LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE
This is a humorous piece centered around Chief Anderson and a character that I created, Dr. Veronica Chambers. Not meant to be taken too seriously, but Dr. Chambers is a love interest I'm in the process of developing. So very little is known about the Galaxy Security Chief, and I wanted to show him in a different light. Another AU piece coming from my take on the "BoTP universe." Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine!
"Hello! Where is everybody?" Princess asked as she made her way toward the kitchen after letting herself through the front door. She had a key, but it was unusual for her to have to actually use it. The door was usually answered by a member of the house staff. She closed the door behind her and deposited her key in her tote bag. Princess hoped to garner a response. It was early Saturday evening and she had no plans for the night.
"In here sis!" Keye shouted back, raising his head just enough out of the refrigerator to answer from the kitchen. The teenager's appetite was enormous, having just consumed several slices of pizza only an hour ago, Keye managed to work up yet another craving. This time it was for something sweet and he was eyeing the last slice of cheesecake someone had hidden toward the back of the fridge. He was just pulling the dessert platter out when Princess walked into the kitchen.
"How's my favorite little brother?" she asked placing her hands on Keye's shoulders and depositing a light kiss on his cheek.
Keye wasn't buying it. "I'm your only little brother. What do you want?" he asked suspiciously, his mouth full of cheesecake. "I don't have any money and 'No' I'm not covering for you tonight at Jill's Place."
"Why does there have to be some sort of ulterior motive? Can't a girl spend some quality time with her family on a Saturday night?" Princess spoke defensively, holding her arms out at her sides, her tote bag weighing on her right shoulder.
Keye smacked his lips after licking his fingers and smirked, "So Mark must be making overnight deliveries huh?" He was referring to Mark Beckham, their G-Force commander and now Princess' love interest. Mark had an airmail courier business that had been demanding a great deal of his time lately. Spectran invaders hadn't launched an attack against Earth in several weeks and during their down time; each member had jobs that required their attention. His relationship with Princess had to take a backburner for now. Princess understood, though she didn't like it.
Princess grimaced at Keye's dead-on assessment of why she was at the Anderson compound for the night. Her green eyes burned at her brother's statement and she wanted to wipe that grin off of his face. "I hate you," she spat, but without venom and reached up to ruffle his spiky brown hair. She sat on the stool in front of the kitchen's island while Keye drank from the soda can he had also just removed from the refrigerator. "But you're right. Mark is making deliveries tonight. I thought maybe you, me and dad could do something tonight. Family stuff. I've got a couple of movies on discs that I thought we could watch." Princess reached into her bag and removed a couple of movies that she rented for the night.
Keye frowned and crossed his arms in front of him, soda can still in hand. "And just what makes you think that I don't have plans of my own? I'm 17 years old and it's Saturday night! You have a lot of nerve assuming that I don't have anything to do!"
Princess arched a dark brow after hearing Keye's recent outburst and stared at him challengely, her lips slanted.
Keye slammed his soda can on the kitchen counter, knowing that Princess knew him better than he cared to admit. "Alright, so I don't have any plans either. I'll get the popcorn, but I'm not watching any of your 'chick flicks!' I want to see plenty of sex, violent images, and a virtually plotless storyline." He ended the latter pointing his finger toward her.
Just then their father, Chief William Anderson, sauntered into the kitchen. He appeared devastatingly handsome, wearing a dark grey suit, his brown hair peppered with streaks of silver, was impeccably combed, and there was a hint of an aromatic fragrance, a combination of peppermint, lavender, and sandalwood giving off just a whiff of scent. Anderson looked and evoked 'hotness.'
Both Princess and Keye whistled their satisfaction. Anderson smiled and even bowed at his kid's appraisal.
"Well, well, well! To what do we owe this auspicious occasion?" Princess stated and walked over to her father to bestow a kiss on his cheek and to grant him, what she felt, a much deserved hug.
Anderson looped an arm around his adopted daughter's shoulder and looked into her large green eyes through the frames of his thin glasses. "Can't a guy get dressed up on a Saturday night just because he feels like it? Anyway what are you doing here?" Anderson asked, directing his question at her.
"Can't I spend a little quality time with my family?" she returned.
Anderson grinned and released his hold from his daughter. "Mark making deliveries tonight huh?" He then winked at Keye who returned his father's knowing glance with a grin of his own.
"Alright already! I give up!" Princess stated loudly. "But not so fast mister. You never answered our question," gesturing a hand between Keye and herself. "Why are you all dolled up?"
"Yeah dad, out with it. And don't tell us there's some science summit going on. Not on a Saturday night. So what gives?" Both Keye and Princess gave their father a speculative stare, waiting for Anderson's response.
Anderson straightened his broad shoulders and coughed a little before speaking. "I have a date for tonight," he answered quietly and clasped his hands at his waist, while bending slightly.
A long pause hung in the air before a raspberry had been blown from Keye's mouth and laughter erupted between him and Princess. Both were literally hugging each other after hearing their father's answer.
He frowned at their outburst and was slightly offended at their behavior. "And would you two clowns mind telling me what's so damn funny?"
Princess was the first to speak, though tears were threatening to fall onto her cheeks. "If you don't want to tell us just say so. But don't make up some story that you have a date for tonight."
"Yeah dad, it's alright if you're going to some Federation function…" Keye chuckled but Anderson held up a hand, cutting off the flow of his son's words.
"I have a date for tonight with Dr. Veronica Chambers. I am taking her to dinner." Anderson spoke with all seriousness, his brown eyes darting from daughter to son.
Another long pause.
"Well alright dad! Way to go! Woo-hoo!" Keye shouted pumping his fist into the air. "I always knew you had it in you!"
