Maddie's children may
end up losing their mother anyway...and Peter
and Matthew? All these innocent people....and
Cade?"
She inhaled sharply, leaning against the wall
once again because of the ache in her lower
back.
"Cade had to work so hard to get healthy...
now he's trapped...."
"I know." Drake sighed. His hand made
a slight massaging motion against the muscle
of her neck and shoulder where he could feel
her tension.
She smiled weakly. Then, she squared her
shoulders defiantly and stuck out her chin.
"I can fix this. Don't make me leave."
Pressing his lips together tightly, he rolled
his eyes and groaned with frustration. He could
sympathize with her feelings of responsibility.
He shared her heartbreak and worry over the
rest of the crew and the innocent people trapped
in the sabotaged holosuites. He could
also see the circles under her eyes ane the
obvious indications of her fatigue and that made
him take a grim stance. He shook his head and
sighed.
"You are in your last trimester..."
She laughed softly. "I'm rather aware of that."
"And, I'm well aware of your preeclampsia..."
he began to chide her. "I don't want to see
premature labor on top of everything else..."
"I'm fine." Daisy groaned. Her eyes welled up
and she pleaded. "This is my fault. I have
to fix this..."
Drake surprised her by pulling her into a hug.
He guided her head towards his shoulder and let
out a sigh as he felt her relax against him.
Her large pregnant belly wobbled slightly from
the force of an active baby's kick as they
embraced.
He pulled back and put his hand on her stomach.
She was a little short of breath and he steadied
her.
"You're not fine. You are very, very pregnant
and not fit for duty...."
"Dammit..." she choked. Crying, she rubbed
her nose and glared at him, not wanting to hear
the obvious truth he was stating.
Patiently, Drake gave her a quick peck of a
kiss on her forehead. Her bottom lip quivered
and she sighed before trying again to convince him.
"I'm fine. Really. "
"You're leaving." he replied flatly.
She stomped her foot and sulked. "No."
He tapped his comm badge.
"Drake to Sahriv."
[[ "now?" ]]
Daisy recognized Sahriv's and leaned away from
Drake, scoffing.
"You wouldn't."
He gave her a sympathetic but determined look
and replied to the ship.
"Now"
The faint sound of Daisy cursing at him blended
with the hum of the transporter beam as
Sahriv beamed Daisy away from the Magistrate's
office.
____________________________________________
Location: SAHRIV
Scene: Transporter area
____________________________________________
The pregnant woman materialized and immediately
began yelling at the sentient ship.
"Sahriv, you beam me back right now."
[[ "Negative, Commander Davidson" ]]
Daisy stomped her foot and furiously brushed
away what was left of her tears.
"I have work to do."
[[ "I've been informed that you are nolonger
on active duty." ]]
"Beam me back right now."
[[ "No." ]] Sahriv replied flatly.
Daisy wobbled over and kicked the wall firmly.
Sahriv's voice came over the comm system,
actually laughing at her. [[ "Do you
actually believe that caused me pain?" ]]
Daisy sulked, limping slightly
from a bruised toe and muttered
"Made me feel better."
[[ "Injuring your toe made you feel better?
You really are a bizarre individual." ]]
"Oh, shut up."
Offended, Sahriv made a very human
"snorting" sound and replied,
[[ "Very well, I'll nolonger speak to you." ]]
Daisy rolled her eyes and groaned.
"Whatever."
The doors opened and Xandy was standing there
with Wangel Erek. Daisy froze when she
saw Maddie's daughter.
The young girl's eyes were lit up as if
she'd hoped that Maddie had returned with
Daisy. The very pregnant woman saw Xandy's
young face fall with disappointment and worry.
Politely, Xandy asked,
"Is there any word on my Mom and Dad? Are
they ok?"
Daisy sighed awkwardly. Then, she replied.
"There have been some successful rescues
from the sabotaged holosuites....but not
our crew yet...."
Xandy lowered her eyes sadly. Then, she
nodded and said a weak, polite, "Thank you."
Daisy fought to choke back tears as Xandy
walked away. Wangel Erek came towards her,
understanding how much it broke her heart
to see Xandy's disappointment.
Daisy hugged her ex-boyfriend and long-time
friend and sighed.
"Oh, Erek...I'm so tired."
The pitter-patter of Erika's little feet
were clearly heard from all the way up the
corridor as the child came running frantically
to the transporter room.
