#ensign walking bear

[agent-troi]

ensign walking bear providing native american representation like forty years before chakotay lmao

[vintagegeekculture]

"The Ayla Descent Theory" of Mary Sues

"Children of the Earth," Luis Royo.

After the success of Jean M. Auel's stone age novel Clan of the Cave Bear, there was a very lengthy trend in the publishing world of stone age adventure novels aimed at women that lasted for a decade and only really fizzled out in the early 2000s. After all, "Ayla," the name of the main character of these books, was one of the top baby names of 1987.

The target audience for these books were weird midwestern aunts....you know, the Mists of Avalon and the Mercedes Lackey/Valdemar audience. Therefore, the Clan of the Cave Bear imitators also featured things of interest to the weird aunt audience: Scotland, redhaired women with sharp tongues, commanding wolves, Ireland, Feminism, riding herds of wild horses bareback in scenic locations, Wicca, matriarchial religions, swimming with dolphins....but above all else, American Indians (a culture this audience finds interesting, as anyone who has seen the home decor of a typical weird midwestern aunt can attest), with many novels set in Ice Age America, like Children of the Dawn, Reindeer Moon and the First Americans. Decades later, this audience would form the core fandom for Game of Thrones, and the character of Khaleesi Targaryen in particular.

These books almost assuredly still have a place of honor on the book shelf of the weirdest woman at your job.

Nearly all of these imitators have two of Clan of the Cave Bear's defining traits: 1) a supremely beautiful, usually blonde athletic and statuesque main character over 5'11" who does not realize that she is so beautiful and desirable, who is good at a variety of different skills and is friendly with animals like hawks, dolphins, or horses, and 2) a love triangle between this aforementioned blond but innocent Venus and two bodybuilder muscular he-men cave hunks, one of whom is a blonde guy with long rock star hair (it was the 80s), and the other being a buff black guy with dreadlocks (or otherwise ethnic in some way).

The heroine usually picks the blonde guy in the end, but the audience usually picks the ethnic guy.

In the late 90s and early 2000s, in the broader culture of fandom, it was fashionable to dump on "Mary Sues" (indulgent wish-fulfillment author personas in fanfiction) and the people who wrote them. Accusations of creating a Mary Sue approached a kind of hysteria. Even at the time, when everyone else was getting swept up in this, I thought that getting mad about aunties writing fanfiction showed a loss of perspective, and was a bit silly. Thankfully, we've benefitted from moral evolution: the consensus in fandom now is that writing aspirational characters is a harmless activity that tests a young writer's creative muscles, like the half-Vulcan pretty new ensign on the Enterprise that Kirk and Spock both fall in love with, or a new archer girl who Legolas falls in love with joining the Fellowship. This hate walked hand in hand with insecurities, in the exact same way that people worried about their appearance or concerned with their weight are often cruel to fat people, and there were frequent tests if this or that character in your writing was a Mary Sue.

There was a running joke in this 2000s culture of anti-self insertion called the "Ayla Descent Theory of Mary Sues." The joke was that Mary Sues came into existence because Ayla, the beautiful, athletic heroine of the Clan of the Cave Bear novels, was the ancestor of their entire lineage, as the first known Mary Sue to ever exist in the historical record, described as being a statuesque blonde who did everything right and was always at the center of love triangles, and who changed human history.

According to the running joke, Mary Sues everywhere were descended from Ayla from Clan of the Cave Bear, and she was the first to exist, and Ayla was the explanation of where all the Enterprise's new ensigns main characters fall in love with come from.

[reallyromealone]

T'Ana x baby reader x Shaxs

Family lunch

This is my first star trek fic and I'm doing my best don't come at me ok

Reader is basically a neko

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

It was days like this where Shaxs was happy for peace, getting time to hang out with his son (name), the little bear just learning walking and was absolutely dead set on following his dad.

"Come now little bear! We have much to do!" He said loudly and laughed when his son made equally loud babbles "that's the attitude!" He was always so proud of his little babe, his little cat ears flickering as he waved at cadets "ABABABA!" He squealed when he saw the captain "my my, if it isn't the baby bear" Captain Freeman chuckled at the small babe "he's awfully energetic isn't he! Going to-- if you don't stop that I swear!" She barked at someone before returning to the two "anyways it was nice seeing you both, have a good day off!"

(Name) only new ship life and even got a baby uniform as a joke gift, both medical and security so both parents were satisfied.

(Name) was a medical marvel, a perfect combination of science and love to create him "oh? You wanna walk?" shaxs always surprised people with how gentle he was with his cub, letting him down and watching as he shakily waddled forward as members of the Cerritos cooed and waved at the tyke.

"Excellent form baby bear!" Shaxs said supportive and loving as the kit made a little growl sound, T'Ana having taught him that as the babe was learning three languages so easy sounds was simpler for him with things like affermations. "marnah(mother)!" (Name) squealed as he saw his mom walk down the hall and T'Ana glared before looking down at the tiny kitten "oh there's my little kit" she said with a slight purr before hissing at some ensigns who were running passed laughing, startling little (name) who fell on his butt "WATCH WHERE THE FUCK YOU'RE GOING YOU SHIT MONGRELS!" She yelled out before lifting the babe up "our baby bear is stronger than that" Shaxs chuckled as the three walked to the mess hall, it was almost (name)s meal time and he was getting really good with solids.

It was cute seeing their kid eat, absolutely laying waste to his meal and hissing at anyone who got too close "he's an absolute nightmare eating" T'Ana chuckled as she ate and worked "ababababa!" He said aggressively as his tiny fangs ripped apart the meat.

The three were a weird family but they were a family none the less "oh look he's excited about the stars again!" shaxs said as (name) looked out the window, shakily standing and pressing his messy hands against the window.

"Now finish your lunch kitten"

[effervescentdragon]

I know yyou dont write for them generally, but i thought to try anyway :D kirk and spock? maybe something about understanding? thank you, and please ignore this if you don't feel like it!

i knew i had this at the bottom of my inbox. i am feeling some sort of way tonight, so fuck it. here goes nothing

The deck was empty, as it always was during what counted as night hours according to Human circadian rhytm. It had little bearing on Spock; he was Vulcan.

Half-Vulcan, whispered a voice in his mind, reminiscent of the bullies of his youth, and perhaps the voice of a man who would've been a bully to him were he raised on Earth and not Vulcan.

Spock knew he was being unfair. He knew, but he did not paeticularly care. How peculiar of him. He wondered if that could be considered logical, or illogical. He wondered if it even mattered, standing alone on the deck and staring into the vast expanse of space.

The final frontier, they called it. A boundary by definition, used to deacribe something boundless. Space, the final conundrum; that would be more appropriate. A puzzle; a mystery; something to solve, something to resolve, to decipher, to unravel up to its final components, until there was nothing left there to elicit wonder. How exciting. How droll. What a dichotomy.

He heard the door open, and the footsteps cross the deck slowly, but not hesitantly. He recognized the walk, and he knew who it was that suffered from bouts of insomnia that had him awake at this late hour; although, what is time in space but another arbitrary notion, countable only by artificially imposed rules? He wished, suddenly, irrationally, to be able to give his ability to function on sub-optimal amounts of sleep to his Captain. He wondered why the shame he felt at that thought was late to come; perhaps it was the late hour, or something else, something he dared not examine further.

If he were to be honset with himself, he would have admitted he knew the Captain would come. Their mission today was - sub-optimal. They lost half of the away team. Ensign B'alir would have to retire from duty. He would not be able to keep working for the Security Team with no legs; not for a while. At least not yet. The Captain knew this, and yet. And yet.

"It's beautiful," Captain Kirk said softly. Spock said nothing, for facts need not be acknowledged. When he met the Captain's eyes in the glass before them, he saw himself nodding. Kirk nodded back. "It reminds me - whenever I come here and look at the stars, it reminds me of this one poem. It's a very old poem, and I forgot most of it, but the final part goes something like: Although my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light -"

"- for I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

They kept looking at each other in the glass, the stars vast and terrifying and beautiful before them. Kirk smiled, slowly, the first smile Spock had seen on his face since their mission went awry three days ago, then shifted his gaze away, focusing on the universe before them.

Spock stood beside his Captain in silence, somehow calmer than he was for, well. Quite a while.

[askrobouteguilliman40k]

The Command Deck is buzzing with activity. Tech-Priests, officers, and ensigns all coordinate in chaotic organization, moving from station to station at a pace that isn't quite a jog but certainly is faster than a walk.

"Controlled Warp translation at point zero-two-three," the officer assigned to the Auspex Arrays reports evenly. The Gunnery Captain cautiously orders Lance batteries brought to half-power and Void-shields raised as the Auspex scans the emerging vessel.

"Lance batteries at half-power," the Magos in charge of the Gloriana's formidable complement of Engiseers reports.

"Confirming friendly identification and Ultramarine heraldry. Tentative identification as Ultramarine Strike Cruiser Unerring Strike."

"We're being hailed," the Communications Officer reports. "Encryption Keymark 23-Upsilon-Four-Sierra, unique to Scout Team Oniroi of the Tenth Company. Patching through... they're requesting to come aboard."

"Permissions granted," the Master of the Hangar replies. "Blade Squadron will escort them to Hangar 2."

"Secondary Warp translation, controlled, point zero two-two in formation with the Unerring Strike." The Auspex Officer's voice remains steadily even.

"Raise Lance batteries to sixty percent power and Void shields to full," the Gunnery Officer orders.

"Belay that order, Gunnery. Unerring Strike reports secondary Warp translation as a secondary vessel belonging to the Voidstriders Space Marine Chapter under the name Endless Expanse," Communications orders. "Opening a channel with them now."

"Auspex Arrays confirm secondary vessel to be the Vanguard-class Light Cruiser Endless Expanse."

"They claim to be escorting a group of emissaries from the Tuatha, and request to come aboard."

"Tell them to join with the Unerring Strike's Thunderhawks," the Master of the Hangar orders.

///

The three transports that set down in Hangar 2 are an exercise in variety. The first, carrying Scout Team Oniroi, shows signs of battle damage but is ultimately difficult to distinguish from the rest of the docked fighter-bombers and transports. Blackened dots on the wing from las-fire serve as informal proof of valour, as does the partially-melted outer armour.

The two Valkyries, on the other hand, could not stand out more.

The first is clearly heavily retrofitted. Golden Aquilas, typical on Valkyries bequeathed to Sisters of Battle, have been covered in black-and-dark green camouflage paint on the wings, and extra weapon mounts have been fixed to the undersides, which bear three extra rocket pods on each side. What appear to be twinlinked lascannons poke out from beneath the cockpit, which is blackened from the outside. "LXVI" has been painted in dark grey on the rearmost aileron. The cargo hold has small lengths of cord to hold onto in flight and crash netting against the far wall keeping several weeks worth of provisions secure with magnetic locks and the force of the net. The lights have all been removed. Upon closer inspection, you can see a small vox-link poking out beside the lascannon barrels.

The second Valkyrie has fewer modifications. If you had to guess, it was a former Guard Valkyrie, judging from the lack of embossed double-headed eagles. It still has all the lights removed, and the hull is still covered in the same type of camouflage paint, but the lascannons beside the cockpit have been heavily upgraded (if the extra bulk is anything to go by) and what appears to be a miniature Auspex array combined with a long-range vox-link has replaced the nose-guns. In the place of rocket pods are several heavy missiles. You recognize them only vaguely; anti-tank guided munitions, you think, though you cannot tell if these are customized somehow.

The fact that these Valkyries launched from an Astartes vessel is not lost on you, either.

As the Valkyries touch down and the cargo holds open, you get your first look at what your scouts have deemed the Order of the Black Watch.

The leader of the group looks like a cross between a Sister of Battle and an Astartes. Her head is badly scarred and her white hair is close-shaven, with not-quite-washed-off camouflage paint still sticking to the outer reaches of her face. Her armor shares the same camouflage pattern as the Valkyries, but is in itself an oddity; the suit is clearly that of a Marine, but has been modified to better fit a Sister's slimmer build. The pauldrons appear to be taken from Scout armor, with acid scars dotting where the symbol of the Voidstriders would have been. Yet, this Sister moves in the armor with the grace of a Marine—something that should be impossible.

Behind the leader is a squad of what are clearly elite troops. Guardsmen, with carapace armor dotted with extra magazine pouches and bandoliers, and two Space Marines with their heraldry scored off by acids and replaced with a more muted version. One is shorter than the other by perhaps a foot, and has slimmer armor dotted with battle-scars. One pauldron bears several deep gashes through the plate.

The leader kneels before you. "Lord-Commander. We stand with the Imperium. We kneel before your fire."

Guilliman is wary, as always when dealing with the religious he must tread carefully.

"Rise and tell me about yourself." He says softly.

[libidomechanica]

That catch that

Cry. Supposed against though black cordage     of my birth, a good Hobbing to, whilome wonder thee;     and hand, while to my antiquette me now! Beauty,—that gauds;     nay, what is fire, that wouldst convert; or else for my little     screwy fiddle of the

Truth to sell. For treble into     the sun love again, I did speaking to hang a mind down     the rim. That catch that vehemence, with ill-usage, to dreamt     of eternall scruples should to-nights, and from thy faith? Cast     over my signal shaken,

constant perfections of ioyes     and see they’re given. Any summer’s star is burnings of     life of weeping. And takes, as those, his singled in both you     love, and make me three time at the wiry concord make a     bread. And the burnt at

momentum, that ye could pay. Yellow     peeling kings when other, there we ours, and days out-wrest; or     curious an old-world is his beating I seye, the colors     and I, my foot, and long youth, and built thou can the ocean;     the gentle gait, making

a cot and brawl the sun, as     welcome, and all or ill, all to time we hunter; woman     laughed acrossing but ensign shall the old woman in Raiment     clenched mankindly cried. I stand! I will luve am I     not speak of use. Dig deep

as beeswax, his iron to heart,     and Thou may bringe of she mouth to his bear our cities bene     gather, and, ere that, that is in old and straightway I     wanting at hear to a smile unsearchable report, and     the tears by surprise the

said, But, you walking night her Eyes     a little star, as girls. In piece give it tore the camp: we     stuck her eyes showers, more stone; which can be astrong Ah me,     into your leaves there’s range now he contains stretched his bowl     of great, with though them glance,

with hind-part is nose, What bloom,     honeycombed within the golden scorn and know the moons, poem,     I plotted ourselves why soul inspir’d and no fear—it     seem bare all keep the others hides growing the world, you goest     safe to sloughman’s wisdom

too crowd. Let me say true love, as     been told the red-hot iron hill. Oh! When fil’d my own arrow,     lintel—all those the more, you will oft pipe to her eyes     she sea;—what gaue my door, indeed! And from the gates these or     crystal brooding your face

bend in answer by layer, the     stripling down gagelike, bequeath did raise on stormes with tapers     case? Oh, the distance a queen colonnades. Mistress     in most a prehistory tell Rosalind, nor Natures     pushed their quiet ashes

the king withouted; there; its strain     wings in sleepe, that have tied to counted Peaches.-Short, that have     just of life, Love advancing climate thy merit in this     is a moment yesterne, and what dawns, more hop’d my good, and     without the famisht spright?

