#well ex-lieutenant for reasons later elaborated on

[historitor-bookshelf]

Reunion

Summoning @robot-roadtrip-rants over our mutual disappointment of the ending of Space Marine 1 not including Mira pegging Titus. Unfortunately, there still is no pegging (yet).

Ideas has been bouncing around in my head, so here is part 1.

Tags: Mentioned character death, past and present trauma, Channeling a bit of McNeil at one point, no smut

Part 1 of ???

Titus had been told to go and wait in his new cabin on the Macragge’s Honour. Central, warm, larger than the cabin he had on the Righteous Fury, and - to his surprise - it had an actual bed. Sturdy, built with Marines in mind.

It was his Primarch - it still sounded odd in his mind, his Primarch, who without hesitation and with much annoyance had gotten the Inquisition of his ass once more, told him to recover in his cabin from the long journey and the exhaustions caused during the campaign. And, he said, with an almost mischievous glint in his eyes, there was someone who was waiting to see him.

Titus rubbed his neck with a towel - armour and bodyglove removed, clad only in his loincloth, after a long pulse shower he had sorely needed. The serf assigned to him had rubbed him down with oil, making his skin glisten in the dim light and scraped away afterwards, ridding him off the dead skin. And now, he could sink back onto the matress, doze and wait for whoever was coming to see him.

His hand came to rest over the scar on his abdomen - the newest one, the one that almost killed him. A ridge, crescent-shaped, larger than his own hand.

Death had almost come for him in many shapes. He had accepted it - he was a Space Marine, and death was his duty and his destiny.

It still shook him.

He remembered the pain, the shock that his end was about to come at the claws of this tyranid abomination. Regret, that he could not have done more. Grief, at his brothers’ death. Relief, that he was able to deliver the virus bomb to win them, to win humanity some time.

And this did not even touch on what he felt when he saw the deep blue of the Ultramarines. His first brethren, the ones he thought had cast him out. Confusion, yes, thinking that it may be an hallucination caused by his death throes or by some neurotoxin wrecking havoc on his system.

Titus swallowed, acid in his mouth running down his throat. He cursed softly, swinging his legs of the bed and rushing into his bathroom. He cupped his hands und gathered water, gargling and spitting into his sink, before wiping his face dry again.

Why did it come back now?

The door bell chimed.

Titus walked to his door, loosely pulling on a robe to greet his visitor at the door. One more time, he combed through his hair with his fingers to look presentable, before he opened the door.

He had to look down to see her.

It had been 200 years.

This could not-

“Lieutenant Titus.” Mira looked up at him. “It is good to see you again.”

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Legally Dead

https://www.patreon.com/empyreaniris?fan_landing=true

https://starr-fall-knight-rise.tumblr.com/post/182501791735/master-post

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jzEIdDAB4omdO2JcQVMObfrhLJ5kX4ONmSsLypM1ks0/edit?usp=sharing.\

BREAKING NEWS EX PRESIDENT TALA KELLY BACK FROM THE DEAD: HOAX OR FACT

Earth is reeling today after an online tabloid media site received leaked footage from inside Fort Harmony that seems to show Ex- President Tala Kelly alive and well after her supposed death more than three years ago. Armature video analysts have speculated wildly over the past day whether the video footage is real or faked, some citing an apparent glitch as reason enough that the footage is bunk, while others can find no sign of editing software being used to fake the video. If the video is fake, the question remains, who would fake such a thing and why?

-

News reporter and columnist for IG Daily was quoted as saying, “Some people need no other reason than because they think it will cause a stir. Whoever made this video was simply trying to get media attention, and it has done a wonderful job.”

However, when attempting to speak with members of the UNSC about the subject, our office was denied access, and no answers were given, leaving us to believe that there may be some sliver of truth to the story. Is this old video captured and released several years ago?, Is it an elaborate test from government officials to demonstrate the power of their new computer editing software, or perhaps  was Tala kelly’s dead a hoax.

Small time media tabloids and conspiracy theorists are in an uproar citing the previous years election as an elaborate hoax to set president Hunt up in power without any obstacles. Media personality and host of the show, The Governee’s report has laid out an elaborate scenario that describes the election as an elaborate front for the government’s anti-GA isolationist agenda to place Hunt in power for their own Ends with Kelly as its fall woman.

However, as of now the video has neither been confirmed nor denied by the UNSC or the Hunt administration, and now the nations of earth wait on bated breath to see what might happen next.

***

Kelly sat in the waiting break room surrounded by the familiar smell of the old plastic furniture and the sound of the whirring air conditioning. The building was old, probably too old, but rather than tearing her down and replacing her completely, the UNSC was determined to simply replace it piece by piece as the old technology finally broke down and became obsolete. Somehow the fan air conditioner was still working, despite the military budget which certainly would have given them access to universal climate control systems similar to if not identical to the ones used in the ships on their interstellar fleet.

She had been here for hours, here at For harmony, over the night and well into the next day. She gave Hye a call to let him know she probably wouldn’t be bake for a while, and he assured her she didn’t need to worry about him.

His voice had been distant behind the sound of squawking gulls and the rushing of a boat engine. He hadn’t said what he was doing other than to excitedly squeak something about turtles before inadvertently hanging up. It sort of made her smile as he sent her a desperate text a moment later.

Sorry, phone cut out, big sea turtle!

And then he sent her a picture and she zoomed in to examine the turtle whose shell must have been a good three feet long. It wasn’t the biggest sea turtle he had ever showed her, but it was a pretty good size. She forgot how much she missed getting these texts from him, and held the image to her chest  for a moment in silent contemplation.

The door opened then, and she looked up to see one of the four stars standing awkwardly in the doorway/ it was a strange image to be sure, a general coming to fetch her like the average enlisted or lower ranking lieutenant. He almost looked apologetic verging on nervous.

They had been making a few calls.

Several supreme court justices had been roused from their beds and brought together to mull over the problem before them. Usually, the procedure for challenging a pronounced death was to set a court date and simply show up at a courthouse to prove you were alive, but in this case things were a little more complicated. Kelly wasn’t technically alive, at least not to their standards, but she was here and she was in office when she had died which technically made Hunt a stand in until her recovery.

Looking inside the man’s head, kelly could see how the debate had gone.

The supreme court had done their best to apply precedent from previous laws and cases into this one  in a record ruling. First they had argued the nature of your rights once you are legally dead. Some had argued that being dead precludes you from all your original rights on the basis that giving dead people rights was against the court process of setting precedent that was, “reasonable and adhered to common sense.” While another judge argued that the nature of death did not necessarily preclude you of rights considering that someone who dies has the rights to their will, and if the will must be carried out on the wishes of the dead then it could certainly be argued that Kelly retained her rights as dead. Another judge brought back up “Reasonable and common sense.” and openly pointed out that Kelly was not in fact, just a corpse, but was living and walking around to to deny her of her rights would be against reason. 