Daisy's face brightened when her daughter
launched herself from across the room. The
half-Bajoran six year old immediately began
waving her new badge and babbling about
how Xandy made her an XO.
The blonde leaned on Erek for support so she
could lower herself to her knees. Once she
was at eye level with her daughter, she smiled,
"I want to hear all about it, baby. Happy
Birthday..."
______________________________________________
Location: ANDULUSIA VII
Stardate: 2.70110.2258
Scene: Holosuite Area
NRPG: Written by Margie
________________________
Ronnie, B'rak and Para made a very odd trio but the
three Engineers had gotten used to stares they
received back on the GATEWAY so the looks they were
been given here didn't phase them.
Ron looked around and spotted Iweridd, the purple
Engineer stood out almost as much as B'rak and Para.
"Where do you want us Iweridd?" the Vulcan hybrid
called to the other woman.
"Entirely up to you Ronnie." Iweridd smiled a warm
welcome and clasped the other Engineer's hand. "I
don't know how you got here but I'm so grateful."
"Where's Peter?" The taller woman asked.
"He's inside." Iweridd explained the absence of her
boss. "Drake'll be down shortly, he was trying to get
someone called Rixx out of our hair."
"Good luck on that one." Ronnie quickly twisted her
hair and tucked it up onto the back of her head, she
clipped it into place with her IDIC, "Right where are
the rest of the holocrews?"
"Trying to get the mainframe back online." Iweridd
shrugged, "As far as I'm concerned the farther away
from me the better."
"So where do you want us then?" Ronnie smiled at the
purple skinned Kry'Krinxian.
"How about you take these four, B'rak you take those
opposite and Para you work opposite me." She softly
suggested.
Ronnie nodded and her two Assistants grabbed toolkits
and made their way towards their assigned doors. She
clasped Iweridd around the wrist, "Just a brief word
of advice, you're the boss act like it." She winked
to take the sting out of her words.
B'rak stood in front of his first door and prized his
long talons between the plating across the controls
for the first holodeck and with a slight pop wrenched
it free.
"That's one way of doing it." A small Okampi had
appeared at his side, "I'm to assist you sir."
B'rak nodded and refrained from smiling, as the petite
female looked as if the sight of his fangs would send
her screaming down the corrider, as it was she was
keeping a careful distance from the Akh'Mrpkian.
"I am grateful." He rumbled, his green eyes giving
the circuitry he had exposed a quick glance, "These
seem to be almost intact. However, let's take a
closer look."
Para glanced once at his best friend and resisted the
urge to laugh at the sight of the dark skinned male
and the tiny yellow skinned female. He took a more
conservative route and used a more traditional method
to remove his panelling. Though he too found that the
circuits looked intact.
Ronnie pulled a small screwdriver from her belt and
set about carefully inspecting the wiring she too had
exposed. Suddenly she heard the skittering of tiny
feet and glanced down and slightly further down.
"Qvar." She greeted the tiny form.
Qvar leapt onto the slender woman's shoulder and
nudged her muzzle into Ronnie's cheek, the close
contact enabled the Katadalik to *speak* with the
hybrid. **You are looking for Maddie?**
"We are trying to." Ronnie admitted, she could accept
the small creature's thoughts but refused to project
her's back chosing to speak out loud. "Though our
priority is to release anyone we find, and quickly."
**May I help?** Qvar asked, worry etching her mental
voice.
"Will you do exactly what I say?" Ronnie asked the
small alien.
**Yes.**
"Very well, for now sit here and watch, if you see
anything spark shout."
**I will observe.** Qvar quietly agreed, **I will
learn quickly.**
Ronnie absent mindedly stroked the small reptilian
form to offer some comfort, but her mind was already
puzzling on what these logic bombs had done.
-[/\]-
Scene: Inside Holosuite
Mad'hron felt exposed even though there were many
holographic people around she treaded what would
happen if the mis-shappen cyborg would do if it
located them here.
Matthew seemed to read her mind, "We need to get
somewhere secure, we're attracting a lot of attention
Captain."
Peter nodded his assent. "We're too out in the open."
"Fine." She motioned for everyone to follow after
Cade, though she was concerned for everyone, she
dropped back to walk with Kate. "How are you
feeling?"
"I'll manage." Kate whispered. The Scottish woman
trying to remain composed.
