Author's Note:

Wow, here is a Darker And Edgier little vignette for you, and Warp doesn't appear at all! Seriously, this is about as dark and gritty as I get, and it might take some of you readers by surprise. For one thing, I do grab the issue of Warp's virginity or lack thereof by the horns, so to speak.

Nonetheless, I'm really happy with how Erin came out, so… yeah. Hope you enjoy, and please do check out the previous story (which no one has reviewed yet, I might shamelessly add).

To my reviewers:

Darkmatterfangirl: Aw, lotsa catching-up and lotsa reviews! Thanks so much! *hugs* And, man, I'm so sorry I haven't answered your PM yet. My very, very bad. I'd still love to do a Dare RP, but right now… man, I don't think I could keep it up. Not right now. Maybe in a few months…? I don't know, I'm sorry. : ( Anyhoo… Lol about the "sugar" bit, and sorry if I was killing you! ^_^ And I'm so glad you loved the story with, well, Erin's daughter telling that story! :P And I'm glad you think that I was still keeping Warp canon in the fifth installment—I do try really hard to hang onto that macho persona while drawing out a more sensitive side. Movie plot line, lol. Aw, true love! *hearts* Glad you think so! And I'm glad you thought the Planet Z story was poetic and all! Thanks so much!

Ranger-Nova: Thanks so much, honey (story 7 is my favorite, too ^_^)! I'll try to get back with you soon!


==9. My Name Is==

Rating: T
Summary: Dealing with Warp's past is never easy, especially when Warp's past tries to drag her down.

Warnings: Alcoholic drinking, bar setting, brief sexual references, past emotional abuse, mention of abortion.
Word Count: 632

Erin was well aware of the fact that she really didn't look the part of a "bad girl". Even the black leather jacket only accentuated the similarities she shared in appearance with one of the characters from Doctor Who, being brunette and not exceptionally pretty and all. She was practically waiting for some guy to come up and pull the "What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" routine. However, the person who ended up taking a seat beside her was a woman, ostensibly human and definitely old enough to be her mother, though she looked pretty darn good for her age in a femme fatale sort of way.

The woman got her drink and turned to her. "So," she drawled in what sounded like a New England accent. "You're Warp Darkmatter's latest flame. Congratulations."

Erin arched one eyebrow and took a sip of her beer. "Good eye." She hadn't been trying to disguise herself, had come to this bar only for the heck of it, really. Stepping into Warp's world, she supposed. Still, it was a bit impressive that this woman recognized her just like that.

"Thanks." The woman downed her shot glass and turned a definitely predatory smile on the younger female. "Sweet, pretty, young… ah, our Warp must be getting to that midlife crisis."

A few years ago, Erin would definitely have taken offense at that. Now, however, she could only be darkly amused. "Maybe—I guess I wouldn't put it past him."

The older woman signaled for another drink. "He'll dump you in the end, you know. He always does."

Erin's eyebrows shot to her hairline in her very best Spock impression. "I don't think he will."

The woman laughed. "And what's so special about you, babe?"

Erin exhaled slowly. "You're Shalli, aren't you?"

"Recognition." The woman pressed a hand to her heart. "I'm flattered."

"Don't be," Erin said sardonically. "Captain Lightyear told me all about you." Warp had once mentioned a girl a few years his senior whom he'd dated while still a young Ranger, but to find out anything more about her, Erin had had to ask Buzz. Her brother was understandably reluctant to fill her in, but he did give her to understand that Warp had been pretty badly burned by his longest-standing date.

Shalli snorted. "And what did the illustrious Captain Lightyear have to tell? That I was a streetwalker, that I 'emotionally abused' Warp? Ah, was it maybe that I aborted Warp's child while we were still engaged? …ohhh, he didn't tell you that."

Erin knew she had gone pale—Buzz really hadn't told her that. But he had said that Shalli "crossed the line" and never went into further detail: this must have been it. "No," she said in the calmest voice she could manage. "But that's really none of my business, is it?"

Shalli smirked, and Erin had to wonder how Warp could ever have gotten in so deep with such a heartless woman. Then again, Shalli struck her as the manipulative type, and, even if Erin had never experienced emotional abuse and manipulation firsthand, she had a good idea of how it worked. "S'ppose not, Miz Frame. Now run along home and go cry to your big brother."

Erin cocked an eyebrow again and took a long, slow swig from her beer before clanking the now-empty cup onto the counter. She stood, drawing up every inch of her 5'9", which wasn't high enough to be eye-to-eye with Shalli when she was sitting on the barstool. But the message her posture radiated was very clear: this was not a woman to be trifled with.

"My name," she said in a low tone, enunciating every word with excruciating clarity, "is Darkmatter. Erin. Darkmatter. I suggest you remember that."


Author's Note:

Any Breakaway readers remember a passing mention of a gal named Shalli, implied to be an old flame? Yes, she's always been intended to have been this, well, heartless. (There's another word that comes to mind, but I'm not going to use it.) The sad thing is that some people will let you see only what they want you to see, and that's exactly what Shalli did to Warp. (Believe me, I'm speaking out of personal experience, here.)

I really enjoyed writing Erin, here, though. Like I said, I think she came out great. She's matured very nicely to the point where she can really hold her own without her emotions getting the better of her.

Next up, "betrayal". Warp's the (former) traitor in their little family, right? Not of Star Command, but of Buzz. Well… maybe he's not the only one anymore. Stay tuned!

Please review!