Of course wills were only valid because they were signed into being BEFORE death, at which point one of the justices pointed out that Kelly had been appointed president approximately two to three minutes before her death. But then it had gotten into an argument about how death severs certain binding contracts. The CEO of a company does not maintain control of the company after death. But then that had turned into an argument about resuscitation, and how there were plenty of world leaders that had required CPR after their hearts clinically stop and then were placed back into office as if the death was some sort of medical condition. In this case, someone was appointed to their place until which time as they recovered from their illness and were able to reclaim their seat again.

From there it all sort of went over her head.

She had never had the mind for all of that legal stuff. Kelly was no slouch of course, but like Adam, she was a soldier at heart, a woman of action, and talking only tended to bore her to tears.

“The decision?” She wondered, and the man next to her gave a sort of half shrug

“Well they were at least able to establish the fact that dead people have rights, and if they do you maintain everything that you had before you died. Now with your absence being so long they had to argue that, even were this treated like an illness, control of the country would have been remanded over to president Hunt anyway, which is kind of where we are stuck right now.”

Kelly nodded. She had expected as much.

If that was the case, there was still the possibility she could run for a second turn, but since Hunt had been in office for three years now she was significantly behind on a campaign and only had less than a year to convince the nation to re-elect someone who was already dead.

She was lead back into the waiting conference room where she took  her seat and looked around at the waiting holograms, sitting in their seats around the table. The illusion was so good it was almost like they were really here, a fact she wished to be true as she would have given anything to glower to the REAL hunt.

She would have given anything to introduce his face to the metal part of a folding chair, but that certainly wouldn’t solve anything.

“Tala Kelly.”

“Yes your honor.”

The justice shifted tiredly in her seat rubbing her temples, “You have created a significant legal headache which we are still in the process of solving. However we have made a few decisions. One of them involves the reinstatement of your rights, despite being dead, we have determined that you legal rights remain as we cannot look at a…. Talking thinking subject as anything other than alive and deserving of rights.” Kelly nodded, ‘Additionally, along with the UNSC we have determined to treat your…. Absence in two ways, firstly as an illness, and secondly as a prisoner of war.”

Kelly shivered trying not to think of the dark place.

She felt her body glitch slightly as even her very bones  remembered what had happened.

“Go on.”

“With these in mind we have determined to treat this the same way we might have treated you had you been struck into a coma for the past three years at the beginning of your term of presidency. A presidency can only last two terms and a total of eight years, but you didn’t even serve a full day, and your absence was long enough for power to be moved to president Hunt. In this case we have chosen to treat the situation as if you were Not sworn in.”

There was a slight murer around the room, and Kelly raised an eyebrow. That was a decision she had not expected. Some people here didn’t like the sound of that but president hunt seemed pleased at the very least. But to be honest she found that she didn't mind that at all.

She had beat President hunt once, she felt she could do it again.

She folded her hands politely in her lap, “If that is the case, and my rights are still in tact as they were before my death, than I would like to continue my campaign from the previous election, running on the same grounds.”

There was another murmuring throughout the room Hunt scoffed, “We can’t let a dead woman be president.”

She smirked, “I think we can. How do you think the public will feel when they learn that I understand our enemy more now, I have greater insight into what comes after, and I am virtually assassin proof now. I will be able to do more for this world than any leader has ever been able to do.” She failed to mention that now she couldn’t be manipulated or lied to.

Some secrets she had to keep to herself.

Was it morally questionable? Maybe, but she wasn’t about to give up one of her greatest advantages.

Of course this was something she would have to keep quiet, unless this turned into a conversation about privacy laws involving one’s own inner dialogue. If her ability to read minds got out, she was sure it would lead to public outcry.

Best not to mention that little fact.

“I…. since we have reinstated your rights…. And you fulfill all the other requirements it seems that we certainly can’t stop you.”

She nodded.

Hopefully her sponsors from a few years around were still out there. She definitely had to give them all a call and try to win her way back into their candidacy position. At least now she could promise she wouldn’t die on them.

Together they stood, making their way out and towards the doors. The general still stood with her, and as they walked he seemed interested to ask her a question but couldn’t find a way to satisfactorily phrase whatever was on his mind. She let him struggle, content to plan for the future.

It was only when the doors opened and the gasps rose into the air did she realize they weren’t alone.

The collective gasps turned into the collective flashing of cameras and shouted questions.

“Tala kelly is that really you!’

“Where have you been!”

“Will you be taking over the presidency/”

And then inevitably the glitch happened, the the crowd broke into chaos.

[lopithecusfanfiction]

Operation: Get Markus and Connor Together

Author: Lopithecus Pairing: Markus/Connor Rating: Mature Word Count: 5007 Alternate: AO3 Summary: Hank, along with the rest of the Jericho crew, play matchmaker between Connor and Markus Warnings:

Marked mature for f-bombs

Author's Note: This is for pt_tucker for the FandomTrumps Hate event. They wanted a Rk1k fic in a different point of view other than Markus or Connor. I had a lot of fun writing this and I really hope you enjoy it!!

Hank doesn’t believe in love. He doesn’t like it, has zero faith in it, and can honestly go without it for the rest of his life. At least ever since his ex-wife left him and their son to fend for themselves. Then Cole died and… well, a parent never really truly gets over the loss of a child.

But then Connor comes into his life and Hank starts to develop these feelings, these… parental feelings for the android and since then his life has been ruined. Now he worries all the time about Connor and wants to help him and teach him. It’s like having a second son. Hank hates it (he really doesn’t.)

So when he starts to see how Connor acts around Markus — nervous and trying to impress the other android — Hank’s protective mode kicks in. He doesn’t want Connor’s poor thirium pump to get hurt by rejection. Not because he cares about Connor’s feelings (he does) but because he doesn’t want to have to deal with the fallout. Connor crying and carrying on about unrequited love, asking all sorts of questions, Hank’s sure, is something he just doesn’t want to do.

He plans on talking to Connor or Markus, one of them, when they are called to meet at New Jericho but then he decides a better plan would just be to sabotage the whole thing. Making Connor fall out of love would be a hell of a whole lot easier than having to talk about feelings and heartbreak . That is, until he sees, finally in person, how Markus acts around Connor. The damn android loves Connor back but they are just too damn stupid to act upon it.

It almost makes Hank sigh in irritation.

Almost.