"She was a hologram Kate."
"I know, but that doesn't make what happened to her
any less horrible." Kate looked at the dark haired
woman walking next to her. "I'm a Doctor and to
simply watch someone die."
Maddie looked grim, "Someone has done this to
ANDULUSIA, Kate, and I promise you that I'll have
their heads."
Kate sighed, "Trust Cade to chose a bar."
"At least it's a little bar. Cade take a table near a
wall." Maddie snapped after the tall Dr. "Kate I
need you to keep your eyes on him."
"I'll do my best...."
"We'd better keep him safe, Daisy would kill us if
anything happened to him." Maddie muttered under her
breath.
The Officers all slid into chairs, Peter and Ty trying
to dicipher the tricorder readings. Maddie glancing
around her small group and trying to assess how they
were all holding up.
Kate had taken the seat next to the Vulcan hybrid, "I
am worried though..."
"Yes I can tell." Maddie glanced at the other woman
and then turned her attention back to the main door.
"What exactly about, I mean apart from whether we
survive or not?"
Kate blinked at the sarcasm in the older woman's
voice. "Sorry...." The Scottish woman lapsed into
silence.
**Mad'hron....** Ty snapped at his partner who
suddenly realised what she'd done. **Be gentle
cariad, she's not used to his...** He softened his
tone.
**My thanks.** Maddie made a quick motion with her
head and Matthew moved to the window by the door, to
keep watch. "I'm sorry Kate that was unnecessary and
uncalled for."
"There's no need to apologise." Kate murmured.
"Yes there is. I'm used to this, I helped create most
of this mess, well at least here anyways." She made a
motion with her hand to indicate the local area. "But
you didn't ask for this. What's your concern?"
"Are we sure that we are the only life signs in this
room, could the transporters have been linked into the
programmes...."
Peter swore under his breath and raced to the nearest
replicator, for once the systems seemed to be working
and a small tool kit appeared. The PROPHECY's CEO
then knelt on the floor and started to scan it. He
then started trying to burn a hole in the flooring.
Maddie and Kate glanced at one another and then at the
erratic behaviour of their friend. "What?" Maddie
felt compelled to ask.
"The programme is degrading right?"
"You said it was...." The CO pointed out.
"But Kate has a point, what other systems have been
dragged into this. We know that whatever is
controlling the holodeck systems has complete access
to our computer records...."
"Again, you've already said that."
"I know." Peter looked up horror etched on his face,
"Suppose they figure out where we hid the children.
Well we guess Daisy will have hidden them there." He
turned his attention back to his frantic attempts at
getting into the computer systems, "We need to warn
them...."
"Ty?" Maddie span to face her partner.
"I don't know if SAHRIV would *hear* me from here, it
depends on how much interference there is in the
atmostphere." Ty knelt next to Peter, "What do you
need me to do?"
"Here hold this." Peter had finally gotten through
the flooring and into the circuitry underneath.
-[/\]-
Scene: Holosuite facility Corrider
Ronnie's shoulders slumped, "This is ridiculous." She
sighed, "You repair one system and then another falls
apart." She pulled the IDIC from her hair, "Iweridd
where's Drake?"
"Up in the Prime Magistrate's study I believe."
Iweridd saw the grim determination on Ronnie's face,
it was the mirror image of the one she'd seen on
Maddie's when she'd decided she had only one cause of
action left open to her.
"I'll come with you, B'rak you're in charge." She
quickly gave command to the GATEWAY's assistant CEO
and matched step for step with Ronnie.
The two Engineers stepped into the turbolift. Ronnie
tapped her COMM Badge, "Drake can you meet us in
Sickbay and bring Lara with you?"
[[I was getting bored with my conversation anyway.]]
Drake sounded pleased at having something else to do.
[[I'll recover our other Doctor if it's important.]]
"It's important." Ronnie cut the communication.
Iweridd glanced at the taller woman, "Are you going to
tell me what you plan on doing?"
"I do but not here." Ronnie hurried to reassure the
other woman, "At the moment, I do not trust the
security around here."
"In that case." Iweridd lifted her hand this time,
"Drake meet us at the designated secure location."
[[Will do.]]
-[/\]-
Location: FERENDHIR
Scene: Science Lab
Daisy was seated in a chair at the head of the table,
she still looked drawn but not quite as white or tired
as earlier. Drake was sat at her left hand and Aerdan
on her right.