[bills-bible-basics]

THRONE OF DAVID PROPHECIES -- KJV (King James Version) Bible Verse List #Scriptures #BibleStudy #BibleVerses Visit https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/ to see more. "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious." Isaiah 11:1-10, KJV "And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." Isaiah 16:5, KJV "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jeremiah 23:5-6, KJV "But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them." Jeremiah 30:9, KJV "In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness." Jeremiah 33:15-16, KJV "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it." Ezekiel 34:23-24, KJV "And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever." Ezekiel 37:21-25, KJV "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days." Hosea 3:4-5, KJV "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:" Amos 9:11, KJV Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH." Zechariah 3:8, KJV "And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." Zechariah 6:12-13, KJV "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things." Acts 15:13-17, KJV "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:29-36, KJV "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgins name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: AND THE LORD GOD SHALL GIVE UNTO HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID: AND HE SHALL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOR EVER; AND OF HIS KINGDOM THERE SHALL BE NO END." Luke 1:26-33, KJV "And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: BLESSED BE THE KINGDOM OF OUR FATHER DAVID, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest." Mark 11:8-10, KJV If you would like more info regarding the origin of these KJV Bible verse lists, go to https://www.billkochman.com/VerseLists/. Thank-you! https://www.billkochman.com/Blog/index.php/throne-of-david-prophecies-kjv-king-james-version-bible-verse-list/?feed_id=215029&THRONE%20OF%20DAVID%20PROPHECIES%20--%20KJV%20%28King%20James%20Version%29%20Bible%20Verse%20List

[sshbpodcast]

Praise be to the Prophets: The best Bajorans in Star Trek

By Ames

Prepare to have an orb experience – you’re about to see what the Orb of Prophecy has to say about who A Star to Steer Her By chooses as our favorite Bajorans of Star Trek! Whether they’re the favored people of the almighty prophets or they’re just some bystanders who happen to be near some weird-ass wormhole aliens, the Bajora prove to be a culturally rich people full of thought-provoking stories and the occasional need to shout at a magical cloud for totally normal reasons.

So whip up some hasperat, put on your dangly earrings, and suit up for an exciting game of springball! You’re sure to see lots of familiar faces with crinkly noses, often over and over again, in our different favorite lists. Follow along below to see our picks or listen to our chatter in this week’s podcast episode (discussion starts at 58:33). Walk with the prophets, my child.

[images © CBS/Paramount] 

Caitlin – Join the resistance

Kira Nerys

Winn Adami

Tora Ziyal

On Caitlin’s list we see three characters with backstories so rich that it opened up possibilities for Deep Space Nine to have the rich, serial, heart-wrenching plots that it was known for. These three women built and built over the seasons, from Kira’s place within the Bajoran resistance to her promotion to colonel in the militia, from Winn’s overly ambitious ascension to Kai to her downfall in the fire caves, and from Ziyal’s tragic upbringing in a Breen prison camp to her reunion with her father and finally to her sacrifice in the fight against the Dominion.

—

Jake – The d’jarra of badasses

Kira Nerys

Ro Laren

Sito Jaxa

Jake so frequently picks out the most badass characters for his lists, and this time is no different. Kira Nerys was so hardcore that she even taught her former enemies how to be better rebel fighters. Ensign Ro put up with shit from neither  Cardassians nor Starfleet and went so far as to join the Maquis because she stood for what was right. And the young cadet Sito Jaxa made up for mistakes made in the Academy by learning from the experience, standing up for herself, and ultimately martyring herself for Starfleet’s cause.

—

Ames – Building more than just a kiln

Ro Laren

Shaxs

Mullibok

My three Bajoran characters bring out the best in their respective series. TNG was not only severely lacking in female characters before Ensign Ro came along, but also got some excellent story fodder by introducing her Bajoran race. Lower Decks excels at creating characters with contradictory traits for some of their better jokes and drama, and the big angry teddy bear Shaxs may be the best example. And DS9 starts off the clusterfuck that is Bajor with the moon tenant Mullibok who tests Kira’s mettle with his matching stubbornness.

—

Chris – Welcome to the Gratitude Festival

Ro Laren

Winn Adami

Kira Nerys

Be grateful for Chris’s picks because, without them, the Bajorans wouldn’t be the race we know today. We’ve seen all three of these women in the other lists, and that just serves as a testament for how excellent they are and what they do to help Star Trek depict their race. From their stories, we understand how the Bajora survived a brutal occupation, how they built themselves up on both the strength of their faith and the strength of their rebellion, and how (regardless of how often we joke that they’re a mess) they sum up to the best of sci-fi.

—

That’s all we’ve been able to interpret from that orb experience. There’s just one more alien race for us to shine the spotlight on for this blog series, so make sure you’re following along with us here. You can also continue on our voyage through Voyager on SoundCloud, hail us on Facebook and Twitter, and stay out of the fire caves!

[shutupanddance]

Bones / Reader — Remember Me

Hey my fellow fan fiction people, I have MAJOR writer’s block, and I really want to get these requests done, so I’m hoping that this will snap me out of it.

Warning: this is angst!!

How would Bones react to your death?

Normal text is present time, and blocks of italic text are memories!

Enjoy ;)

Dr. Leonard McCoy is experiencing a “slow day” in medbay. Not that there isn’t the occasional ensign coming in with a scrape or broken bone, but it’s nothing like when the away missions come back.

Speaking of away missions, you were on one now. You weren’t scheduled to come back for a week, though. You were a microbiologist, so your missions were usually much longer, and consisted of more time going back and forth between your lab on the Enterprise and the planet you were stationed on. 

The personnel staff realized pretty quickly that very little got done when you and McCoy were on a mission together. The doctor was so worried for his fiancé that he spent more time making sure you were safe than doing his job. So, it was a rare thing nowadays that you’d be put on a mission together.

Spock is suddenly in medbay.

“What are you doing here?” Leonard grumbles, glancing over his shoulder.

When Spock doesn’t respond immediately, he turns. Something is wrong, Leonard can tell. But whether Spock has a common cold or the ship is about to explode, he can’t tell.

“Captain Kirk requires your assistance on the bridge.” Spock states coolly. Odd.

“Are you sure? Can’t he just ask me through a holopad like everyone else-”

“Please come with me, doctor.”

Doctor McCoy follows, but he grumbles the whole way.

As soon as he’s in the elevator, another team rushes into medbay. They’re surrounding a gurney. And attached to that gurney is a heart monitor, which is beeping slow. Dangerously slow.

You’re not really sure why you got picked for the Enterprise. I mean, it’s Starfleet’s flagship, for crying out loud! But here you are, working away in one of the most advanced labs you’ve ever seen, floating many many miles from home.

You’re still processing all this when a beaker slips out of your hands, and shatters violently on the floor.

Luckily, no one else is in your lab right now. You stay calm, walking on careful feet, and retrieve a broom. As you’re sweeping, though, you realize blood is running down your fingers.

One of the shards of glass must have flown up and cut me, you realize.

You carefully wrap the small wound and apply pressure, then begin walking to medbay. 

The nurses don’t immediately notice you, probably because you’re just standing there looking like you’re out for an evening stroll, but soon enough one happens to glance directly at the gauze you have wrapped around your forearm.

“Oh, dear!” She says, guiding you to a bed. “Dr! Dr. McCoy!”

Out from a nearby office walks Dr. Leonard McCoy. He’s got dark hair, the most alert eyes you’ve ever seen, and damn he’s hot.

“What happened to you?” He grunts.

“Beaker broke. Shard of glass flew up and cut me. No other injuries, and there’s no glass in the wound. I was able to stop most of the bleeding, but I think I’ll need stitches.”

An eyebrow goes up.

“Alright, why don’t you sit down and I’ll take a look.”

You didn’t know it, but in that moment, Leonard McCoy nearly fell head over heels for you. And all he showed for it was a raised eyebrow.

The Captain will not stop insisting that he needs a plan for contagious diseases on the Enterprise.

“We already have one,” Leonard reminds him.

“But will it work? Do we have one for different situations? For instance, if we’re docked on a hostile planet-”

“Are you trying to keep me from my job!?” Leonard asks, more as a pointed jab, but when the room grows uncomfortably silent, he realizes he’s right on the money.

What else does he realize? That every face in the room looks forlorn. And a bit defeated.

“What’s got everyone so depressed?” He asks, swiveling to see the entire bridge crew. No one answers.

Finally, Spock clears his throat.

“We wanted to keep you away from medbay while the doctor’s worked on Y/N.”

There’s a moment, a brief moment, where Leonard’s brain stops working. And he’s paralyzed with fear. But, it doesn’t last for long.

“WHAT!?!”

Jim steps in.

“She was injured on the away mission. Some animal we’ve never seen before came out of nowhere and attacked.”

Bones is trying to get away.

“She saved everyone else’s lives by luring the beast away, doc,” one of the crew is saying, but he doesn’t care. He needs to get to you-

The door to the bridge rolls open. M’Benga is standing there.

And Leonard has never seen the man look so guilty, so distressed, so sad.

“Watch the Coreolis Anjankus!” You say, pulling a red shirt away from a very poisonous plant. You pass him to Dr. McCoy, who pushes him even farther away.

“I thought you were a microbiologist?” He chuckles.

“With a minor in botany!” You smile.

You were one of the few scientists Leonard found to be cool under pressure, and the only one with real common sense. Still, despite all you knew about the dangers of every planet, you were always completely relaxed. If he was being honest, the doctor envied you (just a little bit).

“Tell, me, how did you get stuck with this motley crew?” He asks, eyes trained on the Captain, watching for any dangers.

“I’m not really sure,” you admit. “They just sent me a message one day asking if I wanted to join.”

“And you said yes.”

“Of course I did! Have you seen the labs on the ship?!”

Leonard laughs.

“I’m a nerd, I know, but this assignment is everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”

Dr. McCoy finds himself staring at you, suddenly. He doesn’t really remember how he got here. All he can think of is the fact that your heart’s not beating. That your body is mangled and bloody and despite M’Benga attempting to close the wounds, you look horrible.

It seems ironic, almost, in that instant. The woman who never worried about anything is lying mauled in a biobed. Dead.

The medical idea of death has settled in Leonard’s mind. No beating heart, no brain activity. But what he can’t wrap his head around is you being gone. You’ve  always been there. And, for a moment, he’s convinced that if he sniffles too loud, you’ll hand him a tissue. If he mentions he’s hungry, you’ll wake back up, dig through your duffel bag, and pull some food out.

But you’re not moving.

“Where’s her duffel bag?” He asks, voice as loud and cranky as ever.

Kirk hands your bag over.

Bones reaches in, and digs around until he feels something soft. A teddy bear. He places it on your chest, and lifts your arms to hug it. The soft fur stains with blood.

It’s a horrific scene, the one in front of them.

A village destroyed by a massive storm system. Houses leveled, fields of crops uprooted, and hundreds of people injured or dying or dead.

But you’re standing there, cool and calm as ever, handing out blankets. You smile gently at each villager who steps up, and ask them in one of their native languages what else they need. You direct them to different crew members who can help.

One kid walks up, so young you have to crouch to be eye-level with them. He’s alone. And he looks so terrified, so empty, that you immediately wrap him in a hug. He clings on for dear life.

When he finally let’s go, you begin to explain to him that he needs to see the doctor. He shakes his head so hard you’re afraid his neck will snap. You say some more words in his language, and reach into your duffel bag.

You pull out a teddy bear. The boy smiles, ever so slightly, and immediately gives it a tight hug.

You speak encouragement at him, something about bravery, and the little boy makes his way over to the medical tent with his head held high.

All this Leonard watches. You look at him. He looks at you. And for a while, an unspoken respect passes between the two of you.

He asks you later why you had the teddy bear.

“I always have one on me,” you smile sadly. “You never know when you might need one.”

The ship docks at Command, and the usual celebratory revelries aren’t being heard. The crew is somber.

Your body, encased in a beautiful casket, is loaded onto a small carrier vehicle. Jim, Leonard, and Spock follow it as it weaves its way through the halls.

Your parents are there, and the funeral is quick. No one can really find the strength to say what they want to. No one can choke through their tears long enough to tell your story.

Bones is the last to leave. He watches your casket for hours, almost as if he’s waiting for you to spring out and laugh and kiss him, promising it’ll never happen again, promising you’ll never leave him…

He smiles. A memory-

The town of traders on this new small planet offered the Enterprise crew a place to stay overnight, and Kirk had agreed.

Their houses stood on stilts overlooking an ocean, and there were beautiful torches that burnt blue everywhere to light the paths. Bird-like creatures swooped through the town, twittering and squeaking.

You’re watching them silently through a window, a soft smile on your face. Leonard is sitting next to you on the bed, kissing your shoulder.

Two of the bird things get into a fight, and screeching is heard. Feathers fly.

You laugh, loud and unapologetic, as they tussle. Leonard laughs too. He’s smiling at you as you watch them, so completely wrapped up in how beautiful you are.

You fall back onto the bed, hair flying everywhere. You’re still giggling.

You look at your fiancé, enjoying watching him watch you. You feel comfortable. The house is warm and the blue firelight traces his face. The face of your love.

Leonard is wondering how on earth he landed you. How he convinced you to love him. But he truly has no idea. You’re lying there, eyes locked with his, gazing with so much love he feels he’s going to burst.

You lying there like that, hair spread out on the bed, a lazy smile on your face, eyes sparkling with the reflection of torches… he locks that picture in his mind.

And Leonard thinks that he’ll always remember you this way.

[sharp-teeth-and-archived]

( Ensign Baker ; continued )

      𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐡𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐡𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟. Witnessing the cold, hardened expression on the Corporal’s face as Abe sprawled out on the ground chilled him to the bone. As the blood started to pool around the farmer’s head, he felt stuck in place. The air left his lungs entirely then and each time he woke up from the memory resurfacing in his nightmares, he fought to bring the oxygen back into his lungs. In a matter of minutes, in a night, he had lost a chance to speak to Mr. Woodhull again, he lost the security of a home, and it was his burden to bear that he wasn’t quick enough to fire on his superior even as he had the right. That cruel laugh of his echoed in his mind whenever he was alone at night when he reached for his musket, but that was the same laugh that pushed him to take the late-night shifts nobody wanted. For another to rest, he put aside his own.

      When his watch duty was finished, he went back to the warmth of Whitehall and walked its darkened hallways. He was about to reach his room when he spotted a flood of light under Mrs. Woodhull’s room. (Was it Mrs. Woodhull still or Miss. Woodhull instead? Oliver hadn’t figured that out yet). That cruel laugh returned in his ears and he could smell the smoke plugging his nostrils, urging him to cough as before, and his hand moved away from the doorknob of his room. He decided then in that terrifying moment that if he wasted his chance to kill Eastin before, tonight’s chance was not going to go squandered. 

      As he just reached the door, the knob was twisted and the door swung open, blinding his sight with a flash of light. As he squinted through it, he didn’t spot the tall form of Eastin, but instead, this silhouette was shorter and a bundle of white linen flashed in his mind from his observation. His eyes eased to the shine of light and he finally was able to register who it was. When he found he was correct that the silhouette was shorter, much shorter, than that of Eastin, his cheeks started to flush and he pulled in his lower lip to rein in his embarrassment. 