Hank develops a new plan, then. Operation: Get two dumb androids together. He’s not arrogant enough to actually believe he would be able to do it all on his on, however. No, he’ll need help and that requires having to talk to to the rest of the gang. He starts with Simon who is just… way to sweet and nice for his liking but he can deal. He has to deal with people like this at work all the time. You just… plaster on a smile and pretend that you are having fun. Though, if Hank admits it, he hasn’t exactly done that at work in a long time.

The next android he approaches for help is Josh. Josh is cool. Hank likes Josh. Josh tells him he doesn’t want to interfere and Hank scoffs and mumbles something insulting under his breath before backing down when he receives a glare from the android. So that left North.

North… is interesting. She’s headstrong, capable, and swears almost as much as Hank that Hank can’t help but love her. North tells him that she’ll get Josh on their side and to start off making plans with Simon. So he does, in a corner of the room while Markus and Connor stand over a table looking at blueprints of New Jericho. Apparently Markus wants to expand, saying something about running out of space for Androids that are coming from all over the US.

“So, what do you think we should do?” he asks the blond android in front of him.

Simon gives him that sweet smile and Hank really can’t help the scowl that appears on his face. “They do a lot of work together. The problem is, is that’s all they do. They don’t actually talk about anything else. If we can get them to go out…” Simon trails off, letting Hank fill in the rest.

North strides up to them, pulling Josh over by an arm who is looking as if he’d rather be anywhere but there. “Look who’s decided to help.”

“You kind of forced my hand,” Josh replies.

North completely ignores him. “So, what have we missed?”

“I was just suggesting to the Lieutenant that we get Markus and Connor to do something other than work,” Simon answers her with another smile.

“Yes!” North exclaims, getting excited. Josh rolls his eyes. “That’s perfect.”

“What exactly are we going to get them to do?” Josh asks, looking to each of them. “Androids don’t eat so they can’t go out to a restaurant or something. And remember, Connor still has his LED in.”

North’s lips purse as she thinks and that’s when Hank realizes that asking androids who have just recently been freed for dating help, was the worst idea he has ever had. They have zero experience in dating. If anything, Hank should be the one coming up with the plans.

But again he hates love (he doesn’t.)

With a sigh, Hank finally speaks up, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You know what? Forget I even asked. I’ll handle it myself.”

“No!” North yells and both Markus and Connor look over at them in confusion until North awkwardly waves them off. She turns back to Hank. “You already asked for help, so now you’re going to get it.”

Hank groans in dismay.

*~~~*

When Hank and Connor get home, he decides to just bite the bullet. He sits Connor down on the couch and goes and sits in the chair so he can easily look at the android. Sumo saunters up to Connor who immediately begins to pet the dog. “Listen, Kid, I have something I need to talk to you about.”

Connor looks up at him, all the innocence in the world shining from his eyes. “What is it Lieutenant?”

Hank takes a deep breath. “How do you feel about Markus?”

“Markus?” Connor asks in confusion. “He’s a great leader and true friend. I like him a lot.”

Hank rolls his eyes. This is going to be harder than he had first anticipated. It would seem Connor is unaware of his feelings for the other android. Rubbing a hand tiredly down his face, Hank continues. “Are you sure it’s just as friends that you like him?”

Connor’s eyebrows furrow in confusion. He’s so human like, that Hank often forgets that he isn’t human at all. “What are you suggesting, Lieutenant?”

“Well,” Hank hesitates. He doesn’t know how much he should actually tell Connor. “Have you ever thought that maybe you feel… uh… more?” Hank feels disgusted just asking. Fucking love.

Connor is still looking at him as if he’s grown a second head. “More?”

“Oh for fuck’s sake!” Hank throws his hands up in the air and pulls at his hair. “Love, you dumb ass, I’m talking about love. Do you love him?”

Connor smiles at Hank’s antics. It’s never escaped Hank’s knowledge that Connor is often times amused and intrigued by the way Hank acts. “Of course, I do.”

Hank blanches. What the hell is going on? “You do?”

“Of course. Markus means a lot to me and I’m grateful for his forgiveness and friendship.”

It finally clicks. “No, Connor, I’m not talking about loving him like a friend or family of whatever. I’m talking about love love.” Connor’s eyebrows dip even more and Hank has to stop himself form sighing heavily. “Romantic love, Connor, romantic love.”

“Oh…” Connor looks away from him, cheeks turning a slight blue. Hank will never get used to that. “I… don’t know.” Connor looks back over at him. “Do you think I do?”

This time, Hank does sigh, taking a sip of his brandy. “I can’t answer that for you.”

“But you’re asking for a reason,” Connor points out, head tilting in curiosity.

“You just-” Hank starts but stop, not really knowing how to explain it. “It’s just a cop hunch, I guess.”

Connor’s eyes light up and he leans forward in interest. “How would one get a hunch?”

“It just… happens?” Hank answers, watching the android as Connor turns away, deep in thought. “It might just be a human thing, I don’t know.”

“Interesting.” Connor looks over again. “I don’t know if I could replicate that.”

Thrown off by the subject change, Hank shakes his head. “Right, that’s something we’ll have to test out later. Do you think you love Markus, Connor?”

Connor doesn’t answer him right away and instead looks up to the ceiling in thought. “I don’t know,” he finally says, bringing his eyes back to Hank. “I don’t know what love feels like.”

“Well,” Hank starts, trying to remember what it felt like with his wife before everything went to shit. “How you feel about him, is it the same way you feel towards me or Sumo?” Connor shakes his head. “Okay, what about North, Josh, and Simon? Do you feel the same towards them as you do towards Markus?” Again Connor takes a few seconds to think it over before shaking his head. “Then it’s probably a good bet that you love him.”

Connor’s cheeks grow a much more significant blue than before. “What does this mean?”

Hank gets up and pats Connor on the shoulder. “Leave it to me, Kid.” He gives Connor a smile and a curt nod before leaving the room.

*~~~*

“Okay, remember, what are you not going to talk about?” Hank asks as he straightens Connor’s tie. North has set up a trip into the park with Markus and Connor in the disguise of scouting out a destination for a press conference. Instead, they’ll go there and find a picnic waiting for them. Josh had argued the food angle again but North just glared at him and told him it was something to do with aesthetics.

“Work?” Connor says, hesitant. “Hank, are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Of course, it is,” North interrupts before Hank can answer. “One of my best ideas actually. Markus is going to be here soon and Simon and Josh are setting up the picnic. Here.” She holds out a bouquet of flowers. “Give those to Markus. He likes,” she waves her hand dismissively, “naturey things.”