Lara was sitting next to Drake, her small hand clasped
securely in his. The ILO was doing his best to
reassure his partner and she was grateful for the
strength that she gathered from that simple action.
Ronnie and Iweridd walked into the room and Ronnie
very carefully placed a box in the centre of the
table. Iweridd leant forward and snapped a forcefield
into place around it.
Aerdan came into the room, looking dishevelled. The
blue skinned Doctor came to a shocked standstill at
the tall Vulcan hybrid slouched in a chair. "Maddie?"
He whispered disbelief colouring his voice.
Ronnie turned to face the young Andoran and shook her
head. Her Borg occular implant flashing in the light.
"I'm afraid not." She spoke softly and then
straightened in her chair.
Daisy motioned for Aerdan to join them. "Ronnie
wanted to speak with us."
Ronnie rose to her feet and started to pace, "As fast
as we *fix* one area of the holomatrix and the
holosuite's programming another fails."
"Like a cascade?" Drake asked.
"Exactly." Iweridd nodded, "Unfortunately the
programmes are degradding at a faster and faster rate.
To put it bluntly we can barely keep pace with the
changes."
"Which leads us to Ronnie?" Daisy asked.
Ronnie had stopped her pacing and was staring at the
box she'd brought into the room. After a few minutes
of silence she took a deep shuddering breath. "I
believe that Borg nanites, reprogrammed, might have a
chance of keeping pace with whatever is occuring in
the systems."
"You only believe?" Lara asked quietly, her hand
squeezing Drake's as the Ktarian Doctor could see the
pain etched into Ronnie's face.
"Yes."
Aerdan glanced around the table, "It might possibly
work, but we have no Borg nanites." He pointed out.
"Yes we do." Ronnie spoke so quietly that even
Iweridd sitting nearest to her had to strain to hear
her taller friend. "I had my nanites removed and
stored when I came over to this dimension." She
swallowed, "My body produces them every six months.
Fortunately they are inactive but it does not take
very much to reactivate them."
Drake leant forward, "You intend on using these
nanites."
"I am offering them to you. I believe that they can
be adapted to enable them to assist in the opening of
the holosuites and also in controlling the damage that
the logic bombs are doing. They may also be able to
find out which of the holosuites were in actual use at
the time of the explosions."
Daisy was staring at the mirror image of her Captain.
At the moment it was almost like looking at her friend
and then Ronnie moved her face and her occular implant
came back into view. The ExO leant back in her chair,
"We cannot ask this of you." She spoke firmly.
"You aren't asking me." Ronnie looked at Daisy, "As I
said I'm offering."
Lara dropped Drake's hand and walked slowly around the
table to stand before the taller hybrid. "I will
help." She spoke softly but there was a determined
glint in her eye, "And I will not fail you."
Daisy rose to her feet and leant her weight on the
edge of the table, "Ronnie I forbid this."
"We need Maddie." Ronnie Zanders looked across the
table, a resigned look on her face, "In fact if we do
not take this option we could lose every single person
on those holodecks. Are you prepared to accept those
loses?"
Daisy looked devasted and slumped into the chair. "I
do not know how you can all be so calm about this."
Drake moved to Daisy's side and laid a large hand on
her shoulder, "Mainly because we're not all awash with
hormones Daisy. And because even you know that Ronnie
is right."
Aerdan had been frantically doing some computations on
a small medical tricorder. Finally he flung the
instrument on the table, his antenna dipping towards
his white hair. "I believe that with some help we can
reprogramme the nanites but we still need something to
adminster them."
"That has also been decided." Ronnie stood up
straighter, determination radiating from her. "I will
do that, they are my nanites and I am already
adapted."
Lara had resumed her seat and Drake was now standing
next to her. "That sounded so cold."
Drake though was looking at the alternate Mad'hron
Zanders and finally nodded. "We can use FERENDHIR,
her medical and science labs are more then adequate
for these *transplants.*"
Aerdan took a deep breath, he was wrestling with his
conscious over this. "It feels like we will be
infecting you again, Ronnie."
"As I said it's already been decided." Ronnie
swallowed, "I do not wish to become Borg again but I
will accept those risks."
Aerdan shook his head, and his antenna lifted
slightly, "I will do everything to ensure that that
does not happen."