       ❝ Mrs. Woodhull, ❞ he breathed, relaxing his shoulders and moving his arms away from his sides. His eyes lowered to the bundle of linen in her arms and saw Thomas’s wide-eyed stare right at him. Despite his more relaxed posture, the tension in his body didn’t fully dissipate, especially when he practically flinched at her raised voice.

       ❝ I… uh, intended to check in on you. ❞ That part was obvious and he was already fumbling over his words. His previous objective was almost entirely out of mind as Mary stood before him. He peered down the hallway and leaned towards her, lowering his voice to a whisper. ❝ I feared Eastin was near and I was concerned about yours and Thomas’s safety. ❞ If Abraham was still with the living (may God rest his soul), he wouldn’t have aired his concerns for her. He would’ve found another excuse, and even if she was in the safety of Whitehall, Oliver knew better than anyone that safety wasn’t certain if Eastin could barge into the Woodhull home.

      The embarrassment twisted strongly at his stomach, but he managed not to flee, but to stay still and not fidget. ❝ I… I should take my leave now that you are indeed safe. ❞ He ducked his head to give her a gentleman's bow, ❝ Goodnight, Mrs. Woodhull. ❞ Perhaps he was fleeing after all.

@anoseforrottenapples​

[shinobicyrus]

Meeting for the First Time Again

A short little DS9 fic inspired by @c-rowlesdraws more alien redesign of Dax. Here’s a re-imagining Sisko’s reunion with his old friend.

Besides bearing DS9’s new Science and Medical officers, the USS Bhaskara was offloading much-needed support personnel and medical supplies for both the station and Bajor. With the Enterprise being called away earlier than anticipated, the Bhaskara would likely be the last Federation ship any of them would see for weeks.

Major Kira had accompanied Sisko aboard, and had stood straight-backed and on edge during the formalities between him and the Bhaskara’s captain. Charitably, Sisko figured it might not have been comfortable for her to be stuck in the unfamiliar close quarters of a Federation starship, or it maybe being surrounding by over a hundred sapients of a dozen different species all in their matching, pristine uniforms.

He still hadn’t come to a final verdict with her, yet. Certainly she had no love for the Federation. Hadn’t been at all shy to disclose that fact either, which he couldn’t help but privately admire. It was the kind of refreshingly straightforward attitude that Sisko didn’t encounter as often as he liked, anymore.

At least he knew where they stood. There may never be any friendliness there, but there could at least be a mutual respect, if they didn’t give each other brain damage butting heads all day.

Well. That was what their new doctor was for.

He was human and very young. His blue uniform was freshly replicated, and a medical bag hung off of his shoulder as if he expected to start performing first aid the moment he stepped off the ship. Sisko had read his file. Doctor Julian Subatoi Bashir had the highest qualifications of any medical practitioner he’d ever seen, and the academic accolades to have his pick of duty assignments.

Instead of research or a ship’s physician, he chooses a barely-functional Cardassian monstrosity on the furthest fringes of Federation space.

No one makes that choice unless they have something to prove. That never boded well. Sisko could only hope the few weeks tending to a people trying to recover from decades of slavery and genocide will give the good doctor a good dose of sobering reality.

Thankfully, Captain T’Shel was vulcan and took zero offense when Sisko politely declined their offer of a light tea in their stateroom. With the amount of work still needed to get DS9 up and running, it was only Logical he take his officers and return to work as soon as possible.

Their disembarkation went without incident, though Sisko half-expected the airlock to jam again. Next to him, Doctor Bashir took in the grim Cardassian architecture of the promenade with that eagerness unique to academy graduates on their first assignment; his eyes sparkled with adventure and Sisko marveled that he himself had ever been that young. 

DS9’s Science officer was more sedate, flowing over the tall rim of the airlock on many legs with a smooth, liquid grace. Two pairs of stubby but strong limbs pushed her long body upright and brought her flat, vaguely amphibian head at about his chest-level, passably mimicking a biped.

“Commander.” Major Kira looked uncertainly at her charges. “If you’d like me to give these two a tour of the station – ”

“You and Doctor Bashir go ahead, Major.” He turned to the trill and saw her already looking at him. The face of a stranger. Still, he smiled at her. “I’m afraid I have to put Lieutenant Dax to work right away.”

Dax nodded, unperturbed at being put to work so soon after a long starship journey. Not even time to throw her pack into her new quarters.

Major Kira for one just seemed relieved. The sidelong glance she gave Dax made it clear how unused she was to dealing with non-humanoids. Sisko couldn’t bring himself to judge – all of her interactions with off-worlders before now had involved Cardassians.

Before she could herd him away, Doctor Bashir half-ran past Kira to Dax’s side, stopping them from leaving. Sisko was too surprised – and too curious of Dax’s reaction – to chide him.

This time.

“Jadzia!” He adjusted the strap of his bag, completely heedless of the disgruntled glare Major Kira had leveled at him like a charging phaser. “I was thinking. Maybe we could…” He cocked his head, boyish smile shy but still precocious. “Get together later. For dinner?”

Dax did not answer immediately, as if he...she were weighing the question. As one second, then another ticked by without a response, Sisko watched the fear creep into Bashir’s eyes as it slowly dawned on him that he was holding up his commanding officer. Sisko said nothing to add or alleviate his anxiety, and Bashir stammered, looking to him and then back to Dax. “O-o-or a drink?”

Dax blinked slowly. Her mouth curled into a shape a human would find friendly. Her voice was thick, melodious and warm like rain on a muggy day. “I’d be delighted.”

Three words was evidently all it took to leave Doctor Bashir a dumb, grinning blob of hormones stuck in place in front of the airlock. Dax and Sisko left him to be pried off the deck by the Major.

They walked side-by-side down through the promenade. Sisko kept his strides small so the four shorter limbs on Dax’s lower body could keep up without much difficulty.

While trills could stand upright just fine, walking without all eight limbs was another matter; like expecting a human to hop around on one foot all day. Any Federation-raised citizen wouldn’t think twice about trill walking past low to the ground, but Curzon had stubbornly mastered the art.  

‘Gotta look them in the eye, Benjamin. Think I could have gotten anything done at Khitomer crawling around the Klingons’ pointy boots?’

Watching her walk was what did it. The dignified posture, head bobbing and both pairs of upper-arms clasped behind her back. It was all Curzon, but eerily incongruous. Like looking into the mirror and seeing the wrong color uniform.

Sisko leaned down to ask, “He’s a little young for you, isn’t he?”

“Trills mature a little faster than humans, but we’re close in Standard,” Dax said. “He’s twenty-seven and I’m –”

“Three-hundred twenty-seven?”

“You know I stopped counting, Benjamin.”

“How convenient for you.”

Dax chortled a bubbly trill laugh. “What was that human expression you told me once? About youth and old age?”

“Youth is wasted on the young.”

“A pitfall I’m glad to have avoided,” Dax grinned.

“You’re dodging the question.”

She stroked her whiskers like Curzon used to do when he was pretending to be a forgetful old man. When...she was pretending. “And what question would that be?”

“Whether the man knows he’s chasing after someone who’s technically older than his great-grandparents.

“Of course he knows,” Dax’s upper body stood a tad straighter. “He finds it fascinating. He’s never met a joined species before.”

“‘Fascinated’ isn’t the word I’d have chosen to describe it.”

“It’s the spots. And the arms,” She raised two of them to fend off his raised eyebrow. “Don’t worry Benjamin, I’ve been around humans long enough to be able to spot a harmless crush. He’ll sigh and pine at the ‘unattainable older woman’ shield he put around me until he gets over it.”

“I’ll trust your expertise on the matter,” Sisko said wryly. “While we’re on the subject, what’s your opinion of him?”

“My opinion?”

“You've trained your share of clueless ensigns and terrorized enough trill initiates...”

“That’s true,” Dax agreed. “I happen to remember one young cadet who swore he’d be captain of a starship by thirty.”

“And an admiral by forty.”

“How is that going for you?”

“Further along than Cal. And you’re changing the subject.”

Those whiskers, again. “The subject being?”

“Come on now, Dax. You two were stuck on the Bhaskara for three weeks. That’s more than long enough for you to get a good read on him.”

“Is this an official request from my superior officer?”

Superior officer. Curzon. That…was going to take some getting used to. “If it has to be, but I’d rather be talking with an old friend whose opinion I trust.”

Dax looked pensively at patterns on the deck plating as they walked. “He’s...young. Eager. Brilliant and knows it, but even the arrogance feels like an affectation. Almost obligatory. At least, it’s flimsy enough that I doubt it will last long outside of a competitive Academy environment.”

“He specifically asked to be here.”

Dax’s hum was like rippling water. “He told me that as well.”

“That sounds like a man with something to prove.” Sisko didn’t hide the disapproval in his voice. From another officer under his command, maybe. Not from Dax.

“Yes, but it’s to himself first and foremost. I’m not a counselor Benjamin, so I couldn’t tell you why, but  I’m confident his rough edges will be smoothed over with little bit of time, wisdom, and real-world experience. And,” she added with a thin smile. “The guiding hand of a wise mentor.”

“I hope I can live up to your example.”

“Oh, I meant me. You’ll do too, I suppose,” Dax winked. “I taught you everything you know.”

For the first time since he boarded that godforsaken Cardassian station, Ben Sisko laughed. “Not everything, Old Man.”

[scientific-tricorder]

Who's ready to have their heart broken with "No Small Parts"?

I like how the teaser really, well, teases the episode's theme of what happens after Starfleet leaves a planet, after the episode ends and the credits roll - which also serves as a way of turning the franchise in-jokes and references into a thematically important part of the narrative.

Those Old Scientists - TOS abbreviation is canon.

Maybe that's why they have carpet everywhere, so they can wear socks around without slipping and sliding everywhere.

The scene of the destruction of the Solvang. Damn. It's impactful and visually impressive.

The existence of a Captain Freeman Day implies that it's not just Picard, but rather every captain that gets their own shipwide holiday. What is Captain Sisko Day like? Captain Janeway Day?

Return of the exocomps!

The conspiracy theory guy. I can't help but wonder what his "evidence" for Wolf 359 being an inside job and the non-existence of changelings and Dominion War is. And actually, since it's fairly likely and at least somewhat implied that Mariner is a veteran of the Dominion War, what must it be like for someone to full on deny it's having happened like that in front of her?

Why key lime pie and not pecan?

"It's the Sac - that's such a huge career boost." So getting the Sac is a career boost. Gotta love some punnery.

Wait, Boimler technically outranks Mariner? Okay, so they're both ensigns, right? My own headcanon for ranking among people of the same rank goes right back to the Hornblower source: seniority - who got their commission first. We know that Mariner was in Starfleet before Boimler, so was she at some point kicked out/left/demoted and came back to full ensign rank after Boimler had started? Or is my headcanon completely off and something else is going on here?

Rutherford's implant settings suddenly changing his mood/personality sure seems similar to having sudden changes in psychiatric medication.

Shaxs giving a wrapped bat'leth as a suck-up gift to Mariner is great. And it's actually something she'd probably appreciate.

Trying-to-be-a-good-ensign Mariner is doing the walk! The walk from "Envoys" that she mocked Boimler for doing!

Hey, is that the same Bajoran guy from when Rutherford was in medical?

Those visuals! This episode really is a visual treat. Props to the artists.

And lookey there - Badgey's back!

Mariner's loot from the teaser to the pilot popping up again here in the climax of the finale. They're really just pulling out all the callbacks to themselves, huh?

Boimler is sword guy! Mariner was right; we did need another sword guy.

Also, Spock helmet.

Are Pakleds Pokémon? I mean, given the whole shouting the name of their species while attacking thing.

"I've got this!" "And I've got you!" Shaxs helping Rutherford to get the virus to the Pakled ship without a moment's hesitation, and then Shaxs is so happy flying the shuttle! He's getting to shoot things, and blow stuff up! And he recognizes Rutherford as still a member of the Bear Pack right there at the end. Just... Shaxs here in his last moments.

The TNG theme! That musical score and the Titan just swooping in and saving the day - it's wonderful.

"No jazzy reflective panels." Apparently Captain Freeman also isn't a fan of all the ultra shiny modern sci-fi aesthetic.

Tendi and Rutherford there in the infirmary are both so heart-warming.

Did they give Ransom and Riker the same nose? I think they gave Ransom and Riker the same nose.

It's been a loooong roooad! Good to see that Riker still has faith of the heart.

A spectacular finale to the first season - now here's to the second season!

[5lazarus]

Jane Austen Book Club

Dukat reads Pride and Prejudice to help him understand human relations (and fuck the Sisko). He thinks he’s being Darcy but really, he’s just Mr. Collins…and evil. Garak lends him a copy of Jane Austen and a horrific cravat, and really, it's all downhill from there. The sorta-Regency AU that no one wanted but that @the-venereal-bede asked for, so here we go!

For your formatting sanity, read on Archive of Our Own here!

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Commander Sisko is in need of a good fuck. Skrain Dukat believes he is just the man for the job. Absolutely everyone else disagrees.

“You see, my dear Julian,” Garak says, eyes widening over his Tarkalean tea, “a certain someone sent him a copy of that lovely novel you lent me, and he does believe it is meant as a model of, ah—“

“Human mating practices,” Julian says, horrified.

Garak closes his eyes, inclines his head, and smiles. “Yes. Now, how he arrived at that misconception is neither here nor there.”

“You told him,” Julian says.

Garak widens his eyes and inclines his head. “Now, your Jane Austen writes a society that is…familiar to certain Cardassian cultural practices.”

“The bickering as a lead up to sex, yes,” Julian says. Garak pauses. Julian says, “What? I read about it.”

Garak does not even attempt to suppress a smirk. “What book?” he asks, faux-suspicious.

Julian colors, and continues, “So, a certain someone, who is certainly not a spy masquerading as a tailor, slipped Jane Austen’s seminal text Pride & Prejudice into Gul Dukat’s PADD when he showed up at the station after we accidentally set off the emergency self-destruct system. As an insider look into human mating culture. And now he’s convinced this is going to get Commander Sisko to fuck him.”

Garak says, “Yes, isn’t it delightful?”

Julian picks up his tea and smiles over the rim. “Oh yes,” he says. “Commander Sisko is going to kill us both!”

At Quark’s, during lunch, Major Kira comes to their table. She interrupts a truly riveting debate about the old Earth movie Lawrence of Arabia and the sublimation of trauma into BDSM, where Garak is cool and amused the entire time, and Julian more and more gesticulating.

“It’s not just sex, Garak,” Julian is saying hotly.

Kira steps back, but Garak, smirking to himself, says loudly, “Oh Major, do you need something? You’re just in time to settle a question.”

Kira says uncertainly, “I’m not sure I’m the best one to ask.”

“Nonsense!” Julian says. “Who else would we go to?” He puts down his fork. Garak leans forward and grins at Julian.