"Wait a minute. Dr. Veronica Chambers? Isn't she the new head of the Bio-physics Department at the ISO? The tall brunette with the…" Princess tried to describe the statuesque and buxom doctor without coming off as tactless.
"With the great rack!" Keye finished for his sister. "Oh my God! That woman is prime; all of her assets are ample! Wait! Let me close my eyes and finish the fantasy!" The teenager closed his eyes and placed a hand to his forehead.
"Oh shut up Keye! There's more to a person than his or her looks!" Princess stated, annoyed that her younger brother appeared to be so shallow.
Keye opened his eyes and laughed again while Anderson watched the back and forth display of wordplay between his adopted son and daughter. "Yeah right Prin! You are such a hypocrite! You and I both know if Mark looked like 'Hellboy' you wouldn't give him the time of day!" Keye then leaped the distance between himself and his father and hugged his dad close. "Dad you're doing this for geeks everywhere! I, for one, am proud of you! I mean there was one time when I thought you were as outdated as a pair of acid wash jeans but you came through with this one!"
Princess snorted, "Can his adoption be revoked?"
"I'm beginning to ask myself that same question," Anderson answered in an irritated tone, staring at his son in an exasperated manner. "Keye, Dr. Chambers is a respected colleague of mine. My taking her out this evening is merely a cordial gesture. Veronica is new to the area and doesn't know much about the city."
"Veronica huh?" Princess questioned disbelievingly. "We're already on a first name basis with her. Interesting." She reasoned and crossed her arms in front of her. Keye continued to smile broadly while his father shifted uncomfortably under his daughter's scrutinizing green eyes.
"I don't have to defend myself to either of you," Anderson shrugged away from Keye's arm around his shoulder and readjusted his neck tie. "And Keye for your information I am not interested in that woman's rack…er…assets."
Keye's brow furrowed at that statement. "What in the hell is wrong with you?" was shot from his mouth abruptly until the young man coughed in an attempt to correct himself. "I mean…," he squeaked, "Dad there's nothing wrong with acknowledging that Dr. Chambers is stacked! I mean the woman has it going on!"
"Keye cut it out! Now I will not hear you speak that way about Dr. Chambers! It's degrading and totally inappropriate," Anderson chided. Keye lowered his head slightly, seemingly having the good grace to show embarrassment. Princess beamed at her father's recent show of respectfulness.
Anderson continued to straighten his neck tie and added matter of factly, "Besides I never heard you say anything about her legs; Veronica's got a great set of legs." Anderson flashed his roguish brown eyes to Keye and gave him a sly wink. Keye laughed and both men gave each other a high five.
Princess puckered her lips at the show of testosterone induced antics. "You both disgust me. You're like two roosters preening before a hen house!"
Anderson reached for his daughter's shoulders and kissed her forehead. "Lighten up sweetheart. It's just a date." Princess grinned good naturedly at him and pulled on the neck tie once more, her eyes fixated on the splash of blue and pale grey colors.
"I know it's been a long time since you've seen anyone seriously. I just don't want you to get hurt." Princess then placed flattened palms to Anderson's tailored suit jacket and looked into his rich brown eyes. "Are you sure you're up to this?"
Anderson cocked his head to the right. "The last time I checked I had a pulse. I'm walking upright now, my knuckles aren't dragging the ground, and I've just had the hump removed from my back. Now if you guys will let me get out of here, that Geritol should start kicking in within the half hour." He leaned his forehead into Princess' and both shared a moment of humor.
Keye intervened. "Geez! You've got him married already. It's just a date with a fox!" The young man wrenched Anderson away and patted his shoulder. "Now dad, there are just a few things I want to go over with you before you head out. Now don't bore the woman with any talk of work. This is a date, not a science fair. If she reaches for your hand at the dinner table, try not to break out in a sweat. Play it cool." Keye then shifted and questioned, "Do I need to write this down?"
Anderson shook his head in amusement, "No. Please continue." He waved his hands in the air before putting them together behind his back. Keye even had his sister's full attention.
"Good," Keye pressed on. He then began to pace before his tiny audience. "Now if all goes well after dinner, I'm assuming you'll be escorting her home. When you walk her to the front door, she may turn to you and wish to thank you in some way. She may even move in for a kiss. Don't panic-it's merely a form of affection shown with lip contact primarily between a man and a woman. Now if she puts her lips on yours and then slips you a little tongue, don't be alarmed dad. It just means that she's into you. And don't be afraid to moan a bit; it gets them hot. If she grabs your ass and squeezes it a little, well that's an added benefit." The latter was stated with Keye rocking back and forth on his heels, with his hands stuffed in his pockets, grinning broadly.
Anderson shook his head again while Princess laughed hysterically. "Incredible. Well thank you for that fine piece of unsolicited and unwarranted advice but I've got to go now." He briefly glanced at his expensive designer watch, turned on his heel and headed for the mansion's front doors.
His kids followed their father to the foyer. Keye caught his parent's arm before he reached for the doorknob. "Wait!"
Anderson turned. "What now Keye?" He almost stomped his foot in agitation.
Keye folded his arms and with authoritative seriousness asked, "Are you prepared just in case…you know…should things get a little…?" His face contorted. "I mean you have been out of the loop for a while you know." Princess continued to smirk at Keye's insolence.
It was Anderson's turn to pat his son's shoulder. "The good thing about being an adult is having control over one's desires." He then smiled and gave a brief nod of his head before turning the doorknob.
"And that's a good thing?" Keye asked, albeit jokingly and Princess clasped her hand to his mouth. Anderson stopped for a second, taking in the atmosphere of merriment at his expense and walked out of the house. His grown kids burst into boisterous laughter.
Anderson heard their echoes of juvenile fun as he put the keys into the ignition of his black sports car. He drawled, "Little monsters!" before roaring out of his driveway.
Thanks for reading!