Daisy sighed, "We are decided then." She watched as
everyone slowly nodded ascent. "Very well Aerdan, you
are in charge of the replantation." The blonde ExO
closed her eyes, "Lara would you be willing to assist
him?"
"Of course." Lara nodded immediately.
"Drake, Iweridd it is up to you to adopt the nanites
so that they do not go haywire and decide to
assimilate the entire planet." Finally she looked at
Ronnie, "You should get some rest."
"No I'll get back to work. Iweridd can send for me
when they are ready. She already has the codes for
the locks." Ronnie looked around the table, "I ask
only 2 things. One, do not let B'rak near me after the
transplantation. Two if things go wrong, you have my
permission to use whatever force necessary to stop
me." With that the tall Vulcan hybrid turned on her
heel and left the room.
Lara sniffed and rising to her feet turned around.
Drake opened his arms and pulled his partner against
his body, offering her his strength and the safety of
his body. "You and Aerdan will do it, Magpie.
Everything will be fine." He hurried to reassure her.
Lara nodded slightly and then wiped at her eyes, "I
have work to do."
Drake nodded, "So do I." He lifted Lara's chin so
that he could look into her eyes. Gently he bent his
own head and kissed her softly, allowing all his own
emotions to pass between them.
Lara held him close for a few more moments, "You're
going to try and distract Rixx?"
"Yes. I think I'll ask Lynette if she fancies a fly
by." He smiled, "We could also do with seeing if
it's just the capital that's been affected."
"Be careful Petacov." She pleaded, "Hex and I need
you relatively in one piece."
"I'll do my best." With that the tall ILO went in
search of Lynette.
______________________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: Medical facility
NRPG: January 11, 2007 - I forgot the Stardate when I posted,
sue me. :P Written by me
_______________________________________________________
Two Klingon security officers were rather dismayed by
the sheer size alien infront of them.
Standing eight feet tall, B'rak had a good six
inches of height over both of them. Usually, the
sheer size and known strength of a Klingon was
enough to intimidate and contain any resistance. The
senior officer gave his partner a look of warning,
urging caution, as he stepped closer to the dark-skinned
alien.
"Sir, we have to ask that you leave."
"I'm not going anywhere without Lt. Zanders." the
Akh'Mrpk replied calmly. His green eyes narrowed and
he sniffed the air as if searching for her scent.
"Why is she being detained here?"
"We are not at liberty to discuss that with you. We
were only informed that it was by her request you
specifically be kept away from the medical facility
while her work was in progress."
That made B'Rak's blood run cold. His first thought
was that Ronnie was doing something dangerous - putting
herself at a level of risk she knew he would find
unacceptable.
He grabbed the larger of the two Klingons by the
throat and pushed him against the wall.
"Tell me where she is."
The klingon bared his fangs and exhaled sharply. His
partner tapped his comm badge, signalling for help,
and drew his weapon.
Set on stun, they had to shoot B'Rak three times before
the massive alien fell to the ground.
_________________________________________________________
Location: Rixx's ship
Scene: in orbit
_________________________________________________________
"Begin another scan...." the blue-skinned man ordered
his tactical officer. "I know their ship has to be around
here somewhere."
"There are several ships, sir. I don't see any sign of
the USS PROPHECY, though." sighed the young Bajoran.
"I'm picking up something from the comm network, sir."
spoke another crewmember.
"Are they hailing us?" Rixx hased her.
The same young female ferengi who defended Rixx back on
Dagosin 5 gave her boss a confused look.
"No, my lord....apparently, the prime magistrate has
ordered an evacuation of the entire city."
The bolian blinked, confused.
"They're going to evacuate the entire capital city because
we've sabotaged a holosuite network? That doesn't make
any sense."
_________________________________________________________________
Location: FERENDHIR DHINEN
Scene: Science Lab
NRPG: continuing from Margie's post
_________________________________________________________________
Drake turned back to Daisy and suggested, "You
should go back to SAHRIV and stay with the children."
The pregnant woman shook her head. "I'm sending
SAHRIV away. The potential risks of this plan....I don't
want the children anywhere near this system if anything
goes wrong and we lose containment...."
Drake narrowed his eyes and chided her. "But, you'll stay
here, atleast?"
Daisy rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yes, I will stay
off the planet. Go. I'm going to send orders to SAHRIV
and then get a message to the Delta quadrant."