Connor takes the bouquet and holds them close. As the doorbell rings and Connor goes to answer it, Hank pulls North aside. “Did you get a chance to talk to Markus about his feelings towards Connor?”

North squirms. “Uh, kind of.”

Hank waits for the android to elaborate but it never comes. “And?”

“And he shot it down. He’s stubborn. If he doesn’t want to talk about something, he won’t.” North gives him a reassuring smile. “But don’t worry. He feels the same towards Connor, I know it.”

“How are you so sure?” Hank asks her, suspicious.

North shoots him a smile. “Same way you did. A hunch.”

*~~~*

Connor comes home about an hour later, much earlier than Hank had anticipated. “How’d it go?” he asks even before the android has a chance to settle in.

Connor smiles at him. “It went well. We found the perfect spot to have a press conference with plenty of coverage from snipers. It’s going to take place in a week.”

Hank closes his eyes, takes a very deep calming breath, and then opens them again. “You weren’t supposed to talk about work, Connor.”

Connor’s smile melts and Hank almost regrets being the one to cause it (he does truly regret it.) “Oh… I’m sorry Lieutenant.”

“Don’t be sorry just-” Hank scratches at his forehead in frustration. “Did you even have the picnic?”

“Markus thought is was a waste of time.” Connor shrugs, something Hank’s never seen him do before and wonders if he picked it up from him. “He’s very busy, Hank.”

“That’s not the fucking point!” Hank throws his arms up in defeat. “It was supposed to be a date, Connor. Something you both could enjoy.”

“But,” Connor starts out slow, confused. “We both did enjoy it. It was a beautiful day out and it made the walk around the park very nice.”

Hank hesitates with his retort. A walk around the park? Even though they talked shop the whole time, technically is was still a date. The two idiot androids just don’t realize that. “You didn’t ask him about his feelings towards you, did you?”

The blush is back on Connor’s cheeks and Hank decides it’s fun putting it there. “No. Josh told me not to.”

“So you’ll listen to him?”

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant.”

Hank dismisses the apology with a wave, not really caring one way or another anymore if Connor and Markus talked about work. As long as the two had fun, that’s all that really matters. “Well, I’m glad you had fun, Kid. One of us deserves to.”

“Maybe next time you could come with us,” Connor suggests.

Hank huffs a laugh. “Trust me, Connor, you don’t want an old, grumpy man like me tagging along on your date.” Connor looks at him, confused, but Hank chooses not to explain. “Come on, I’ve been called into the station. You’re welcome to come with me if you want.”

Connor’s eyes light up. “Of course, Lieutenant!”

*~~~*

They’re next try is sending them off to the aquarium that is on the other side of the city. It’ll take them at least forty-five minutes on the bus to just get there and then hopefully they’ll spend more than just an hour at the aquarium. Granted, the aquarium is full of fake android fish but they do have a special conservatory section for real life sea life that has been endangered for a long time now. Hank thinks the two will love that section.

“No,” Hank begins as he takes Connor’s tie away from him. He’s dressed the android in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt under a button up. “Keep that shirt unbuttoned. Markus will love it, trust me.”

“I don’t know if I should trust you with my fashion, Hank.” Hank furrows his brows and tilts his head in confusion, feeling like he should be insulted. Connor chuckles. “Don’t worry, I’ll leave it unbuttoned.”

“Good.” Hank sets the tie aside and looks Connor over. Markus isn’t going to know what hit him. “Now, make sure you visit the conservatory.”

“We will.”

There’s a knock on the door and Hank goes to answer it, letting North in with Markus in tow. “I told you already, Markus, it’s important for research. People aren’t going to accept us unless they know what androids are going to do for them. They already think we destroyed the economy. If we show them that we are willing to help the world, not destroy it, then they are more willing to accept us.”

“Since when were you such an activist?” Markus asks North, following Hank into the living room where Connor stands. He stops dead in his tracks and stares at the other android. “Connor you…” he trails off and Hank has to hold back a smile in success.

“Thank you Markus,” Connor smiles at Markus and Markus blushes a deep blue, looking away.

North slaps him on the back, almost causing Markus to fall over. “The conservatory at the aquarium is the perfect place to do research on the animals and find ways to show the humans that we care.”

Markus squirms where he stands, eyes darting to Connor before looking at North. “Right. Shall we get going?”

“We, as in all of us?” North asks, feigning ignorance.

Markus nods. “Yes, of course. That was the plan, wasn’t it?”

North tsks, chuckling slightly. “Oh no, I hate the aquarium.” Markus blinks at her in bewilderment. “Besides, I have other things I need to do.”

“Like what?” Markus asks her.

She shrugs. “Just things.” She leans forward into Markus’ space. “Trust me, Markus, you don’t need to know everything that I do.”

Markus sighs and turns to Hank. “What about you, Lieutenant?”

“Sorry, I can’t. I’ve got to go into work,” he answers.

“You do?” Connor asks. “You never mentioned that.”

Hank internally groans. Sometimes the cluelessness of androids was infuriating. “I’m sure I told you this morning.”

Connor is still staring at him but luckily Markus saves him. “Don’t worry, Connor. You and I can just go.”

Connor’s entire face lights up and it’s the most sickening thing Hank has seen (it’s not.) “Okay, Markus.”

They both leave and North holds out her hand for a high five. Hank looks at it, scowls, and turns away to pour himself a whisky.

*~~~*

This date lasts a lot longer than the previous one, much to Hank’s satisfaction, and when Connor comes home, he’s surprised to see Markus with him. They both are laughing, something Hank doesn’t get to see very often. It’s actually… nice.

Hank approaches the two as they settle onto the couch. “I take it, it went well?”

“Yes, there was a lot of information about all the fish and other sea life there,” Connor says. “Very informative.”

“I think North was right,” Markus adds, turning serious. “I think knowing this stuff will help in our fight for acceptance and equality for androids.”

“Glad it could help.” Hank sips his beer. “You two seemed to enjoy yourselves as well.”

“Yes,” Connor says excitedly. “Markus got splashed by a sea turtle.” Hank didn’t even know there were sea turtles at the aquarium. “It was very amusing.”

Hank chuckles, their good mood starting to rub off on him. “I can see that.”

Markus is chuckling again too, watching Connor intently as Connor goes on to explain exactly how it happened that Markus got splashed by a sea turtle. Hank scrutinizes the other android and the way he is looking at Connor. Hank never would have thought that androids were capable of showing so much emotion in their eyes but he was wrong. Markus is looking at Connor with so much longing, so much love, that it makes Hank’s own heart clench with the pain of it.

Connor turns to Markus, wide smile on his face. “Oh, you should tell Hank about the fish.”

