NOTE: I do not own SMAC/X and/or its characters. This is shorter then the last two. Just needed to be in its own chapter.

these can be found on my tumblr, I will link them as some may contain pictures in the future.

Typical

Lucy had taken the jet to the University capital. Nothing was muttered, no questions were ask. Lucy just did her job and did it well. She was a retired marine and worked on Deirdre's personal guard.

Deirdre waited patiently for her friends arrival.

It had been a hot week, a heatwave with no end in sight. It reminded her of the last time it was that hot.

"You think it would be cooler this early in the morning," Lindly, her dearest friend, had joined the Gaia celebrations from the previous night. Lindly was the first of the brood trainers, and one of the best. At the time she resided at song of the Planet, usually on routine mission and patrols of the area.

"Ma'am you really should have built closer to the ocean."
"Not you too? Have you been speaking to the Academician again?"

"Not as must as you were last night." She quipped in a subjective tone.

"Oh really?"

Lindly chortled, the kind that came deep from your bottom of your gut, that just seemed to explode. Deirdre wasn't sure if Lindly was being mocking or not. She scowled, pursing her lips tight at her friend's remarks.

"Did you even notice? Oh cause not! You were infatuated with the poor man."
"Excuse you!"
"Hey, I'm just calling it how I saw it last night, and everyone else." She mumbled

"What!?"

Lindly laughed, she enjoyed teasing her usually private friend. "You haven't heard have you?"

'I have slept either but, y'know…'
"Clearly not."
"This week may have been hot, but not as hot as the night the Academician came to town." Lindly found the whole situation so amusing, Deirdre on the other hand, went bright red.

"Finally feel the heat there Lady Deirdre?"

"Ma'am the jest have arrived." The interruption could not have come at a better time for poor Deirdre. She didn't need the barrage of questions.

"You better go pick up lover boy then." Lindly smirked. She's been Deirdre friend for years and one of only a few people to speak to her in this way.

"One day I'll slap that smirk clean off your funny looking face."
"Bring it on."

As she walked to get Zakharov, an old and rude hand gesture was given to Lindly

Deidre made her way to the quest quarters only to find it empty, clean and empty. A note was left next to an empty bottle on the bench. 'Next time' had been scribbled on by Zakharov.

'Had I embarrassed him last night?"'

That was the last time she saw him, or even heard from him. It left her lost and then bitter. She was slowly ignored after that, the chess games were delayed. Always another 'later, another 'tomorrow'. Waste no time on the busy

She waited in her office. The thoughts made her bitter still, how do old friends become so distant? With no friends to confided to, her concerns were left unnoticed turning bitter and heavy in her stomach

Her comm beeped, informing her of the Jets arrival. She took the rover to the aerospace complex. She arrived quietly. She took a deep breath in, straightened her dress and made her way in. However she had unwelcomed visitors greet her.

"You have no right to-"

"I have no time for your arguments councillor." She walked fast and strong, her stride was long and powerful, leaving the councillor breathless while he tried to Cath her while she made her way through the foyer.

"You are supposed to ask for permission from the council before-"

"I run my own faction?" She halted and turned back to him, towering over the smaller man. "I built this city with my own hands. I planted these forests with our workers, I have lived longer and seen more then you every have. Then you come in and demand a place and then run what I have built, what I have poor my heart and soul into?"

She was looking down at him and standing too close for comfort. "You are too comfortable in your high chairs. You don't understand me or the people."

She turned this onto him, and he was stunned.

Deirdre arrived to see Zakharov exit the jet.

Zakharov noticed her jaw clenched her knuckles white. "Council troubles?"

"When is it not?"

"When someone calls you a little miss rather then Doctor."

"You still remember that?"

"I had a black eye for a week!"

"Oh yeah, I just finished a Spartan training exercise with the brood trainers and Corzan's representatives."

"After that, I recall we managed to find each other decently tolerable after that incident at the council meeting." Zakharov mused.

"Among other things," Deidre muttered.