The El-Aurian blinked. "The Delta Quadrant?"
Daisy gave him a wink and smiled. "I want back-up here
ASAP and I have a few connections there from my days on
the SUTTNER."
____________________________________________________________________
Location: SAHRIV
Scene: Passenger area
_____________________________________________________________________
Xandy nearly dropped Rosie when she realized they were moving.
Inertial dampeners were stable. She felt no shift of gravity. The
view of Andalusia 7 through the window simply changed.
The door wooshed open and her grandmother stood there, a particularly
grim look on the elder Vulcan woman's face.
"We're not leaving without Mom!" Xandy shook her head.
Tomas perked up and looked nervously towards T'Rer.
"Grandmother?"
Erika and Jackie glanced back and forth between the members of
the Zanders family and the half-Bajoran child spoke first.
"What's going on?"
_____________________________________________________________________
Location: Sahriv
Scene: Bridge area
_____________________________________________________________________
"Are you sure you'll be ok?" Wangel Erek asked, his eyes occasionally
lowering to Daisy's large, pregnant belly.
[["I'm well protected on this ship."]] Daisy replied calmly. Then,
she smiled. [["But, just incase..." ]]
Erek held up his hand to stop her and protested, "NO, I'm sure you'll
be fine."
She laughed weakly and chided him. [["Stop and listen." ]]
The bajoran took a deep breath and sighed. "What is it?"
[["I know you were disappointed when Erika started acting out over
our sending her to school back on Bajor." ]]
"I've never been disappointed in our daughter, Daisy." Erek quickly
protested. "She's the light of my life."
Daisy rolled her eyes and laughed, [[ "Erek, it's ok. You were hurt,
I saw it. I know you wanted her to take more of an interest in
Bajoran history and spirituality." ]]
The Bajoran lowered his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry."
[["Don't be. I understand. And, she tried. She tried because she
loves you." ]]
A smile spread across his face and he nodded. "Thank you."
[["I'm sorry our little girl takes after me so much. There are going
to be times when she will disappoint you and she will make you angry
because, like me, it's not easy for her to be compliant or obedient." ]]
the pregnant woman laughed weakly and shook her head.
[[ "My parentswanted me to be this Xenophobic,
technology-shunning wife and live my life on earth. That didn't
work. Advanced interdimensional aliens actually re-wrote my
DNA and tried to dictate my "lifepartner" is supposed to be
Xavier Brodeur. And, I'm very fond of the guy ...." ]]
She smirked. [[ " But that didn't work...." ]]
"And, trying too hard to steer Erika towards my religion won't work
either..." he nodded.
[[ "Just keep being a great Dad and keep loving her..." ]] Daisy
smiled. [[ "She'll always love being your daughter and anyone who
spends time with you, Erek - can't help growing to love Bajor. You
bring the beauty of your heritage and your spirituality, your soul,
into everything you do." ]]
Erek's expression softened. He choked up and made a sniffling sound,
but did his best to cover it quickly.
"Be safe, Daisy."
She blew him a kiss and promised. [[ "I'll do my best." ]]
_____________________________________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: Medical facility
____________________________________________________________________
"Once you start this, I want you back on the other side of the
containment field." Ronnie chided Aerdan.
The Andorian nodded flatly. "I have no interest in being assimiliated,
I promise you."
Lara stood calmly at the console outside the containment field.
"I should be able to do a remote harvest of the active Nanites
through the phalangeal implant we're modifying. "
"And B'Rak?" Ronnie asked nervously.
"After a confrontation with two security officers, he was stunned
with a phaser. Your friend is contained in the brig."
She grimaced awkwardly. "He'll be so angry with me when he wakes up..."
Aerdan inhaled sharply as the implant on Ronnie's hand came to life.
No matter how many times he saw it, the sight of veins discoloring
beneath the surface of the skin was always disconcerting.
His heart was in his throat as he stepped through the containment
field and waited next to Lara.
Ronnie sat helplessly watching the color change spread up her arm.
"I hate that we need an organic host to generate enough nanites to
infiltrate the holonetwork." Lara muttered, watching Ronnie's eyes
grow distant, unfocused.
"Me, too." Aerdan sighed. "I wish the borg Nanites of this
dimension could have done this job."
"Our borg have evolved too much. They are individuals. Their
Nanites are benign, streamlined - non-aggressive." Lara sighed.