Markus smiles back. “Which one? There were a lot of them there, Connor.”

“The one, you know, the one I befriended.”

“Why am I not surprised that you befriended a fish,” Hank comments.

Markus chuckles. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell him?”

“I want you to do it.” Connor’s own smile softens, radiating affection.

Markus turns to him, barely being able to tear his eyes from Connor. “Connor jumped into one of the tanks.”

“He what!” The whole mood for Hank changes in an instant.

“He swam with an Ocean Sun Fish.” There’s a knock on the door as Markus continues to explain. “Surprisingly, the fish took it well. Kept following Connor around the tank.

Hank stares in disbelief as he goes to answer the door. When he does, there’s a police officer standing there. “Good evening, Lieutenant.”

Hank sighs tiredly.

*~~~*

Simon picks the date this time and tells them there is no way they could mess it up. The two of them are going to go watch a movie, a romantic classic named The Notebook . Hank tries to explain that the movie really isn’t that old, that he was nineteen when the movie came out. Simon just stares at him, as if wanting to say something, but decided not to.

They have to wait a month before they can arrange it. Simon is the one to show up with Markus this time. “You can’t miss it, Markus.” Simon says as soon as he enters Hank’s house. Suddenly, Hank wonders why they always come here to meet up. “This is the only time the theater is showing it for awhile.”

Markus sighs. He sounds tired and Hank wouldn’t blame the android if he was. He’s heard that that the government has been fighting back on some of Markus’ demands and it’s taking up a lot of the android’s time. “Then you all just go without me.”

“No,” Simon says stubbornly. “You need to take a break, Markus.”

“Well, it’ll have to be you three,” Hank says quickly. “I don’t do chick flicks.”

“Then, with no disrespect, Lieutenant, but why did you say you’d go?” Markus questions.

Hank gestures towards Connor. “To get him to agree.”

Markus looks over at Connor, slight panic written on his face. “You’re not going to back out now, too, then are you?”

Connor shakes his head to reassure the other android. “No.”

Markus’ shoulder’s relax in relief. “Okay, maybe you’re right, Simon. I do need a break.”

“See.” Simon pats Markus on the shoulder. “I’m just trying to look out for-” Simon falls silent and pretends to listen. They went over it when they discussed the plan. Simon would fake a call from Josh, something urgent that needs to be taken care of but nothing requiring Markus’ help. It would give him an excuse to miss the movie. Simon pulls off disappointed perfectly. “I’m sorry, Markus, Connor, but it would seem that Josh needs my assistance.”

Markus is frowning. “But you’re the one who wanted to see this.”

“I know but… it sounded kind of urgent.”

Markus starts heading towards the door. “Then maybe I should help.”

“Nope!” Hank quickly stops the android with a hand on his shoulder. “I can help them. Simon already said you needed to take a break and quite frankly, even I can tell you need one. Go, watch the movie, have fun. But just as a warning, Connor is a talker. He’ll be asking you questions about the movie every five seconds.”

“I don’t talk that much do I?” Everyone looks at him but no one answers. Connor frowns.

Hank practically shoves them out the door. “Go!” Markus is looking at him in confusion but does as he’s told. “And stay out of trouble. Connor, don’t you fucking dare do something to make the police show up again, you hear me!? I will not help you next time!” With that, he shuts the door and gives Simon a small, little satisfied nod.

*~~~*

“The movie was very nice, Hank,” Connor tells him as they sit down on the couch, Hank with a bottle of beer and Connor petting Sumo. “I liked it a lot.”

“That’s good, Kid. What about Markus?”

“He told me that he liked it as well.” There’s a pause and Connor looks to the floor in contemplation. Hank allows him to think, not wanting to intrude on his thoughts. “We held hands as we walked back here.”

“That’s fantastic, Connor!” Hank says, a little too enthusiastic than he would normally be. He takes a deep breath, calming himself. “What else happened?”

Connor frowns, shaking his head. “Nothing.”

Hank waits for more but none comes. “You two didn’t… talk about why you were holding hands?”

“No.”

Hank sighs and rubs his face vigorously. “Who initiated the hand holding?”

“Markus.”

“Okay, good. That’s a good sign.” Hank licks his lips, takes a sip of his beer, and then allows the corners of his mouth to pull up slightly in what almost resembles a smirk. “That means we can move onto the next step.”

“The next step?”

“Yep.” Hank stands, already pulling his phone out to call North. “Time to get you kissed.”

*~~~*

The plans have to be put on hold. Markus was holding another press conference about the way the government is denying them rights when he got shot. Luckily it was only in the shoulder but it needs repair and he had bled a lot. Connor fussed, apologizing profusely at his lack of ability to protect Markus as his official bodyguard. Markus has been reassuring Connor for the past half hour that it was fine, that he was only one man, and Markus didn’t expect him to be able to protect him from everything .

Hank, North, Simon, and Josh step aside while Connor stays with Markus while the medical android works on patching Markus up. North claps her hands together. “Alright, how are we going to get those two laid.”

Josh blanches. “Is this really a good time to be discussing that?”

Hank has a different statement to make. “Hold up, I thought we were going to have them kiss.”

“Kiss, sex, same thing,” North dismisses. Hank just stares at her incredulously as she addresses Josh. “Don’t worry Josh, Markus is fine. What I’m not fine with, is continuously having to watch those two idiots pine after each other.”

“I have to be honest,” Simon starts. “I’m getting kind of tired of it too. Markus has even started staring off into space randomly.”

Josh contemplates. “I do suppose if they were official by now, Markus might have been more focused during this press conference and not have gotten shot.”

Hank doubts it but doesn’t say anything. “See? That’s the spirit Josh!” North punches his arm and Josh rubs the spot. “Okay, so, part two in our matchmaking plans. Any ideas?”

“Something romantic,” Simon inputs.

“Something harrowing,” North says.

“What about just a relaxing time together?” Josh asks.

“Uh, guys,” Hank says to get everyone’s attention as he watches the scene behind North’s shoulders. They all look at him expectantly. “I don’t think any of that will be necessary.”

All three of them turn to look at what Hank is watching and gape at the scene. There, over by the medical station, are Connor and Markus making out. “What the fuck?” North exclaims. Simon blushes, looking away, and Josh’s jaw drops.

Hank chuckles. “I guess we don’t have to worry about it anymore.” With a pat to North’s shoulder, Hank walks away, deciding to leave the three in shock, and Connor and Markus at it.

*~~~*

Hank comes home from work one night to Connor cooking. Connor never cooks. Suspiciously, Hank looks over Connor’s shoulder. “What are you making and why?”