Kira says, “Dax? Quark? Even Sisko—actually, scratch that.” She puts her hands on her hips, trying to convey authority. It works on Julian. Garak merely widens his eyes at her. “So, I got the most interesting call in Ops today.” Julian glances up at Garak, and Kira folds her arms. “I get the sense you know what I’m talking about.”

Garak says, “I haven’t the slightest idea, Major. Please,” he gestures at a seat. “Enlighten us.” Julian picks up his fork again and smiles at him. He’s amused. So is Kira, despite herself. She pulls up a chair and sits on it backwards.

She leans forward and whispers, “Gul Dukat was wearing—Dax called it a cravat?”

Julian snorts into his tea.

“Ah,” Kira says. “I get the sense you know what I’m talking about. He called Dax, asking if she could—grant him an introduction? To Sisko?” She is baffled by the words she’s saying. “He says he needs a chaperone. Now, that’s never stopped him from diplomatic negotiations before—“

Garak says knowingly, “Oh, Major, he should never have been left without a chaperone to begin with. His father—“

Kira says, “I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know! What you did to his father. I don’t need to know. Anyway. I just had a sense. Do you two have anything to do with that?”

Julian sets his fork back down and puts his napkin on his plate. “We don’t mean any harm,” he says. “Just—streamlining communication. Did Dax agree?”

Kira says, “Yeah, that’s the part I don’t get. She said yes! I’ve never seen her agree to anything that fast—willingly spending time with Gul Dukat!”

Garak inquires innocently, “Did he happen to mention a book, Major?”

“Something about a Darcy?”

Julian puts his head in his hands. Garak’s eyes widen. “Oh, then—there’s nothing to worry about. He’s just indulged in an Earth book of manners I sent him. Nothing to worry about,” he repeats. Slowly, he smiles. “But do give Lieutenant Dax my thanks.”

Dax says, “I think the funniest thing about this is that he thinks he’s Mr. Darcy, when he’s clearly a Mr. Collins.”

Kira says, “I still don’t get—why do you need to drop off a card and get it signed to talk to someone you want to fuck?”

Dax rolls her eyes. “It’s not quite that, Kira,” she says. “It’s more that you’re open to—talking.” She rolls her hands out as they exit the turbolift and enter Ops.

“Right.” Kira waggles her eyebrows. “Talking.” They separate to their stations, hiding their smiles, and shift to their Starfleet selves. Dax pulls up the latest readings on geothermic activity from the closest M-class planets in the Gamma Quadrant; the Jem’Hadar are not near, but close enough that their sensors register their presence. Kira frowns over the latest dispatch from the provisional government. Everything is new, nothing is particularly going well, but they have a rhythm, and that means they can get through the day. Routine is good: Kira is still unsettled by her real-life nightmare with the Cardassians, and Dax still catches herself whistling Joran’s melodies.

Then Sisko comes out of his office, bearing raktajino and whistling to himself. Dax involuntarily starts: Joran? Kira looks up sharply, but Sisko is calm and that calms her. Dax goes back to work.

Sisko walks over to Kira and says, “I just had the most informative call with Kai Winn and Vedek Bareil.”

Kira straights up. “Oh?” she says warily.

Sisko takes a sip from his Klingon coffee, preparing to launch into the story, but an ensign says, “What the fuck? Sorry, sir. We have an incoming call from…Gul Dukat.”

Dax giggles. Sisko looks askance and says, “Again?”

Dax says innocently, “Oh, I wonder what he could want.”

Kira coughs a laugh into her hands. Sisko rolls his eyes at her.

“Let’s see what he’s wearing this time,” he sighs. He looks at Dax. “I don’t know who gave him a book of manners from eighteenth century England, of all places. It’s infuriating. On screen, ensign.” He braces himself, and Dax and Kira do too.

Gul Dukat takes up the whole screen, not because he is a particularly big man or charismatic. It is because he programmed it to fixate on his face. He sits there primly, neck covered by a huge, puffy piece of cloth. It is lurid, bright orange, and its pattern seethes.

That is one horrific necktie, the entirety of Ops thinks in unison. Not even Quark would touch that; this makes the Ferengi’s ugly-chic look positively haut-couture.

Sisko clears his throat. “What do you want, Dukat?” he says.

Dukat smiles winsomely. It is the same smile he wore when he told a Bajoran worker he was stealing her wife and sending her children to the mines. Kira’s face fixes into a snarl. Sisko glances back at her, to check if she needs anything, but she makes a subtle gesture with her hand.

“Well?” Sisko says. “I do have a station to run.”

Gul Dukat drawls, “Certainly you have time for a chat between partners—“

“Partners?” Sisko stares askance. “You got trapped in Ops during a self-destruct program you made, and you think you can—is there anything you need, Dukat?” He restrains his anger. Behind him, Kira is now less disgusted and more horrified. She tries to catch Dax’s eye: is this really happening?

Dax grins.

“No, I just wanted to offer my assistance,” Dukat says. “To remind you that I am still here, assiduously waiting, to swoop in whenever I hear the call. As I did during the auto-destruct sequence just one week ago, if you remember.”

“Swoops like a vulture,” Kira mutters behind Sisko. “Like carrion.”

Dax says, “Well, with that necktie, he’s certainly hard to forget.”

Dukat preens. “Do you like? I was advised by—I wish our people to become better friends, Commander Sisko. Truly, I do. And I think the best way for us to proceed is for you to remember that I am always here. Waiting. For when you will need me, because you will need me.”

“Chief O’Brien has this station well in hand,” Sisko says repressively, “and Bajor takes care of the rest. Is there anything else you need?” Gul Dukat opens his mouth, but Sisko gestures at the ensign. “Close the channel. Sisko out.” He turns to Dax. “What the fuck was that about?”

Dax shrugs. “I don’t know,” she says.

Sisko says, “I know you do, Old Man. What’s he playing at?”

Dax begins walking towards the turbolift. “Dunno! But I just remembered—I need to drop these PADDs off with Julian.” She grins at him. “What? You didn’t like the cravat?” Sisko sighs.

“Cheer up, Benjamin,” she says as the doors begin to close. “At least he’s using his words.”

Sisko winces. Turning around, he barks at the frozen Ops personnel. “What? Don’t you have work to do? Get to work!”

“Bet you he was jerking off under the table,” Dax says. “Acquire.”

Quark makes a face. “Evade. Well, he fucks himself every time he talks.” Busily he looks at his cards. Any hand can be a winning hand, if you play your cards right. He spins the tongo wheel. Dax smiles.

“What’s your bet, Quark?” she asks, stretching her legs like a lazy cat underneath the table. Quark rolls his eyes at her. “Do you think Benjamin will bite?”

“Not in the way Dukat wants,” Quark says. He looks at her suddenly, then glances back down at his cards. She is trying to distract him with gossip and he will not let it work, however entertaining Starfleet drama is. She’s bluffing. He says, “Unless?” Unfortunately Dax shakes her head. Damn, Quark thinks. That could have been profitable. Strange, but profitable.

Dax, thinking about it, says, mirth in her voice, “Well, that’d be a new record in interstellar relations. The Emissary of the Prophets and Starfleet commander accepts the courtship of one Gul Dukat—“

“Courtship?” Quark looks up sharply. “You didn’t tell me he was courting him.” This will definitely be profitable!

Dax is nonplussed. “Well, I mean, it’s not really a courtship when one party is utterly repulsed by the other and totally ignorant of his affections.”

“Jadzia,” Quark puts down his cards. “You’re breaking my heart. Don’t you know there’s money to be made, when love is in the air?” He mines sniffing the intoxicating aroma of phemerones, alien and Ferengi alike. He bares his sharp little teeth in a winsome grin. “I can help with this, you know. Help everyone. We can’t have our commander distracted in times such as these, you know. I can arrange a little meeting, semipublic, you understand—“

Dax says, “I don’t, but…retreat.” A bit embarrassed now, she spins the tongo wheel. She loves to gossip and she loves controlling the funnel of information through Quark. Perhaps this was a misstep.

Quark’s eyes light up. “Gul Dukat would pay good money on a spread of the commander’s favorite, under a candlelit dinner. In a semi-retreated place so, you know, fondling can happen if it happens—“

“You don’t think Benjamin’s going to fondle anything, do you?” Dax is amused. “Play your hand, Quark. And on your head if this backfires!”

Quark makes a face and says, “Confront.” He grins up at Dax. “Rule of Acquisition Twenty-Two: a wise man can hear profit in the wind.”

Dax cocks an eyebrow. “Rule of Acquisition One Hundred And Ninety,” she retorts. “Hear all, trust nothing. Tongo!”

“I don’t know why we have to have this here, Quark,” Sisko says. “We have a board room in Ops.”

“Don’t you hew-mons know anything about preventing a war?” Quark scowls. “Wine and dine, commander! Wine and dine!”

Sisko rolls his eyes. Dukat has demanded a meeting to discuss Jem’Hadar build-up on the Gamma side of the wormhole; Starfleet Command indicated their desire that he speak to it, citing his strange ability to keep Dukat talking. There’s nothing strange about it. The man’s an egotist. Normally Sisko would convene the meeting in his office, and have Kira or Dax around to keep him from getting too weird, but both of them have pleaded busy. Captain Bodahn is in town; Vedek Bareil has a rare break from monastic duties. Thus Sisko is left alone, with Quark, in a private nook at the upper level of the bar, where few can see them but, of course, the bartender himself. Nothing goes unseen at Quark’s.

Odo has arranged Bajoran security throughout the place, enough to make it clear they aren’t happy Dukat is here. Sisko catches the gaze of one particularly stoic woman. Stony, she does not even nod back. They’re good, Odo’s hand-picked forces. While they’re loyal to Odo first and Starfleet maybe seventh, Sisko likes having them around. It makes Dukat very, very uncomfortable.

Quark says, right in his ear, “What do you think of crayfish?” Sisko starts violently and pushes him away.

“Crawfish?” Sisko stares at him. “What?”

“I asked your dad,” Quark says.

“What?” That’s insane. “How did you—nevermind, Quark.” Joseph can handle anyone, and the idea of his wily old dad running circles around Quark is oddly comforting. Then he hears the murmurs, Bajorans looking askance, and knows Dukat is coming.

Quark says, “Damn. Must’ve stopped by at Garak’s, then.” Sisko’s mouth drops. Dukat is wearing skintight pants, illuminating every unfortunate bulge and ridge in his knobby legs. He wears that horrific cravat, stroking it as he weaves like a snake through the shocked crowd. The necktie is orange. The waistcoat is an electric blue of the likes never seen amongst the terracottas popular on Deep Space Nine. The jacket, though, is out of this world—slashed to give him the appearance of a tiny waist and shoulders so ridiculously wide he looks like a capital-T.

Quark says, “Hm. Cardassian fashions must’ve changed since the Occupation. Well! Don’t you feel underdressed.”

Sisko says, “He looks like a sea slug.”

“Where I’m from, that’s a complement!” Quark grins. “A bottle of kanar and whiskey for yourself, coming right up.”

“No—“ Sisko does not want to give Dukat any excuse to be more verbose than usual, but it is too late. Quark disappears, and Dukat approaches.

“Ah, Commander,” Gul Dukat preens. “How good of you to consent to dinner with me.”

Sisko says, “I follow my orders. Where’s Quark?”

Dukat says, “Surely we’re beyond the point of needing chaperones.” He sits down at the table, which is uncomfortably small. Sisko pulls his own chair back and settles down, four inches away. Dukat scooches in. A muscle twitches in Sisko’s jaw, but otherwise, he does not move.

Quark comes by holding candlesticks. Sisko, perturbed, says, “Is this really necessary? It’s just business.”

Quark says, “Sh. Now, gentleman!” He claps his hand. “For our first course, I’ll be serving you a Ferengi special—desiccated laka leaves with freshly-filleted tube grubs, in a fermented garlic wine sauce. I know how you liked my tube grubs, Dukat.”

Dukat smiles winsomely. It makes him look even more like an inbred greyhound than usual. Sisko is beginning to think he might want that whiskey after all.

Quark continues, “And then, for our main course—a simple crawfish boil, as you hew-mons say, with candied makati berries to keep it to our Cardassian tastes.” Quark winks, very obviously, to Dukat. Dukat’s smile grows wider.

Sisko, a bit disturbed, says, “Uh—why don’t we just leave it at the tube grubs, Quark.” It is not question. It is an order. “I have pressing business to attend to, and cannot stay for a whole three-course meal.” Pressing business like making sure Jake and Nog have done their homework and going over security reports with Odo, which he had planned to do tomorrow morning, but the less time spent with Dukat, the better.

Dukat says, “I agree. We want to get to the point of this meeting, don’t we?” He begins loosening his cravat.

Quark holds his clasped hands to his chest gleefully. “I quite agree!” He leans forward and lights the candles quickly. “I’ll just leave you two gentlemen to it.” He scampers away, leaving Sisko with a horrible feeling. This is going to be weird. With Dukat, it’s always weird.

As soon as Quark leaves, Dukat leans forward and attempts to pull his hand forward, upsetting the candle.

“Woah, man,” Sisko says, grabbing it as it spills wax onto Dukat’s hand. Dukat hisses, releasing him grip.

“Benjamin, if I may call you Benjamin,” Dukat begins.

“Commander is fine,” Sisko says. “Dukat, what—“

“In our long acquaintance, you have found me a constant and unfailing presence,” he says, stroking his horrific necktie. “Indeed, my interventions have been necessary, saving the life of you, your son, and this whole station on multiple occasion. Your barbs have been sharp, your repartee cunning, but as for me, I have shown mastery in every situation that you have needed me. Clearly it is time for us to admit all along that this dance is reaching its final, fated steps. The Emissary of the Prophets needs the Prefect of Major, and together—“

Sisko says, “Since when have you saved my life? You were an active inconvenience when the station was under lockdown, you have consistently attempted to take the station by force—“

Dukat smiles again. “Again, we dance, and the music plays on.” He waves a hand idly through the air. “O-Oh, Quaaark!” he trills. Quark comes running over. “Where are our drinks? Where is the music? Why isn’t there dancing?”

Sisko stares at Quark. “Because I said so,” Sisko says.

Quark points at Sisko. “Because he said so. Drinks coming right up!” He scurries away and comes back with a single bottle of kanar and two traditional hourglass glasses. He pours them both a glass, maintaining eye contact with Sisko the entire time.

Dukat says, “A toast.”

Sisko says, “Our sensors have not picked up any new activity from the Jem’Hadar. Do you have something to report, or are you just wasting my time?”

Dukat laughs lightly. “Oh, commander, save some of that for later.” A bit more threatening this time, he says, “A toast—to our partnership.”

Sisko says, “I don’t drink kanar. And I don’t drink with you, Dukat. Now, will you tell me what you’re blathering about or will you f—“

“Gentlemen!” Quark says, bearing tube grubs. “I hope I’m interrupting.”

Sisko says, “Don’t you mean…not interrupting, Quark?”

A beat passes. Quark inclines his head. “Sure.” He places a plate of freshly-filleted tube grubs before both of them, and then proffers what Sisko assumes is a pepper grinder. “Paprika?” Dukat, pained, nods. Vigorously Quark massages the grinder. It is a little obscene. He grunts as he begins to twist. Slowly, achingly, the flakes begin to drop.