"We used an incubator of their design to save my son when Hex
was premature. I trusted the Nanites of "Our borg" in the blood
stream of my son because I know how bland they've become over
the centuries...."
Ronnie lowered herself to the biobed and sighed as her occular
implant began to spontaneously modify itself. A tiny red light
burst up towards the ceiling as the borg occular prosthetic
completely covered her eye. She groaned softly from the pain as
the Nanites drained metalic elements from her blood to remake
her flesh. She was becoming a drone again.
"Preparing to harvest." Lara muttered, her heart breaking over
the pain she knew Maddie's interdimensional counterpart was
experiencing.
"I have the containment unit in place." Aerdan replied flatly.
__________________________________________________________________
Location: Rixx's ship
Scene: Bridge
___________________________________________________________________
The bajoran Tactical officer blinked. Then, he stammered.
"Sir, I'm detecting a Transwarp conduit opening."
"Excuse me!?" Rixx stood up and turned towards him.
The bolian scoffed. "That has to be a mistake."
He walked towards his tactical officer and shoved him
roughly to the side, demanding to look at the station himself.
The flash of light through the front view screen distracted him
from abusing the younger man further. Rixx looked up and saw
three borg cubes burst forth from an open transwarp conduit.
There was an audible gasp through every station on the bridge
as the same reaction was shared by all of them. An awkward
silence followed as even the bolian just stood there, his mouth
gaping open.
The Borg of our universe were considered domesticated as individuals.
People with some borg technology incorporated into their bodies worked
in all walks of civilized life, had friends, had normal jobs and did
every day things.
The sight of a Borg cube, though - still inspired terror. The memory
of the old borg was ingrained in the psyche of every sentient race.
Like most, Rixx reacted to the sight as if facing a boogieman from
his childhood.
Finally, he coughed.
Then, he tried to remain calm and composed as he turned to
his helmsman.
"Set a course for Ferengi space."
The Helmsman blinked and looked back at him questioningly.
The bolian smirked. "You heard me."
The bolian's comm system beeped and he recognized the voice
of his lead holosuite technician asking,
[[ "Sir? How go the negotiations?" ]]
Rixx tapped his comm badge and replied.
"Negotiations are over. We're leaving now."
____________________________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: inside Holosuite
NRPG: Continuing from Margie's post
____________________________________________________________
"The programme is degrading right?"
"You said it was...." The CO pointed out.
"But Kate has a point, what other systems have been
dragged into this. We know that whatever is
controlling the holodeck systems has complete access
to our computer records...."
"Again, you've already said that."
"I know." Peter looked up horror etched on his face,
"Suppose they figure out where we hid the children.
Well we guess Daisy will have hidden them there." He
turned his attention back to his frantic attempts at
getting into the computer systems, "We need to warn
them...."
"Ty?" Maddie span to face her partner.
"I don't know if SAHRIV would *hear* me from here, it
depends on how much interference there is in the
atmostphere." Ty knelt next to Peter, "What do you
need me to do?"
"Here hold this." Peter had finally gotten through
the flooring and into the circuitry underneath.
Ty stayed by Peter's side and the others began whispering
quietly to themselves - except for Cade. The doctor was
irritable and wallowing in his own self-pity at the moment.
All that he cared about was enjoying as much of the
alchohol as he could get before the program degraded
further.
Foster turned his back, wanting to finish his drink and
get as much of a buzz as he could before he was rescued
from this holodeck. Once rescued, he'd have to face the
"real" Daisy - and that wasn't something he was looking
forward to.
Heads turned as Peter suddenly jumped up and yell,
"Ty, get away from me, now!"
Foster just kept finishing his drink.
The Brit staggered backwards, looking in horror at his
hand. Spontaneously, a borg hand implant had materialized
on the back of his arm. It's extentions ran down his
fingers.
"Stay away from me, all of you."
Kate shook her head, not believing it.
"Peter, it has to be a trick. It has to be holographic."
Cade swallowed the last of his drink and turned, only
mildly interested. Morbidly depressed and wallowing
in self-pity, he was content to ignore Peter's suffering
until he felt a sharp pain up his arm and the same
thing started happening to him. Spontaneously, his
hand grew a borg implant - the same implant drones use
for assimiliating.
Peter's eyes started to roll back as Kate flew to
his side. She wanted to examine him. He recoiled
from her.