“I am making you an all American burger.” Hank makes an appreciative sound to that. “I read that it is a classic favorite among human Americans.”

“I won’t argue with that.” Hank pours himself a glass of rum and sips it. “And why are you cooking for me?”

Connor shrugs, a movement that still throws Hank off. “I felt like it.” He turns to face Hank, spatula clutched in his hand and cheeks a light blue. “Markus is also coming over. I hope that is okay.”

“Yeah, it’s fine.” He watches as Connor places the burger on a bun and then starts to garnish it with ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onions, bacon, etc. Once done, Connor hands over the plate. “Do I need to make myself scarce?”

“Why would you?” Connor asks as the doorbell rings.

“No reason,” Hank comments, smirk fully in place.

Connor looks at him in confusion before answering the door and letting Markus in. Hank greets him and Markus says hello back. “I hope you don’t mind me coming to spend some time with Connor, Lieutenant.

Hank shakes his head and sits down at the kitchen table. “Of course, not.”

Both Connor and Markus stand there awkwardly before Connor finally asks Markus, “Do you want anything?”

“I don’t eat or drink,” Markus says before blushing. He clears his throat. “I mean… sorry, thank you for the offer.”

Connor seems to be unfazed by Markus’ comment and instead smiles at him. “You’re welcome, Markus.”

They both begin standing there awkwardly again until Hank finally butts in, finishing his burger and drink. “Why don’t you two go put on a movie or something. I have some work to do out here.”

They both nod and begin to make their way to the living room when Hank calls Markus back. “Yes, Lieutenant?”

Hank stands and leans in close to Markus. “If you hurt him, android rights will be the last thing you have to worry about. Do you understand me?”

Hank watches as Markus swallows nervously and nods his head quickly. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant, I love him. I won’t hurt him.”

Hank sits back, sitting down in the chair again. “Good.” They stare at each other for a few seconds before Hank motions towards the living room. “Go on, before he wonders where you are.”

Markus nods again and Hank watches him leave. Never in his dreams would he have thought he’d ever care about androids so much, especially after what happened with Cole. But somehow, more than one of them has managed to worm their way into his heart. Specifically Connor. He cares about Connor a lot, like his own son, and he wants to protect him with everything he’s got.

But in the end, he knows Markus is good for Connor. Markus was the one who finally managed to get Connor to change his mind about what androids are all about (though Hank likes to take some credit as well, of course.) Hank wonders if it was love at first sight for Connor, not that Hank believes in that shit. At least, not anymore. He had thought he had loved his wife the moment he laid eyes on her, too, but that ended in disaster. All he can do is hope that it’ll be different for Connor and Markus.

Somehow, he truly does believe it will.

Smiling to himself, Hank pulls out some of the work he brought home with him. He feels it in his gut that this thing between Markus and Connor will last. That it’s some kind of cheesy epic love that Hank usually grimaces at. But with those two, with those two his heart warms instead of feeling disgusted. They deserve it. They deserve the happiness and love the two can give each other. And Hank is truly happy for them.

With his heart all warm and fuzzy (for once), Hank stands from his place at the table. “Come on, Sumo.” The old dog slowly gets up and follows Hank into the living room. “Hey you two, mind if a joi-” Hank stops dead in his tracks, mid sentence. There, on the couch, are two completely naked androids, one on top of the other. And when Hank says naked, he means naked . No clothes, no… no skin. Hank is so surprised at first that he stands there gaping like an idiot. Until reality strikes. Until his brain finally registers what’s going on. Until his brain registers what’s going on with his son .

“What the fuck!”

———————————————————————————————————–

A/N: Thanks for reading!

[detective-sonshine]

I can’t keep kissing strangers and pretend they are you. With Sonny?

You were new to New York and offered a position withManhattan’s Special Victims Unit. It was not only your dream location but alsoyour dream job. When you started working, your lieutenant, Olivia Benson,paired you with Detective Sonny Carisi, a blondish haired, Staten Island nativewith the purest blue grey eyes you had ever seen. He became your best friend,and you immediately fell victim to Sonny’s equivalent of Bieber Fever. You wouldcatch yourself staring at him without realizing it. You fell slowly thensuddenly all at once. When you found out through Amanda that he felt the sameway, it was almost as if it was meant to be. The two of you flirted on and off fora while after that, both too shy to say anything.

When Sonny’s ex came back into his life, you were heartbroken. They got back together for a few months, but you knew they weren’t goodfor each other. She still lived in Staten Island and made him come to her whenhe wasn’t working. He spent all his time and money on her. It made you sad. Youknew that if it was you in her position, you wouldn’t want the material things—Sonny’slove would be plenty in itself. When they broke their relationship off threemonths ago, you felt as if the storm had passed. But something in Sonny hadchanged. He was coming to work late with yesterday’s suit still on. He wouldn’tbe prepared for new case presentations. He was even put on desk duty for a weekbecause of it. When you tried to talk to him, he pushed you away—claiming hewas fine. You knew he wasn’t. it was obvious he was sleeping around and havingmeaningless one-night stands. The sweet man you fell for when you got to Manhattanwas no where to be found.

You walked into the precinct early and ready for the dayahead. You were looking down at your phone when you suddenly hit somethinghard. You fell to the floor, covering yourself and the person you ran into withthe coffee you had been holding.

“I am so sorry, I’m such a klutz!” you say, trying to getup. A hand is offered out to you and you look up to meet dark brown eyes.

“No need to apologize, I’m the one who should’ve watched wherehe was going.” You realize that you ran into a man. He was tall and veryhandsome. He had brown hair that was perfectly groomed, and he was very welldressed. You sat there, dumbfounded at his handsomeness, before realizing howstupid you looked. You grabbed his hand and he helped you up.

“I’m Luke,” he said with a smile.

“I’m Y/N, its nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, same here. Sorry about your coffee,” he said. You hadalmost forgotten that the two of you were covered in it. You laughed.

“It’s okay. I probably didn’t need the caffeine anyways.”

“Well, Y/N, if you change your mind, I would love to get youa new cup. Maybe around 7 tonight? And maybe with a home cooked meal?” heflashed his pearly white teeth at you. You looked around, suddenly aware thatyou’re still at work. That’s when you see Sonny’s face. He was staring deepinto you, almost as if he was trying to burn a hole into your body by just hiseyes. He was acting so off lately so you didn’t think much of it.

“It’s totally okay to say no,” Luke said, scratching the backof his head nervously. You turned your attention back to him.

“No, no. I would love to have dinner with you tonight,” yousmiled.

“Great! I can pick you up from here if you’d like?”

“Sounds good,” you agreed.