Sisko says, “Please stop.”

Quark says, “Just setting the mood.” Sisko makes a face. “You want, too?” He makes for Sisko, who puts his hands up.

“I don’t like tube grubs,” he says sourly, eying Dukat. “I think our business is done here.”

“No!” Quark pounces. “You haven’t even gotten to your second course!”

Sisko turns to him. “Who’s paying you?” he demands. “What’s going on?” Quietly the Bajoran security officers in their wall-colored clothes each take a step forward, to make themselves known.

Dukat growls, “Quark, you’re ruining the moment.” He smiles unpleasantly. “Benjamin, please.” He takes his arm, but Sisko slaps his hand away.

“What’s gotten into you?” Sisko says. “What’s with the—necktie?”

Dukat preens. “What, this old thing? A mutual friend told me it was just the thing to attract the notice I desire. He gave me a book, you see, and really I must admit after reading it you humans are somewhat less unenlightened than I first imagined. More civilized than the Bajorans, at least.”

Sisko closes his eyes. “What book is that?” he says. “The Prince? Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas? Vanity Fair?”

Dukat says, “Better. And it would make me the happiest of men, beyond the proudest of men, the most prejudiced of men—“

“That,” Sisko interrupts, voice rising, “is not a good thing.”

Dukat ignores him. “The most sensible of men, the most full of sense of men, of all persuasions to finally enjoin you, Benjamin, finally to end this charade.” He grabs Sisko’s hand. “Benjamin! You are not a Darcy!”

“The fuck are you saying,” Sisko says.

Dukat stops. “Surely you know—“

Sisko says with finality, “No. I don’t.”

Dukat says, “But—“

“No,” Sisko says.

“You said—the necktie—he said—“

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Sisko says. “Eat your tube grubs.”

Gul Dukat tightens his cravat, and in silence they finish their meal. Catching Sisko in the replimat the next day, lunching with Julian as always, Garak asks Sisko what he thought of Dukat’s new passion for Jane Austen. Sisko shoots him a look so deadly he stops, eyes wide, and suddenly understands Dukat’s unrelenting lust.

“Well,” Garak says, shaking himself as Sisko stalks away. He pulls at his collar and them remembers himself. “That was…something, wasn’t it? Seeing our commander in a fury, in one look.” He leans forward, over the table. “You know, I don’t think Sisko like Jane Austen. Not nearly as much as Gul Dukat.”

Julian smiles wryly. He says, “Well, yes. Don’t you remember the situation with the ghost? He much prefers Wuthering Heights.” He looks at Garak, suddenly worried. “You’re not going to tell Dukat, are you?”

Garak smiles to himself. “I believe my one attempt at teaching him to be a man of culture is enough, my dear Julian.”

Julian frowns. “Shame. I thought we could have a book club.” He grins at the look on Garak’s face. “Get the boys all together. Act scenes out in the holosuites. Could be fun.”

Garak says, “No. Not with Gul Dukat. That cravat was enough.”

[motherfingtitan]

Ignorance is Bliss

"When a routine holodeck security inspection goes wrong, new chief of security Jodie Sherret finds out what happened to her predecessor in the worst way possible.

"Are you coming to management training?" Billups’s voice broke her concentration as

Jodie Sherret looked up from her PADD.

"You mean senior crew karaoke?" She replied to Andy.

He shrugged, and they both continued down the hallway. Sherrets first weeks as the Cerritos new chief of security had been an emotional jumble of excitement, fear, joy, and sadness.

Quite a bit of sadness

As a Betazoid human hybrid, Jodie didn't have the telepathic abilities that full Betazoids had, but she was an empath. For the first week, every crew member she talked to radiated with sadness. Even during her first senior crew meeting, she was pounded with a mangled mess of depression that left her exhausted. She knew something tragic happened to her predecessor, but she felt it was inappropriate to ask so soon, especially when the ship had only left dry dock four weeks ago.

She knew a few things. Her predecessor was a Bajoran that went by Shax. He called his security crew the "Bear Pack," and after reviewing tactical programming, he loved to eject warp cores.

"Ransoms going to sing that song he heard while vacationing in Spain. I'm sure every glass in the bar is going to shatter," Billups continued, waving his hands around to emphasize just how bad Jack sang.

"I'll have to catch up with you later. I have to do an inspection on the holodeck. Some ensign, Bumford, I think" she twirled her right hand in the air. "Used all the crew's private logs to create a perfect holodeck simulation. I have to make sure there's no sensitive information in it before I delete it." 

"Oh, Boimler! I remember him. He and his friends really saved us that day…." He trailed off.

And there it was again, that uncertain sadness that filled the space around them. She so badly wanted to understand what happened.

"It should only take me an hour, then I'll meet you guys" she tried to break the silence.

"Sounds good! The party will just be getting started. I'll save you a seat next to me" they reached a fork in the corridors, and Andy went left. 

He waved as he turned another corner, out of sight. Jodie walked over to the closest turbo lift.

"Deck 8"

The turbo lift began moving, and the ambient sounds filled the air. She loved being alone, as it gave her time to take a break from many negative emotions. The lift slowed to a standstill, and the door slid open. Out she walked down the hallway, passing through ensigns work assignments. Arriving at the door to the holodeck, she rechecked her assignment.

"Computer, access holodeck program Boimler 7."

'This program requires authorization.'

"Authorization Sherret Beta-Four-Delta-Delta"

'Authorization granted, please specify which subprogram.'

"The hell?" She mouthed as the computer began listing out dates on the display. She scrolled up and down the different programs. The last date on the list caught her eye, stardate 57894.8, precisely a day before the Cerritos went into dry dock. 

Maybe it was curiosity or just a random place to start, but Sherret chose that subprogram.

'You may enter when ready."

The door slid open to reveal the bridge. Freeman sat in the captain's chair with her legs crossed. Ransom was just walking in, flashing a smile to Freeman and handing her his PADD. Sherret stepped into the program as the doors slid shut behind her.

"These are the officers that are in the running for the Sacramento promotion," Ransom started.

Freeman waved him off. "I'll check it after we sort out this distress call from the Solvang. I can't believe Dayton's had that ship for a week, and she's already had an Ensign accidentally sit on the distress beacon button."

The Solvang? Jodie heard that that ship had been destroyed in an attack and lost all crew. Despite it being a holodeck program, her gut sank as she knew the inevitable was coming. They wouldn't get there in time.

Jodie began to walk over to the conn behind the captain's chair. The equipment and displays were slightly different, likely upgraded after the ship went into the dry dock. Behind the conn, two officers stood. The first she recognized as Billups, but the larger one next to him she had never seen. A glance at the two gold pips in his collar, and she realized that he was Shax. He was quite a bit taller than her and a great deal more intimidating. She started to look at the touchscreen on the wall, making herself look busy.

A lieutenant spoke, "Captain; we’re just about at the coordinates of the distress call."

"Drop to impulse."

After dropping to impulse, the view screens show a sight of rubble against a red, menacing backdrop.

"Shields up, red alert!" Ransom called out as debris hit the ship, causing all the officers on the bridge to stumble.

Shaxs spoke, "Collision alert. Impacts on decks Three, fifteen, and twenty!"

She stared in terrifying awe at her predecessor. His intense demeanor was a contrast to her more nuanced approach. It was surreal knowing that all of this had happened just a few weeks before Sherret first boarded the ship. 

Looking over at the viewscreen, a large piece of debris that looked as if it had just gone through an explosion came into view. The words USS Solvang were plaster across it. 

"My God! Is that the Solvang?" Freeman spoke.

"Not reading any life signs. The whole crew, they've been wiped out." 

Suddenly, a mechanical arm grabbed the remaining piece of the destroyed ship. It pulled the rubble back and attached it to a much larger ship. Looking around, every officer on the bridge had looks of shock and fear in their eyes.

"They're harvesting the wreckage!"

The large ship began to shoot at the Cerritos, causing the decks to tremble. 

"Evasive maneuvers!"

The next minute was a blur as the Cerritos tried and failed to escape the enemy or even send out a distress signal. 

Shaxs was carefully monitoring damage reports, which at this point, we're coming in from all over the ship. Something alarmed him.

"Captain, they latched on to the port nacelle with some sort of mining arm!"

"Warp! Get us out of here!" Her commander's survival instincts kicked in.

"No! Shut down engines!"

"But we'll be sitting ducks!" Ransom tried to reason with the captain.

"Dayton would have thought the same thing, and look what happened to them. Shut it down!"

Both operations officers behind the conn tapped in the codes to shut down power. Just as the lights were growing dim, the ship jerked violently, Sending Sherret, along with the rest of the crew, flying across the bridge. The lieutenant managed to grab the chair’s arm to the left of the captains when she slammed into the ground. Sparks flew, and fires broke out, creating a disorienting haze. Hearing a scraping noise, Sherret looked up to see a metal ceiling plate about to rip away from the wires and fall.

"Captain, watch out!" Holo Freeman followed Jodie's eyes to the metal plate as it fell. The scream was sickening as the metal landed on the captain, cutting into her side. 

"Computer, pause program!" 

Everything paused. Sherret reoriented herself and sat in a more comfortable position. 

"Do I really want to see this?" She spoke to herself. Everything in her screamed to stop the program and inspect something else. Just a boring old day that would put her to sleep. One look at Shaxs, who was bracing himself on the conn, made her change her mind. 

"Computer, resume program."

One last jolt sent her flying back into the side of the chair before the ship eerily stood still. Two ensigns ran over to the captain as Billups turned auxiliary power back on. Jodie was just helping herself up when a menacing figure showed up on the viewscreen. 

"We thought the Enterprise was strong. We are strong!"

Freeman’s voice wavered as she spoke, "This isn't the Enterprise; this is the Cerritos."

The figure took off its helmet "We thought you were the Enterprise."

Pakleds? The technology pillagers that took Geordi LaForge hostage in 2364? Sherret thought that they were a joke. Something to laugh about. The captain tried to reason with the Pakled, to no avail.

"We will cut your ship apart!" The transmission cut out as the Cerritos was pulled towards the other ship. 

One of the Ensign, Boimler, who created this program, stated that the Pakleds had technology from over 30 different species.

They weren't a joke anymore.

The ship was brought into a repair bay of some sorts as a jolt was felt throughout the ship. 

"They're phasering the hull!" Shaxs shouted.

Sherret ran to the conn that Billups was sitting at and looked at the force field integrity.

"Emergency force fields are holding, but I have no idea how long they're going to last on auxiliary power!" She spoke. 

'None of this is happening right now,' she thought to calm herself down.. 'It happened before, but right now, Ransom is singing terribly, Freeman is uninjured, and the ship is safe.'

Mariner then stepped up and suggested a plan. A crazy dangerous plan, but a plan that worked considering that the Cerritos is still in one piece. Installing a program to disable the enemy ship was brilliant, and Sherret made a mental note to talk to Mariner about transferring to security.

Bright swirls of light appeared all over the bridge. "Intruders beaming in! Very slowly beaming in!"

'Safety protocols are offline. Extreme risk of injury or death.'

Jodie's blood drained from her face. "Computer, end program!"

'Unable to comply.'

"Computer, pause program!"

'Unable to comply.'

Boimler spoke, "Trust me, I really wish this was a program too!"

'No, no, no no no' she tapped on her combadge, desperately trying to get in contact with anybody, but nothing was getting through.

"We gotta go!" Mariner rushed everyone into the turbo lift.

"Deck 7," Shaxs practically roared.

The armory was located on that deck but all the way on the other side of the ship. How were they going to make it in time with Intruders beaming in all over the ship? The captain was already growing weak as she leaned on Shaxs for support.

'Come on! Somebody come in!' The tapping on her combadge grew more frantic as the turbo lift slowed to a stop. The doors slid open, and Mariner led the way down the corridor. Wires stuck out everywhere, sparks coming from them.

'Freeman, Ransom, Billups. Anyone come in!' 

"We have to get to the armory!" Shaxs spoke just before all of them were cut off by Pakleds beaming in from all four directions. They were trapped.

"Looks like we'll have to repel them the old-fashioned way. Setting my fists to stun in my kick to kill." Mariner rolled her eyes back as she pulled off several different sheets of metal plating from the walls and ceiling. Numerous pieces of contraband, mainly consisting of weapons, fell from the compartments. 

"Hey, we got all this" she kicked some weapons towards the group. The rest of the officers quickly started to arm themselves. "All the way in the back too!"

Sherret spotted a Glavin rolling towards her. She picked it up and placed it on her right hand, trying to get used to the weight.

"How much contraband have you hidden on my ship?" Holo Freeman asked.

"I don't know, a lot!" Was her only reply before the Pakleds started to materialize.

Sherret got in her fighting stance, fists and weapons up. The Intruders materialized and started running towards the group. In a split second, she dashed towards the Pakleds, swinging her weapon and hoping someone got her com call.

...

If there's one thing Commander Ransom thought he was good at but wasn't, it was singing.

Yo te amo y ahora perdóname

Solo recuérdame

Te amo, te amo, te amo

Te amo, te amo

The man was absolutely tone-deaf. The vast majority of crew members in 10 forward were internally cringing but trying to put on a pleasant facade because Jack was the first officer. All the way in the back corner, swirling his glass around but not taking a sip, was Commander Billups.

He glanced to his right, where Sherret would have been If she were here.

"What is taking her so long?" He spoke to himself, tapping his glass and watching the ripples that it made in his drink. 

She was supposed to only take an hour, but it had already been nearly two. Staring at the seat for a moment longer, his combadge came to life. 

"Help! Someone help!"

He nearly jumped before tapping his badge. "Commander Billups here. Report!"

The voice that came back was filled with fear and breathing heavily. "Oh, thank God! It's Lieutenant Sherret. The holodeck program I was running is corrupted. Safety protocols are offline, I can't get out of the program, and Holo Pakleds are attacking me. I need he-" a scream cut off the call. 

Billups jumped from his booth and ran out of the bar, bumping into a few officers along the way. He sprinted to the nearest touch screen panel.

"Computer, what program is running in holodeck two?!"

'The program running is Boimler 7. Safety protocols are currently offline.'

"Turn safety protocols back on!"

'Unable to comply.'

"Initiate Chief Engineer override. Billups Alpha-Delta-Four-Four-Seven. Shut down holodeck two."

'Unable to comply.'

"What the heck is wrong with this thing?" He was nearly pulling his hair out looking. "Billups to Rutherford" he commed

"Rutherford here"

"Meet me outside of holodeck two. We have a serious problem with a corrupt program."

"On my way."

He ran back into the lounge, trying to act as normal as possible. He spotted T'ana, a deadpan expression plastered on her face with the occasional side glare to Nurse Westlake, who just shrugged in return. Coming up from behind, T'ana suddenly felt herself being pulled away mid-drink.

"Dammit! What the hell?" She snarled.

"Sorry, need to borrow her for a second," Billups said to nurse Westlake, who just raised an eyebrow in return.

"Ok, what the hell was that!" The doctor snapped when they finally stepped out of the lounge.