"Don't touch me."
Then, he heard the voices of the others from the
other holosuites as they also began to be assimiliated
from within.
Maddie wrestled with Peter's husband.
"Stay away, he'd never forgive himself if he did
anything to hurt you."
"I have to go to him!"
Cade stood there, frozen. He watched the change
of the blood veins in his arm as the nannites spread.
Then, he saw Matthew pry himself away from Maddie
and fly to Peter's side.
She had the strength, she could have restrained him.
But, she didn't have theheart. She knew his need for
more time with Peter, even if was just for a second or two.
Maddie began to stagger backwards in horror, though -
when she realized what she'd done.
Peter was already gone. Assimiliated, he grabbed
Matthew by the throat and injected him with Nannites.
The program shifted. They were suddenly all standing
in a beautiful forest - the borg memory of Unimatrix
Zero.
Ty flew to Maddie's side and they looked together
at Cade Foster. The doctor knew what was happening
to him was real and took that last second or two he
had of individuality to say,
"Don't just stand there. Run."
____________________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: Medical facility
_____________________________________________________
"I'm tracking the spread of the Nannites successfully."
sighed the Ktarian. "There's good news and bad."
[["Give me the good." ]]
"The program is stabilized. They'll have air to breathe."
[[ "And the bad?" ]] Daisy asked from the safety of
Drake's ship.
" The attempt to reprogram the buggers didn't take.
We can track them because of Ronnie and we know
they are in people now - not just technology. The Nannites
infiltrated the network, including the subroutines that
disabled transporter access and beamed themselves
directly several hundred people. We
now have a borg collective to contend with."
The color drained from Daisy's face.
[[ " We knew the risk. Better assimiliated and alive than
dead. How's Ronnie." ]]
On the other side of the room, Aerdan watched the
half-Vulcan borg. Ronnie was affectively gone. Her
eyes were blank as the queen of this collective
sat calmly on her biobed.
She stared at Aerdan and said in a dull, flat voice.
"We are borg. You will be assimiliated."
The andorian sighed grimly, "Ronnie, I'm so sorry."
Ronnie stood up and stepped closer to the containment
field. Aerdan glanced nervously at Lara and asked,
"You're sure she can't get out of that thing?"
Lara called out "Aerdan, I...."
[[ "So, she's not good." ]] Daisy interrupted glibly.
Ronnie's eyes stared blankly ahead and she voiced the
standard Borg greeting.....
"Resistance is futile."
[[ "Drake to sickbay" ]] came the sound of Lara's
partner. The system easily joined the Ktarian to
both Drake and Daisy and she informed them both.
"Both of you, standby."
_______________________________________________________________
Location: Sahriv
Scene: Passenger area
_______________________________________________________________
Tomas began screaming unconsolably.
"Grandmother, something horrible's happening. I can feel it."
T'rer hugged her grandson close and began a meld, trying to
shield his mind. She could feel it herself, though - the
formation of a hivemind on the planet - a hivemind that included
Ty, Maddie and Ronnie.
Xandy hugged Rosie close and began crying as she watched her
grandmother whispering,
"My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts...."
Even Erika was scared and sympathetic. The half-Bajoran
child walked to Jackie and hugged her.
"My Mommy will make sure your Daddies are ok, you'll see."
Jackie leaned into Erika and started to cry.
____________________________________________________________
Location: Andalusia 7
Scene: medical facility
___________________________________________________________
Lynette was puzzled as she walked into the medical facility.
"Why were we called here?"
"You won't have to break them out of the holosuites." Aerdan
explained grimly, not taking his eyes off of the containment
field console.
Lynette took a step closer to the forcefield and made a faint
whistling sound when she saw Ronnie.
"They'll break themselves out, won't they? The Nanites will
give them whatever tools they need. They've been
assimilated. The collective will come for their queen."
Ronnie's eyes showed no emotion when they made contact with
Lynette's. She simply repeated the standard Borg Mantra.
"You will be assimiliated. Resistance is futile."
______________________________________________________________
NRPG:
Just the last of things Rixx should remember about Daisy - for those of you who may want to incorporate them into Rixx learning who the new CO of GATEWAY is and deciding if he's going to lay low or if he's going to take some kind of action with his followers to undermine the renewed Starfleet presence on GATEWAY and assist the Dominion.
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