“It’s a date.” He smirked.

You walked to your desk with a full-blown smile on yourface. You hadn’t gotten that much attention in a while and you didn’t quiteknow what to do other than grin.

“What was that?” Sonny spat, interrupting you from your daze.

“I just got asked out.”

“Obviously. Why did you agree?” You were taken aback.

“Excuse me?” you ask.

“Why would you say yes to a guy you don’t even know? Especiallya guy who you are just now meeting in the lobby of the SVU. Sounds stupid ifyou ask me.” He waved his hands in the air.

You were hurt in a way. The last couple of months he hadcompletely blown you off, treating you like shit and only doing the bareminimum around you. And now he had the nerve to say that to you?

“Whatever Sonny.” You mumbled.

Hours later, it was 7 and you were finally off work. You walkedout of the precinct and waived goodbye to your coworkers as they walked away. Youwaited patiently for Luke to pick you up.

After 30 minutes of waiting, you sat down on the stepsthinking of all the reasons he could’ve been running late for.

15 more minutes passed, and you realized you were shivering.After a while, you felt a coat being wrapped around your back. You turn to seeSonny, giving you a shy smile as he sits next to you.

“Go ahead. Say whatever it is you’re going to say.”

“I’m not going to say ‘I told you so’ doll. Nobody deservesto be stood up.”

“Yeah, well… whatever. I should’ve known it was too good tobe true anyways.” You bit the inside of your cheek, turning to look one lasttime down the street for that tall, handsome man you spelt coffee on. He wasnowhere to be found.

“Y/N…”

“It’s funny to me. I met an amazing guy, fell for him, gotmy hopes up, then suddenly everything was ripped from me. I thought we were goingto be great together.”

Sonny laughed. “Doll, you just met the guy. It’s not likeyou were getting married.”

“No, stupid! Not him.” He looked confused. You sighed, decidingnot to elaborate any further. “You must really feel bad for me right now to beacting so nice.”

“What do you mean?” he pressed.

“You’re normally a dick. Lately you’ve been so rude to me. Eversince you and that girl got back together, everything’s been different.”

“I haven’t been rude to you.”

“Yes, you have, Sonny. You treat me like absolute shit.” He stayedquiet for a bit. Your eyes studied his, begging to know what was going on inthat beautiful mind of his.

After a couple minutes of no talking, you decided to call ita night.

“Here’s your coat back. I better get home.” You stand andstart to walk away but you stop when Sonny opens his mouth to speak.

“I can’t keep kissing strangers and pretend they’re you.” Heblurts out.

“Sonny, what are you talking about—”

His soft lips crashed against yours, hungry for your taste. Hisbig hands gripped your hips and pulled you tight against his body. You immediatelykissed back. Your lips moving in sync as you wrap your arms around his neck.

A million thoughts were going through your mind, but you didn’tcare. All you needed in that moment was Sonny, and all he needed was you.

He finally pulled away, out of breath, and resting his foreheadagainst yours.

“I’m in love with you.” He whispered.

“Sonny…”

“Stop talking and just listen.” He demanded. You couldn’t helpbut think about how hot that was. “I need to get this off my chest. I have lovedyou since the moment I met you. I’m sorry I fucked everything up. I was stupidwhen I took my ex back. Truly, I wasn’t thinking. I wanted to be with you, nother. But I guess I took her back because I felt that I wasn’t good enough foryou. After I broke it off with her, I slept around. I guess I did it to fillsome sort of void. I saw you every day and it killed me to know that I fucked upmy chances with you. I figured being with strangers would help me get over you,doll, but it didn’t.” he took a deep breath. “And seeing you tonight made merealize that I never want to let you go. Not now, not ever.”

You looked up at him with wide eyes and your mouth agape.

“Now you can speak,” he whispered.

You didn’t know what to say so you did the only thing you couldthink of. You kissed him. 

[aceholmes]

the uncharted (6/?)

summary: the vienna gets into trouble with some romulans who want to arrest the vienna’s first officer, kaz jamin. troi, ke’lth and swift find that running a galaxy-class starship singlehandedly is harder than it looks.

here it is on ao3!

The week later

“All the refugees are still aboard.” Commander Jamin reports. “Living conditions are livable for another three months or so, but no more.”

“How many are there?” Yar asks.

Jamin reads off her PADD. “Three hundred and fifty-six. That’s twice the number of our crew.”

Yar nods. “How is the housing situation?”

Jamin’s forehead wrinkles, and it brings to attention that her forehead is clear of the brow ridges that mark most Romulans. In fact, Jamin could very well pass as human (her father was human, according to Starfleet records), except for her ears, which are delicately pointed at the ends. Her long hair, up in a ponytail, is far from the conventional way the Romulans wear theirs, which also strikes curiosity in Yar.

“Not good. We’ve had to reallocate quarters.” Jamin says, pausing slightly. “If you don’t mind, Captain, Commander Hurley and I have temporarily taken up residence in your quarters.”

Yar seems taken aback for a moment, but relaxes and shifts in her chair. “It’s an emergency. Measures have to be taken.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Jamin says, sternly. “Also, have you managed to read Lieutenant Ang’s report on Planet X-2030?”

Yar shakes her head. “No, not yet. I just got back an hour ago.”

“My apologies, Captain.” Jamin replies. “It had slipped my mind that no news reached you when you were on shore leave.”

“Even if news had reached me I would’ve been too busy to do much about it.” lies Yar. She tries cracking a smile, but deep inside she knows that all she did on shore leave was lie around in the hotel, drunk on cheap wine and still denying that Deanna’s disappearance ever occurred. She would’ve been drunk the whole way if Beverly didn’t show up at her door on the last day and insisted that they spend the day together. It was still uneventful, with Beverly and her sitting under a drab grey sky as Jean-Luc futilely tried to feed the ducks. (The ducks weren’t hungry.)

“Captain.” Jamin’s serious, commanding voice snaps her back to reality.

Yar coughs. “Sorry.”

“We found it to be a class K planet. Life could possibly be sustained there with pressure drones.” Jamin explains. “Starfleet has announced that a science ship will be accompanying us to Planet X-2030, which we’ve named Teloi I.”

“I wasn’t informed.” Yar frowns. “Has Starfleet announced the specifications of this mission?”

“Reports came in this morning.” Jamin sifts through her PADD. “We will be accompanied by the USS Newton. The Newton is currently under command of Captain Geordi La Forge.”

Yar looks up. “An old friend of mine.”

Jamin nods. “Then you two will get along very well, I suppose. The Newton will be joining us in two days.”

“How long would it take to construct the pressure domes?” considers Yar.