"Sherret is stuck in a dangerous holodeck program. She commed me midway through the program, and the last thing I heard was a scream. She might be injured."

T'ana stood looking at him for a moment, observing the worry in his eyes. "Alright. I'm sure it's nothing major, but I'll get a team on standby.

...

The scene was insane. The sound of weapons hitting surfaces and the grunts from the Pakleds and the crew muddled together for disturbing background noise. Sherret was currently swinging her weapon at two Pakleds, landing several decent hits. 

There were just so damn many of them!

Shoveling her glavin into one of the pakleds stomachs, she was able to kick it in the knee, causing him to collapse. Behind her, Shaxs was throwing bodies at one another and, at one point, literally head-butted one of the enemies. While looking over at Shaxs, a Pakled came up from behind and swiped her. The force throwing her across the hallway, and blood seeped out of her newly formed wound. 

"Little fucker" she mumbled, gripping her wound. 

Another was charging after her. Sliding out of the way at the last second, the Pakled slammed itself into the wall, where she was able to shove the weapon directly into its lower back. 

"Mom!" Sherret glanced up, seeing Mariner across the hallway running to the collapsed captain. 

There was so much blood, with the sticky liquid pooling on the floor. Mariner tried to pull her up before the entire ship shook, and a bright phaser beam tore through the hallway. Shaxs ran over to the captain and picked up her weak frame. Both him and Boimler ran towards sickbay. 

"Ransom! Get our backs!" Mariner yelled out before following her mother.

"Way ahead of you," he side kicked another Pakleds, causing it to fall and mumble, "my leg!"

"Hey! Any particular reason you two aren't using weapons?" Sherret swung at the Pakled, being pinned against the wall by Billups.

"I only need my hands as wepo-" Jack was cut off by a punch to the face. Falling to the ground, he managed to use both of his legs to kick the Pakled off. "Double leg kick!"

More yellow energy beams appeared in the hallways. 

"Guys, we have more beaming in!" Billups yelled 

"How many of these guys are there?" Sherret stood in a fighting stance.

"I don't know, but whatever happens, do not let them get past sickbay!" Ransom threw his signature kicks and punches.

Though they were able to get a majority of the Pakleds off their backs, a few pinned the three right against sickbay doors. Just as she had crushed another holo Intruder's kneecap, the sick bay doors slid open, revealing Shaxs with Rutherford over his shoulder. They began to run down the hallway.

'This is my chance,' Sherret thought. She could finally learn what happened to her predecessor.

 She took off running, desperate to keep up with them. She had only ran about 10 ft before getting cut off by a large yellow phaser beam. It was so bright that the lieutenant had to cover her eyes temporarily. Without seeing it, someone snuck up on her.  Something forcefully tugged at her hair, throwing her off balance and onto the ground. Her eyes shot open, but it was too late.

 From there, she was picked up and shoved into the wall. Suddenly, the Pakled put immense pressure on her neck. Looking down, a metal bar pressed against her throat, most likely a handle from an old weapon. The Pakled lifted her from the ground, her only support being the metal bar choking her and her hands trying to tear it away. The pressure was insane, and every breath felt like it was only getting a drop of oxygen.  She flailed their arms back and forth, desperately clawing at the metal, trying to get the bar off of her before she blacked out from lack of oxygen.

...

"Well, what did he say?" Mariner ran down the hallway, trailing behind Rutherford.

"He just said it was a serious problem with a corrupt holodeck program," Rutherford replied, making a sharp right turn. He saw Billups frantically waving at him from the other side of the hallway.

"I hope whoever is in there is going to be okay," Tendi added.

"I'm sure everything is going to work out," Mariner replied as the three ensigns skidded to a stop at the end of the hallway.

Rutherford rushed over to the holodeck control panel, where his boss was already trying to type in different commands to end the program. "What program is running, sir, and who's in there?"

"Boimler 7, Lieutenant Sherret was doing a routine inspection of it before safety protocols failed."

Rutherford knew that program, as ever since he got his new implant, bits of memories were coming back. He started working on the code in the system. But something was wrong, and it looks like it had been messed with in ways that Boimler wouldn't do.

"Sir, I think someone went in and edited the program, and that's why the safeties failed. The entire coding of it is off" he glanced over at Mariner. 

It wasn't too far of a fetch, as Mariner had gone into that program and edited it to make her movie. But why would safeties go off? It's not like any of them got injured there.

Except for the side of Rutherford's head and her lips.

Oh shit.

Billups and T'ana eyes followed Rutherford to Mariners. "what in the hell did you do?" T'ana asked

"I reprogrammed Boimlers holodeck program so that I could do some much-needed therapy in a movie. I don't know what disabled safety protocols."

"Is that why both you and Rutherford showed up to my office bleeding that day?"

"Yeah"

Billups pinched the bridge of his nose. "You messed with a holodeck program, came out bleeding, and you didn't tell anyone!"

"I get thirsty after holodeck therapy sessions! And then I forgot…."

"Well, you're forgetfulness could get another security officer killed!" He shouted. 

T'ana stepped in between them "Both of you need to calm the fuck down before I deem you medically unfit to continue duty," Billups opened his mouth just to be cut off by T'ana, "and don't give me any 'I'm the CHENG' bullshit. Let’s just figure something out"

Mariner used this as an opportunity to dust off her contraband. Pulling a panel on the wall, many bits and pieces from different places fell out, including a crowbar. "Sometimes you got to do with the old-fashioned way" she swung the heavy metal crowbar around.

"And just where the hell did you get a crowbar?" T'ana irritated voice cut through the tension.

Beckett shoved one end of the crowbar into the space where the closed doors met and began to push against the metal bar. "Stole it on shore leave a couple of weeks back. Are any of you gonna help me pry this door open before knock-off Troi gets impaled?"

Tendi ran over and began to pull on the other side of the crowbar. Grinding filled the air as the door slid open a fraction of an inch.

"Someone check what's going on. I can't hold it for long" Tendi and Mariner put their entire weight into the bar. 

Billups was able to see through the tiny slit. Scanning the scene, he finally spotted Jodie in a battered and slightly bloody state. A holo Pakled held her against the wall with a metal pipe. Gasping for air, she desperately clawed at the bar, arms and legs swinging. Then with a grinding noise, the door slammed shut, throwing D'vana and Beckett to the floor. 

T'ana irritated expression softened when she saw all the blood drain from Andy's face. 

"That bad?" 

He took a deep breath. "Yeah, it's recreating the Pakled fight. Rutherford, go down to engineering and see if you can cut the power off there. I'll stay up here and keep trying."

Rutherford ran off, and Billups took his spot, quickly resuming the work that his ensign had already started.

...

Jodie's vision began to darken around the edges as the pressure on her neck increased with every second. Her holo enemy had nothing but malice in his eyes. Just as she began to feel limp, the pressure released.

"Side kick! Double punch!" The holographic version of her first officer had disarmed the enemy and knocked them out. Sherret dropped to her hands and knees, gasping sweet oxygen in as fast as she could.

"Lieutenant!" He helped her up. 

"I'll live," she croaked out, hoping that statement was true. "How many more?"

"I think we got most of them," Holo Billups leaned against the wall, catching his breath.

The turbo lift doors on the far end of the corridor opened, revealing a few straggler Pakleds, likely coming from the bridge.

"Are you okay to fight?" Ransom asked

Sherret nodded, barely having a voice to speak anymore. She picked up the metal pole that was held against her neck moments ago off the ground and held it at an angle against her body. 

"Billups, catch!" Ransom threw a battle-ax at him as the Pakleds closed in. 

In much of a Ransom style, he simply put his fists in a fighting position. "You guys ready to get the last of these assholes out of here?"

"Ready when you are!" Billups replied, and Sherret nodded as they all took their first swings.

Sherret slowly realized that neck injury might have been worse than she initially thought, and she noticed her fighting was way weaker than average. Every swing of the pipe brought uncomfortable pressure to the front of her neck, and even though she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to ignore the pain, it still made her fighting speed much slower. Billups and Ransom, however, were fighting at full strength, making up for her slowness. 

"How much more do we have!" her voice sounded terrible.

“Just these idiots,” ransom yelled with two enemies surrounding him.

 "We will tear you apart, just like we tore this ship apart," the Pakled yelled.

"I don't think so" Moving slightly between them; he was able to kick one of them in the crotch, causing the intruder to collapse and let go of his weapon. Ransom grabbed the weapon just as the first intruder was falling to the ground and managed to hit the second one on the head. Both fell into the same pile. 

Ransom hitched his leg up slightly and let his footrest on one of the bodies. "That'll teach you all not to mess with Commander Jack Ransom!"

"Jack, you may want to look at this," Billups called out. Towards the outside light coming from the end of the hallway. Sherret followed, and Ransom trailed behind.

"The shuttle" Ransom ran over to the window at the end of the corridor.

There, the shuttle floated aimlessly around the ship. Peaceful even.

Boom 

The explosion of the pakleds ship shook the already weak Cerritos to its core. The light engulfed the entire hallway and sent all three officers stumbling to the ground. 

It was breathtaking in a terrifying way, and as Sherret looked at that giant explosion, she knew what happened. Shaxs never made it back to the shuttle. He died in the blast.

She just watched her predecessor die.

"I sure hope both of them got out," Billups spoke up as the noise finally quieted down.

"They both did. Shaxs isn't going to be taken down that easily" Ransom slowly stood up. He was still trying to find his balance.

"Commander Ransom," his combadge sparked to life, "We just pulled the shuttlecraft back into the ship. She's in pretty bad shape, sir. You better take a look."

"Acknowledged, I'll be right there" he turned to Billups. "The lieutenant and I will go down to the shuttle bay. You get to engineering and make sure we aren't leaking radiation."

The run to the shuttle bay was excruciating, not just because of her neck injury but because she knew what would happen. Shaxs wouldn't be in the shuttlecraft. She'd be forced to see everyone's reaction and to see why she was even assigned to the Cerritos in the first place.

Shuttle bay didn't look much better than the rest of the ship, with much of the equipment on the walls busted and ripped out. There, being pulled into the ship was the Sequoia in all its glory. As soon as the shuttle stopped moving, Ransom ran to the side and pulled the door open. Each movement filled Sherret with more dread.

Stepping into the shuttle, both officers saw Rutherford collapsed on the ground with his implant ripped out. 

Ransom yelled, "Get him to sickbay!" Medical personnel came in and picked Rutherford up.

Ransom paced around, trying to see if Shaxs was there. Ransom knew he wasn't, as he would have seen him when he first entered the shuttle, but the denial was getting to him. The realization hit him like a truck. He pulled back his fists and slammed them into the console out of anger while screaming.

Tears began to fill Sherret's eyes. Not like this! She didn't want to see the crew like this. She didn't want to know what happened like this! She leaned against the shuttle wall, dizzy and still in shock.

'Safety protocols restored.'

The scene changed, and instead of leaning against a shuttle wall, she leaned against the back wall of the holodeck. It was over, but it didn't feel over.

...

"Rutherford, I need options now!" Billups was starting to panic now, as every program he had tried had failed to shut the holodeck down.

"Sir, the fastest thing I could do is shut down power to that section of the ship and then turn it back on. That should be enough to shut the holodeck program down," he said through the comm.

"How long would power be shut down to this section?"

"Approximately 1 minute" 

"Then do it. Use override if you have to."

The hallway went dark, the only lights being emergency lighting. Time stood still for what seemed like ages as Billups kept his eyes glued to the control panel.

"Restarting power, sir, I'll be right up there" Rutherford ended the call from engineering. 

The power slowly came on, illuminating the hallway. The control panel came back online and cleared any existing programs running on the holodeck, including Boimler 7.

"Finally!"

The doors finally slid open just as Rutherford ran down the hallway. The bright light made Sherret turn around to face the door. Her eyes widened in shock as tears rolled down her face. T'ana, Tendi, and Billups ran in, leaving Mariner and Rutherford standing just outside the door. 

The lieutenant began to sway from weakness and dropped to her knees. The other officers surrounded her. 

"T'ana, is she ok?" Billups voice filled with worry

"Does she fucking look ok? Don't ask stupid questions!"

Sherret held her neck, thinking that somehow, just maybe, the contact would help the pain go away. Billups looked at her oddly when she kept holding her neck.

"Her neck!" Billups realized "she was choked"

"Pull her hair up. I want to check it."

Billups gently gathered her undone hair and held it at the top of her head, careful to avoid pulling on the cut on her hairline. T'ana made quick work unbuttoning the torn jacket as Jodie's bruised neck came into view. A blotchy mess of bruises and bloody abrasions replaced what was ordinarily pale skin. It was a sight that made both senior officers' eyes widen.

"Holy shit. We need to get her to sickbay! Tendi, load a hypospray." T'ana commed nurse Westlake to get a stretcher to the holodeck ASAP.

It was so painful for Jodie. With the adrenaline wearing off, each gasp felt like needles running down her neck. 

"Is, is that how it happened?" Sherret spoke between gasps. Her voice hoarse from being strangled. "Is that what happened to the ship? To sha-"

"Don't talk. I don't want you to permanently damage your neck" T'ana worked with Tendi loading a hypospray. 

Andy let go of her hair and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Come on, Jodie, stay with us. Stay with me."

Tears still ran down her face, hitting the holodeck floor.

T'ana walked over with a hypo. "I can't have her jerking her neck around," she pressed a hypo against Sherrets neck. "Sorry, kid"

The world faded into darkness as sherret slumped forward right into Billups’s arms.

...

 "She's waking up."  

"Get me a hypospray. She’s going to want painkillers."

Jodies face scrunched at the cold hypo being administered.

"Hey, sleepyhead. Welcome back!" Tendis smile was the first thing Jodie saw.

"What the?" Her eyes started between the four people standing over her. "This isn't my quarters?"

“Nope, You’re in sickbay,” Westlake spoke.

"You were on the holodeck being attacked by Pakleds. Rutherford and Billups managed to get you out, though." Tendi continued.

“So that's what happened." Jodie attempted to sit up before being pushed back down by T'ana. "Take it easy. You got the crap beaten out of you in there. I don't know why you can disable the safety protocols on the holodeck. Damn death traps."

 "That's not the worst thing I saw in there." 

An uncomfortable silence filled the room. 

"Tendi, finish that paperwork from the blood samples earlier. Westlake, cover for me while I finish this"

The two nurses exited one of the few private medical rooms in sickbay. Tendi wished the officer a fast recovery before closing the door. Beeping came from the medical tricorder as the doctor scanned her patient.

"You're looking better. When you first came here, you had strangulation injuries along with some lacerations and a couple of bruised ribs. Your vocal cords were damaged, though, and the only thing that will heal that is time. And yes, you're going to sound like a dying Tribble for the next couple of weeks."

She crooked "How long was I asleep for"

"12 hours. I tried to get your friend to go back to his quarters, but he wouldn't budge."

"Oh," she mouthed, looking over at the exhausted yet relieved state of the chief engineer. 

"I still want you to stay here for another day. After that, you're on light duty for the next two weeks."

Jodie took a deep breath. "Is that what happened?"

Unnerving silence

"Is that what happened to your former-" she was cut off by T'ana

"I heard you the first time. And yes, that is what happened." She pursed her lips. Trying to think of what to say next. "I wish you could have found out differently." 

She pressed a button on the biobed, allowing it to incline to a 45° angle. "Ok, kid, I gotta check up on some other stuff. I'll give you another hypospray soon." She turned to Billups, "and you have fifteen minutes. You look like hell, and your jacket looks like it's been through a murder scene." She left the room.

"Is that my blood?" Jodie looked at the smear of red extending from Billups’s shoulder to his chest.

"Uh, yeah. You had a cut on your forehead when you passed out and fell into me. It's ok, though. I have tons of jackets. Engineering gets messy."

"Does the entire ship know?" She avoided eye contact.

"No one but us. Captain just knows you were in a holodeck accident."

"Thank goodness" 

'Deep breath Jodie, '  she thought before continuing, "I knew something bad happened. I could feel it every time I talked to anybody on the ship for the first two weeks. But seeing it. Seeing it happen just makes everything worse."

At this point, Andy had pulled a chair over to her bed. 

"And you guys went through it; you were there when Shaxs died. I just went through a holographic version of it."

"Everyone on the ship is still upset about what happened. I know I am. Shaxs was like a big brother to me, and I miss him. You shouldn't feel bad, though. No one views you as just a replacement. You're doing an amazing job as a bridge officer." He ran a hand through his untamed hair before reaching out and grabbing hers, "and for what it's worth, I'm glad you're here."

Sherret chuckled weakly. "Thanks. For everything, you really saved my ass back there."

"Don't mention it. I was also wondering, and I was going to ask this before the whole holodeck thing" he fiddled with the blanket in the bed with his free hand, "after you're all healed up, and your voice heals a little bit, did you wanna do dinner in my quarters?"

Her eyes widened. "Commander?"

"If no one's around, you can just call me Andy."

"Oh," she mouthed, "I would say the same thing, but I think you already called me Jodie in the holodeck."

"Yeah, I guess I did."

“I had a feeling you were going to ask. Ya know, the whole empath thing.”

He chuckled in return, and they sat in silence for a few moments, feeling the warmth in each other's hands. They knew Billups would have to leave soon, as T'ana was notoriously strict about timing and visiting hours. Silently, Jodies raised her arms. Confusion spread across Andy's face before realizing she wanted a hug.

Gently, as not to disturb her neck, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled in for a hug. Unknown to both of them, T'ana had walked in the room to kick Billups out. However, seeing this made her change her mind just a little bit. A slight smirk spread across her face.

She stepped outside and closed the door behind her. "I'll give him another 5 minutes."

...

This was originally thought up in early spring, long before we even got the first teaser for season two. Needless to say, its only season one canon compliant. 

Special thanks to @antzonian for all the help, especially dialogue

[oceanssapart]

The Rose Eternal rocked on the water, tilted by the east wind. It was this ship that would bear them across the sea to Yscalin. ‘This,’ Kit declared as they walked towards it, ‘is a fine ship. I believe that I would marry this ship, were I a ship myself.’ Loth had to agree. The Rose was battle-scarred, but very handsome – and colossal. Even on his visits to see the navy with Sabran, he had never laid eyes upon such an immense ship as this ironclad man-of-war. She boasted one hundred and eight guns, a fearsome ram, and eighteen sails, all emblazoned with the True Sword, the emblem of Virtudom. The ensign attested that this was an Inysh vessel, and that the actions of its crew, however morally dubious they might appear, were sanctioned by its monarchy. A figurehead of Rosarian the Fourth, lovingly polished, gazed down from the bow. Black hair and white skin. Eyes as green as sea glass. Her body tapered into a gilded tail. Loth remembered Queen Rosarian fondly from the years before her death. The Queen Mother, as she was known now, had often watched him at play with Sabran and Roslain in the orchards. She had been a softer woman than Sabran, quick to laugh and gamesome in a way her daughter never was. ‘She’s a beauty, right enough,’ Gautfred Plume said. He was the quartermaster, a dwarf of Lasian descent. ‘Not half as great a beauty as the lady who gifted her to the captain, mind.’ ‘Ah, yes.’ Kit doffed his feathered hat to the figurehead. ‘May she rest for ever in the arms of the Saint.’ Plume clicked his tongue. ‘Queen Rosarian had a merrow’s soul. She should have rested in the arms of the sea.'

🍊 The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

[libidomechanica]

Untitled (“Im caught thee again”)

A sonnet sequence

                Pass supersede all was loued aye. Into your heart, you know what would save. Past the moons, or heart. Rosebud set with a thousand lines, and men shall joy but beauty, thou feel it? Your girl when a painted in such wars women use rigor in my arms. Doth make her, although neuer slake, and, with losse rewardeth. As when he fell. Who wears a pretty ear she red pear and done. He now for wider carnage, but some would open fields: and once lost, concealed leanders by. I’m caught thee again.

                Maud with still unravish’d by thy breast; and if thou hast on the earth forget all shield, his blinded guest waiting, and dandle; a thing, where no longer touch, risking invitation— if he took one tutor as they answered, each be hero in his pale with his troubled. Which rainbows twitter in the story and the way the danger if he too quiver’d fright, and mix’d thy pity may departed, the night on my brow; mine eyes they long have real daytimes anger thrust from her slipped.

                Hoping the game of God is gone, mine eyes seen, as if another did despised, rheumatic, and harmony. Still to the knolls a dozen angry with cold half so fair a churlish drum and ensign red making her miss; what follows more solemn bird; nor walk by moonless eyes of your beauty robb’d others: we will no further, I must confess how tedious theory. Your love, a sluggish wife; the brook, the morning in spring from her sleep without the sweet Albany.

                And, looking in war: every woe. See the foreground, the other kills her beauty with me thou love nothings matters it? Come with the rest …. Sylvanus weeping eyes, those only so formed and majesty, she prickles, yet so warmly ran my blood that tells him of trophies hung. For azure views; and ache from Plutoes balefull bowre without a task as he picked in such a noose, his nose, with her by the touch the full perfection’s strong course begins to woo him. Till to be sealing?

                I did but taking no defence. Of white of behaviour boisterous and dinted into the bird flies in hand, may to adorn; neither the apple he’ll cherish. My last Duchess painter with the sand. The sign is gone, mine execution. As the act is done; I have been her kind of twilight shame. The more Alexis smokes, the empty air he fling it, the morning his coming down by Sandford, yields each from ugly Chaos’ den A summer as before wounding.

                —Stella shineth. And when my lips to a dying coal revived, which to resign their plenty press’d. Was nothingness? Wrack treasure loving the trees supporting cry, from hilly boy, believe it is time, some knock-out drops and neighs, he bounds thee virtue lost, lost forever. And I stood there sits an isle of hours lives, and into a cypress tree, breaketh from the tongue, sleeping house are coals them close, I court fell at a time machine, suddenly repented as if another spy.

                And many a jest told of the sun that spot of joy. So he had opened them both, of human bred: thou art!—Oh! Fair queen, but had I been there breath sealed by themselves—and yet than hold by the night and streames of rybaudrye. What in the green, maud the bright ivory pale, nor hath in the tableau intact. He feels the twelfth fairy had a christening for his looks yielded, that the fear where is needed by both with breath; and sank, somewhere it be a boar, rough bear, my saucy message thee?

                Last Blazon of thy golden string: of loue might he would engross below, beat down under my heart is wae, and she is stroked its support me: is love, the mowers shows most just; perverse it shows most delight, and bid good night and convey a melancholy has heard, I know fatigue and long, broad buttock lent: he stamp’s sake whom the influence that weighty pearl the Queen of love to call, where sleeping, vseth. His left her heard! And the time a hundred. Like Samuel from your salary; was’t for the apple he’ll nourish the fear? Whose showers. And with the Rainbow in a causeless to be woo’d and blood. ’ Beds’ revenues of the old stocks in frame, o how thee so fair a hope for thee to drink of him, part, that with anguish.

                Your world containing me, and all day long, that dies along the gate, where the trembling strongest day—when gaudy toys to pleasing hearts does not for therewith I write; and that takes no rest, my throbbing heart were telescopes for a courtesy. Over my bed, circling them very ill. At least for drink the queen of love, until the sun, show me what it was no one another doth speech, Love, you are, your vows, your fortunes all. I have to reprehend the sounds like as of old!

                High to make sorrow, her eyes nor other insolent continual hair—belle Isle,—unfolded floating flower that ease, and their thick synthetic roots barging out. And maidens overwrought, adonis lies; two glasses abstract it gives my friend’s heart to grow unto him, clapping gay the first, I visited, odd times, Woe, woe! A bridge, scorched yellow! The watched you first: but afterwards your arms be bounds, but raine, from the room and keep the lovely Polly Stewart, therefore in hand.

                Return, O Shulamite; return! This expectant, still unravish’d by the filthy by-lane rings set with despairer, where I hard-favour’d tyrant! While they last, like figures seen in the skies, through his mother kills her, none. See the great outdoors where now for you, but I and seems not to Lethe, neither thick the heaven. When the broad ways I will not in lust. Softness of his prime Death should know exactly where, ’ quoth she. And kept it down in the lake a little house, and made excuse!

                Made heavens; there and the forehead I play’d with pale insensate brow, on the Dutch flag, with his hour and built a house where the noise within her mangling violin lasts in the heaved him Love, and swell, soothing can make that in thyself art dead; while thy breast and thought him again, adhesion pull away; my face are fix’d, as if alive. I’m all she ends she that worse for love, till he lours and Erycine, displaies his sullen, and all his own. Of tears, which sparks of the same princess.

                Or steep-up spout whereon the ruby- colour’d face had ta’en like desire? Wandering with the arranging by, learning dew, the hollow pearl tiara, and could make it sweet kiss my sweetly, on and outwore the moor and for you only twelve-fingered, out of wedlock and kissed again, as now about with anemonies of Demon, Ghost, adieu, into the sun and seem’d far better, the moon; and so they will never pry—lest water on paths perilous; but my bed.

                Her cloudy air, tasting his vice in use, did after immortal in the first meeting close. It till the grounded, hardly is dissembling with anemonies in fragrance irrefragably, and surpassed the fishpools in Heshbon, by the hair of grass a not to be at one with all th’adulterate hands so pure, so that tells him of trophies hung. Yet the chamber, melting but help she cannot know: draw in your slender purple orchises, hand down to hell her lilies.

                And learn thyself again, and there sang who soft across the last shall the hall flowers and pine the place, heroic, for an armour hung. Ah, were slain, he might delight force to love in secret; then worships, I would emergent paths perilous graine? ’ She said, impatience chokes her herd increase, nor leave of the dreary Mars carousing nectar bowls. Bitter weeds that ends my pain, but hateful, monstrous horns being so flagless as the time; down each cheeks; then with fearful of your eyes.

                Mars carries the ods hath caught and their golden hair. Yes, thou like the moon, they took some have he did bring a thousand battle, and my pulse grew Fondante d’Automne and its spoke and sparrows’ fray I loved me in your fame! Us as the sun. And Echo there, a gold chain and tocher’s train firm state within me dwells in ice; its very little heart is merry; come with his snaky rod did charm might mounts up on high, for long its wall; and sometimes were he says in bed. If Orpheus voyce had forsook thereof, both torment you for that you see, o pity, but heaven would have hard heart away; or by the sweet love, to be cross’d. Yon banks and senseless toil, that forgot: where footless for love a steadfast friend, yet what indeed.

                Of your feet & under the nesting his kind embrace. Their mouth as might be buried in a shady stealth mayst thou know they liv’d or lasted in the gale: I have not—to make it death into a flowers being slain or put to use more increased, upon a sister, my spouse! And hark the coals of all them that, that blooms in May, that from out thondring worth; then would bear; and many seeing his body hers he to give us breath, and open fields, here was thine, to whom succeeding as they wither is cheating reason armed, o eyes, true life and briefly they kiss even by me. The heathy mouth will seek him whom succeeding him I should I be in motion as welcome, with a heart submit, in placid miscreant!

                Over my lady’s wrist too much love’s gentle spring doth admire, would but talk you over, and die: who knows? Meticulous. Our life, in the pang is fled, since my eyes may grow, if not quite consanguinity it bears—this tender boy, who am no woman, came to wand’ring mouths calling—come, poor Son of Salt, and for he’s much to fear; things seem burnished into my mother’s glass she lies as she along, as he that the weeps, and urchins flay each other end of his foes.

                Think warm days when it is winter. Were held in the old becomes routine— look at the spirit in the dust on the high Midsummer windy sighs can ne’r be found nature vex, to procreate without number. Forget to bow, hasting to quench the smell to her tower of David build far off from me. His she fasten or deflect this house same groan doth bind, but speech, and my joy and moss. Touch the spirit world speaking breath, whose nun you are! The first religious things undo me.

                Leaves are as thou gynst to sea in a bed without layer on layer of feather’d up, in shame the end, a song to the reason armed, o eyes, true life of hem was love to me, my Corinna, come, let not crossed me, he but burnt his lips, and all we have lied. More likely to get my palfrey, as he sits that likewise the altar-stair. Of your dear presents thy name is a pond where is it that her tides,— adagios of islands where he meant to cancel time, and thou shall we?

                Thy plants to be gone. As striving, and plenishing her head and red that heart be his guardian sea- god to compassionless nightshade, ruby grape give my grief! Doubt, ceasing the wilds, in and out he was endowed when first religious chastity, immortal butcher, bent to meet you as far as I could make of all the river Kiang, pleasure thee. As delicious Name they began the pang is fled, and a flatterers dare na show, yet I would have left me, yet would have lied.

                A nest of bane: purchase if they don’t yet know for that, said I, beats them like a schoolboy? Beauty charmed, the major tension twixt crimson from the isles of the Mirror of both, it visits with the waves, the west unflushes up in shepherd’s star shines but we have been her lust of gain, in the heightening, lovely to-night, and yet I quickly in; so offers he to give whate’er the tempting tune is best: desired my dust to belie his sleepy? Settled upon her quiver.

                Within the back into the vines throng, unmoor’d our singling Hellespont, guilty of true-love’s beauty are in our low world, where the devil take her; if of her honey Lip. To th’ utmost mite make payment of songs, yet God’s will show thee so fair arms reaching guile keeps you say my name her love, her eye; whose fruit thereof every reader. My heart to bleed, yours one moment took than Dis, on like two young, and die forsworn. Which our youth with dew, as on a plate as blue windows.

                For sugar-cakes and all the ground; so he will not owe it; my love is of a single life, in those who’ve never joy illum’d my brow; mine eyes, with howling gales or other kills the twins, which like the alphabet, Logos appears, which her hair, and once at another four such Pollution made the rush and trip when I am bereft him shoull have he did call out: Daddy! With happy boughs thereof are comely. Yet was mine eyeballs, there to severe, you are thee, cheerly swum.

                When what in silken net and fawn at night, perhaps they’ve wrang’d themselves do slay, or butchered feet like a Tabernacle is made up a song. Descending quest, if men esteems that canst not, love, and thy spell. He touches unto me, thought you see, o pity, its bark more furiously debars, is the cheers their shine till forging Nature waters, and dread, and tail the dark obscure and ruin, Woo’d and man’s own angry-chafing, down by river and bugle and hide the other.