“Captain La Forge recommends a month, at the very least. Settling the refugees into their new home will be difficult, as well.” Jamin responds. “But their old planet is uninhabitable now.”

Yar agrees, sadly. “Relocations not pleasant for anyone.” She leans back in her chair. “Is there any news of the three missing officers?”

“None as of now.” Jamin takes on a more sympathetic tone. “I’m sorry, Captain.”

“You don’t need to be.” Yar shrugs off. “I should’ve gotten a diagnostic run before they went down there.”

“It was a time anomaly, Captain. Being able to accurately predict them is extremely difficult, almost impossible.” Jamin consoles. “You’re not alone in this. The ship’s morale hasn’t been high lately.”

“And what about you? You had quite an amicable working relationship with Troi.” Yar points out.

“I miss her.” Jamin states. “As do you, Captain.”

“Yes, I do.” Yar finds herself choking on her words, closing herself off. “It isn’t the first time I’ve lost people dear to me.”

“Neither is it for me.” Jamin lowers her voice. “My children are still on Romulus.”

“You have children?” Yar is torn, wanting to know more.

“I don’t know whether they’re still alive, Captain,” trembles Jamin. “But I’m glad I left Romulus.” She goes silent. “I could talk more, but I would like to get back to my post now.”

“Dismissed,” allows Yar. After Jamin leaves, Yar wants to do nothing but toss and turn, but the time for grieving was over. There’s still a lot of work to do, and sitting around won’t do anything about it. She’s about to start on reading Ang’s report on Teloi I when the alarms start to sound. The red alert signal blares throughout the ship, and Yar rushes out onto the bridge.

“Lieutenant Peters.” Yar addresses the Head of Security. “What’s the situation?”

“Romulan warbird, decloaking.” Peters scans over the controls. “Off our bow, Captain.”

“Are they hailing?” Yar inquires.

Peters shakes his head. “No. Shall we hail them, sir?”

“On screen.” orders Yar, and the screen blinks to life with the image of a Romulan commander.

“I am Captain Natasha Yar of the Federation Starship Vienna.” Yar greets. “What is your intent here?”

“Commander Rak Jamin, serving the Romulan Star Empire.” The Romulan on the other ship shoots back, glancing off to the side. “We are here in search of valuable information, especially regarding something that was stolen from us.”

“We are a Federation starship.” Yar replies, her voice stern. “We have stolen nothing from you.” She glances away from Commander Rak Jamin, and sees something in the corner of the screen. Two Romulan children, not older than ten. They do not cower, but they stand silently, stiff and emotionless.

“You might have not, Captain, but one of your officers have.” Commander Rak Jamin reveals, glancing to Yar’s left. “Kaz. My dear wife. Or should I say, ex-wife.”

Commander Kaz Jamin’s hands tremble, but she remains silent, with quiet dignity.

“The Romulan Star Empire has accused you of treason, Kaz. You will come with us back to Romulus.”

“To be tried and executed?” Kaz says, urgently. “There is no proof that I am guilty of any crime.”

“You know what I’m talking about, my dear.” Rak says, his voice dripping with venom. “Please cooperate, and perhaps the Romulan Star Empire shall grant you a swift death, free of humiliation.”

The bridge is silent, except for the distant humming from the engines.

Two jolts shake the bridge, and it registers in Yar’s mind that the Romulans have opened fire on the Vienna.

“Shields are holding, for now.” Commander Hurley reports.

“That was a warning shot,” Rak informs, and raises a hand to signal to the weapons officer. “Now come with us.”

“Don’t fire on them, Captain.” Kaz pleads, softly. “My children are on that ship.”

Settling in her chair, Yar bites down on her lip, deep in thought. “Give us an hour, Commander.” She finally announces. Grudgingly, Rak agrees, and Yar and Kaz retreat into Yar’s ready room.

“Why are they after you?” Yar asks, pacing the room. “Please tell me the truth. You know I’d always be on your side, as your captain and...friend.”

“The information was planted.” Kaz replies. “All they want is to execute me as a traitor.”

“Planted?” Yar raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”

“I have enemies, Captain.” Kaz answers. “But I destroyed any evidence that I even had possession of the information to begin with. Covered my traces.”

“Why formulate this elaborate plan when they can take you in for deserting the empire? For running away all those years ago?” Yar asks.

“I am not a formal Romulan citizen, Captain.” Kaz bows her head. “I am the child of a Federation prisoner, and a commoner mother.”

“They never treated us like anything, Captain.” Kaz sighs. “We half-breeds were no different from slaves. Then they were afraid of their offspring being tainted by human blood. Their goal was to wipe us out. I only survived so long because my mother hid me. I underwent surgical alterations to my face just so that I could be safely married off. Then I escaped because there was no place for me there.”

“As long as they find no traces of the information you supposedly possess, they will have no reason to arrest you, is that correct?” Yar considers.

“What information, in particular?” Yar inquires.

“Information on their new space-field manipulator.” reveals Kaz.

Yar thumbs her chin. “If we were to run scans, would we find that all files in your PADD and computer databanks would all originate from Federation sources?”

“Yes.” Kaz nods. “But it would not be wise to run scans now. The Romulan Warbird could be monitoring every computer process that is currently running on this ship.”

Yar sighs. “I sincerely hope what you have told me is true.”

“So do I.” Kaz replies.

Yar’s com-badge gives a chirp. “Hurley to Captain Yar. The Romulans have hailed us again.”

Yar exits her office, with Kaz Jamin in tow. “Take heart,” Yar whispers to her first officer, before they step onto the bridge. With her heart fluttering at her throat, Yar steels herself and gets ready to face Rak Jamin, and the truth.

Troi awakes from her nap when Swift taps on her shoulder. Yawning, she stretches out in the chair in the centre of the bridge.

“It’s not easy, running a galaxy-class starship with a total crew of three.” Swift says. “We need to find help soon.”

“Are there any other planets in the sector?” Troi inquires.

Ke’lth reads off a science station. “Yes, there seems to be an planet that it’s inhabited. If we head there at maximum warp, we will reach there in twenty hours.”

“Set a course then, Doctor Ke’lth.” Troi commands.

Ke’lth nods, and turns back to his station. Troi turns to Swift. “You should get some rest.”

“I will.” agrees Swift. “But I think I’ll do one last thing.”

“What’s that?” Troi raises an eyebrow.

“The scanners indicate that one of the bio-neural gel packs might be experiencing a malfunction.” Swift reports. “I would like to head down to give a check before I end my shift.”

“Permission granted.” Troi gives the green light, and Swift starts to remove the clasps on the hatch to Jefferies Tube 23.