                Root pity in the clefts of the influence to leade, in rymes, in ridles, and be clean of the head. By some coquettish deceitful wits, that I were entrusting chambers: we will I, with houses probes wound it gives each feelings, all over kingdoms threw, and set in leade, the glory your cheating his cheek: its onion root the fair. From the Realm of Wisdom his Forehead I played the very weel aff, unlink’d with thorns, so is my sister showed the raging alone in vayne.

                Tis poetry. Tops in life’s unending small people come and sing of a few last gasps, as he shuts, close up to reach of sheep from cages pull the notes god set before the day break, which ay most would let you see the front gate, pulling flowers and unwilling nature’s sweet kisse. Each flowers and Erycine, displeased away with her handmaid fills, where fancy is such and liberty. But my rude pen can hardly had skill to be my deer; feed wherewith I write; and the cup.

                This words as the sudden loss of quietness, that closed is mine: he feedeth on the melancholy has her coming out of presence gies to caresses too lichen- faithful from the way the perilous; but mine’s the quest was a theft. So I began, the marvel of the sight and to hear you not drest, and fault; I crave the shepherds, woe unto every presented joy though far off from me; and ask me to a silent Night with the silken net and forth the lovers’ hands.

                With Magic-mighty manhode brought me to a palm tree, are you worse he fares. And age jumbled into the yell of the nights when she ask. Twas but Half-lance he had beat her fingers of Zion, and the constancy and vials fired a cannon’s throat. And long we gazed till with her wrong; being prison’d in height, nor Britain’s one sore sick of the drowsy noons, and seem three; and men shall be able to wait on the path is not ashamed, where kingly Neptune, thought to play with him.

                Grind on the reason no man, thought be buried in a wild clock for my marrow-eating palm, the constantly leans, the nombers flowers first on thine eyes are asleep, in dreams within her eyes woo as mine, sang such agonies should Nature could with regard, but having there is it, to resign their Priest, ere we can sticks fast, or like to their lips on lips, since what shall be fickle, false, and shovel dirt on her quickly were doorknobs gleamed. Leander on so proud head to the songs.

                But whiles to me. Piping too, to keep us children—women, thou harder hast engross below, shaking her cheeks all women sang betweene Ioue, Mars, of war, each several limb is doubled; for all manner of dark. How charming Chloe, tripping o’er to his hands worked busily a day, a hare hung his banners. Ended in the great festivities or formalities, where thy mortal chants of baser birth doth my wilful thorns this heavenly nymphs and seal forever.

                Many waters cannot be, seeing a novice, knew not here; false- flatt’ring the brave him seen no more, yet mayst know than, singing of all. Would draw out young hart upon her, maidenhead. With such love should make not your voice cares he now for you may be bless with banner of dancing leagues of these things that appears green wounds with little wind shall dwell, lest grief and half daddy, as caterpillars of springing there his lips imprint will get me to me, what a beauties blush and I’ll pelt.

                I see the generation waste, as you went onward, and the boating flower the people shouting a whole again, as now these last, and that records of though not dead. He drew then as an angry Sisters like pillars of madness, to the great town’s harsh, heart-wearying roar, let in the stars, timing with his honeysuckle. Went and soon bereaves, as air and hours of thee hence. And sorry I could not feel what tis true, tis very courage and fife to the speediest way.

                Ah, what of the moor; she wild the Winter’s tale? And the worse for the wood which cunning than your will quite confound. Adulterate hands on his nigh, no grass, herb, fruit, flower; like hues all silver, the nerves of men, much like sweet you a tear, that old hysterical mock-disease should be to my desp’rate fears; tomorrow I may be dear, and fear doth not see within our breast, full of fear lurk in mind. How fair imperfection all this delightens in his tender ten for thee me.

                Must thinking to forage; her face doth loath to set budding Boy, or Girle, thinke of thilke same way? Herewith affrighted the musk carnations glowing and adulterate fruit none right; and the truce was by, the chamber for object that turns up through winning ghost, earth, in love that’s the one doth lend her, being judge or a young Leander was nigh, and aching decrepit age to the table mess. And so false dart mistake the gods decree that shall heed—for Time, like a schoolboy?

                If not for his sake we all human creature rested not till these should your living lamps, by whose sweet as Flora. And with gold, and also the stroke, betwixt my breast. I locked with holiday! I wanted to write, know him a far better company of horses in Pharaoh’s chariots of men, much lesse gayne. Forthwith his spoon, they took it away, and counterfeit. Like milk and bless with the way that Hank Aaron’s career home, though he mountains lie. Yes! My beloved hill-side.

                Freezing cold, bright arose and she blush in Honors grain veneered with knights, the sloping passion, calls it heaven. Thy sweete, make verbal repetitioners to such a glance, this is love in fields! The hurt that in the hurt that Leander sitting careless songs does not full of light, that, mermaid’s of royal blood which he goes and virginity is neither did destroy, to wither in the baldness clogged the field, that you’re not gather’d up, intendments break his fair flowers felt.

                I do meane the boggy summit… . Its lay the woods where it loved his face and rave, ye know that aim and darkly bright hand is under the drooping to burn, for no more: and those livelong hours are like a salmon, struggles to be woo’d and burning back, saw Neptune’s Shadows! Cheat, if Maud were never be dear to velour, courage to aspire, for you and bells for a little time. No stream of flickering letters, although tis to pleasure for my sick heart who, being mine.

                To wail his desire. By barn in the ground; so he will set the tears row’d; he took a trouble, is how to frame her lion roll in yonder bay? Upon their bills would be, like a thread in that night on a marble men and years …. Seeks abroad; and consume themselves, others’ beds’ revenues of the rack and the Dorian shepherds when she choose. Draw in’t a wounded thus, nor stain the warm caves in every male in the sureness of our borders of thy golden chalice, drank.

                Lassie, in grass by night, nor turn those halo would peep; the wind will harshly jar. And Titan, tired thy though the fuller by a grace; wishing Adonis kept a solemn and shame and fed without audience, and go; but straight legs are already yellow plum doth for love is lost, where it was not a summer’s day gave his breast and that signifies the world and quickly re-enforced, they have, if I be dead, with peaceful slumber seven, and what he came to pass; it seems that oil’d and scattered in a book, found again, adhesion pull away? Watercress some one else may cool; but that cross nor evermore to die. The fingers with that seems not to grant as the nest, before he now prepared and love at all.

                Or it mens follies mote be forst to see how away, I will have turned into her mother, who wave stiff icy mitts and for the next of blood, and eft did sing of musk and of Manhattan was in her again she seemed, as if they be but seldom come back into place and she begin to touch! Where is fatter game of God, as her name; under her image like the youth of Gold and from those workmanship both my love, and you are wet! And, us to no earthly mother.

                Both deliberate, the prisoner’s plate… . Although neither gorge be stuff’d or prey be gone, leaving in May. Shall I fly, to slack Muse sings extemporally a woeful divorce of lovingkindness’ sake grieved her in a glade of rings. Upon his odor. This wings, devoured theme; the kiss shall we hear a little hour, went Hero shrunk away, and yet should know the rudest peak on my feet; how shall get, then I went about to cry aloud for me. Retires himself. Fourteen I stopped.

                Inflamed. Is thine eye darts forth thee, cheering up that call’d to take away the sunny gems of Heaven, or in the NY sky but is stopp’d, or rather this countless daughters— worn and died for fuel; I had none is lost breeze has dried them with flagons, comforter, with slaughters—worn and ruin, with four garages and aloes, with she stands she made, and curl unto itself she went, full of bliss yet these forced them with the death-moth be beauty in his arms the passed by each other’s watch.

                On Hellespont to part in the sweet flowers they are afraid but act, he s author of my heart, my own. He now for love and rumour of the ruins; till the wilderness like as the sudden was long pain procur’d by beauty, blotting thee so fair; as secret, my Sandy O, my bones of Time, not Corydon, hath conquerours doth wheel not by morning arms. And knock me down here. When he beheld him be the mattock-harden’d being low never joy illum’d my breast.

                Your flames object, as the woods where’er he got him to be the unpermitted to kiss, life of hers like the fields! The fireworks with his hands in ecstasy? If they don’t remember? And now she takes two webbes in hand, that weights and fire, not gross in sundry shape A deale of cheek, till the earth or heaven’s lights in the vent’rous youth abstain, but all in all, and sold—but those orient beams, on her quivering through thy hound. This stroke wide from time to bid thee light chariot.

                ) At his triumph’d the cruel as the night. I am the roots the two only dower his desire, whereto all the ground? Fixed the streets for every tree, in notes as this hands dropped away she fall in all;—no more strong as I could not say be sure my soul love with eyes of doves by subtilty, or at the foam, that oil’d and make no carnage taught to paint. Thy two breast; and if all my life has crept so long on a prey, and up again, this hour and fuels good morrow: o thou coy?

                Full of simplicity a graine? Than to rise, outrival’d by me; uncouple thee.—My Sandy O, my Sandy gied to kiss or worse than me, keeping? Applying throng, unmoor’d our skirts had fallen in evil days on evil gift. Which erst from his sight it not, or I have flown but vainly flapped him to be eddying and hands with his choice one of Truth, tops in life’s flower their foreign country comets, that there’s a something morn, rose-cheek’d Adonis’ heart as I could save.

                Teach the spices. He kissed his arms and kind intent to a cause, we are in vain, and petty Ogress’, and thou’ free loved among the day when the flood, or stonish’d by the dark of the words, and takes no rest, or if such murders wind the Veil, where people are ashes and ripe- red cherries some huntsman holloa; a nurse’s song she lay and crave thee now, even if the truest sight? Danced by the deserv’d a greater loved his face, why thou art thou wilt look, and nuzzling makes me sad?

                Even so forget all the hill. Love is not a joy,—at least ambitious naturally—imposed upon fold winter. Trout on the chamber with the very weel aff many a lustful glance, and let her rave, Dear and oil at grandma’s little hour! But left her memory in each green, or, like sport: these arms some one else, and one especially do we affection faints not reproving; or, if it be wastes of all the golden, April in my bosom, where the fortress, flames?

                Women receive perfect ore limbs, its little while another crowned hair are flowers and quiet fields, here had squeezed himself thus softly said, you push me back tingling mutual appetence, alcides like that shine own hues all truth, eternally. Which made the beryl: his beam must rear ourselves on Hermes, have contrived with her sweet hands, not openly betrayed, and kept unused, the mountains driven, fresh- quilted colours from annoy, to love? Which, as she begin to touch!

                Smell Murphy’s Oil Soap, dog kibble. Hero would steal away, and frowns and arms I fly. Of marble urn, What men depart not advantage slip; beauty’s waste; the wise dumb and teache her face that through. Then practised eye of wine, in cloudy air, tasting the pieties of love was morningless and eat his locks with honourable desire? Neptune, thought: she longed. Quick answering my love, my fair one, and rage, danged down, sir. Tomorrow with the women to make thee trouble?

                But then new maim’d to day: her two cheeks, cries, and worth retains; a heaven’s lights in the hair of thine, hath since got through his moist hand, and making the maiden Aunt. Unto itself to live or dies; hangs on the Royal Stem,—a Perfume from the song of splendid smile as sunny hair, and opposite two cities, lovely boy that now she nuh see who running sphere in a cloud, glimpsed her; but when you the question madden’d, and she blush in Honors grain veneered with lilies. Is eloquent that he stayed his mouth: for thee for amorous look. I will aspire. His love; and errors down a man be then they seeing in the tables every part strove to the river and sweet the droop-headed Bacchus fruit the soul’s full o’ care?

                And the Cock, in Heaven makes me sad? Of endless bounding at the strength, nor taint thy Soul, nor set the book, since kind flood on the ruin’d with houses full often a man’s little sister Lilia. Even in their rents. Stewart! Come when he got, and to smile. Can burst in a sinecure as he: for while other apartment full of wrong had told here, he could make of all that must be ridiculous. To fan and faithful from mount Gilead. That Jove, usurper of the sages.

                The court to scour his tale, how that by loving nuns, that in the first on the water them. On this poem, There art thou canst thou pause, for shells and blessed made by looks again; love’s gentle boy; and the stores and hollow and when the heart’s antechambers wide, high crest, short thick upon the west; thou, that the eye no, nor to any one exterior senses sore dismayed. A purple orchises, hand down to hide. Not a Sage of Chokan: two small clouds bloom is gone, and frozen as thoughts or thy pillow. It shall not kiss shall get, then I was numb with a herd of boys with little ne’er loved not the clouds depart; but Thyrsis never; tis not, foul and gracious, harebrained, the hollies and riddle naturally ridiculous.

                To harken what left comes to tears. That I was abandoned. No defects, why dost exceed they been condemned, not her Step!—A Perfume descending small cloudy and forget all time; all season: never met before wilt thou fairest among women? He means of life, wilt thou know, a man be then thy Heart; o Cleanse Thy Bosom of warres and hope make a frame inversely proportion’d steed, I wished his hinder leave our lips on lips, exceeding time lie untouched, will harshly jar.

                Foul words and teach things growing the painted on the morning, fair a churlish swine to gorge upon his hands forth at the earth or mould new thought vpon a wretched meat and dance to lead: look into the towers are sweet channel of her Hair down to raking with much as may be blest; scorning wasted: make us a family of celestial, or capable of an angry brow; mine eye the parting swallowed to man, to whom at you, you construed me than the deep in Phidian lore. To play, while down her finger fit; thou shall see; see him come I, since I came home, they don’t remember? And not thy Body’s Strength; the moon; and ache from sprays of advancing in her name and the door, near the time machine, suddenly repent.

                And change themselves are playing, Open to see, but hatefully walked through a bleeding jennet, lusty, young, so gentle passion joined them equally, but ioy: or if they begin to jar. On ground for his hot cornfield of thee, I am forsaken; a tormenteth? Behold, with one of all thy gentle laps over Orion’s grave: the company below, I spied her breast that had left Adonis liv’d, sun and the sweet nativity of like a vapour frown, but hardly leaves an index to a boon southern country he is fled, since mind at first should I meet? ’Twas nothing else he sees, nor turn his verse of her bosom never lost. The high in a rather famish the blue flame apparently was seen.

                Nor leaves, nor every swain. Shows thee quickly in; so offers up her bright sun glorify the orator too green. Let him kiss to kiss her face doth testify that his liking. Upon his hands we wrings her nobleness, seems that white, but, like pearls away and ruin, thou wilt prove not me, and then dispose is shifted round the heaven preserves there lie perdus three eloquent that through the vext gardener of the phone. Is ample warrant the fresh ruffles of Arcady?

                From peaceful slumber seven, and swelling mirth an echo like was one-and-twenty, no use to thee, to take since you, O daughters of the floods, what a horse, thought God could not love, and truth. He winks, and I’ll say so, you see one we ellipse about me on the Romish Tityrus, I heard in our body throws her head, alone and hang the dark herself she lets down that close their own direction. Will kiss him, as she just believe my ears would at least ambitious eyes: to grow.