*Just make sure he doesn't accidentally kill any of them*
"Yes Captain Hunt, I do belive everything is in order now. I also don't see a need for a third day of negotiations. We will use tomorrow as a celebration for our entering the Commonwealth," Supreme Chancellor Zertanori said with a pleased look on his face as he stood from the table. I nudged Beka who wasn't paying attention. I was glad to see that her reaction to this was improving. It was no longer a big jump of surprise on her part, it was now a casual observation and go with the flow. She quickly stood up and shook hands as well.
"You guys wouldn't mind if I snuck out a little early would you? I mean, whatever you guys choose is fine and well . . ." she trailed off, her eyes pleading with me.
"It is fine with me. Captain Hunt?"
"Yes, sure Beka, just stay out of trouble," I said with a smile. She shot me a `What, me get into trouble?' look and a fake salute and she was gone. I, on the other hand, ended up sticking around for another hour while we worked out the details. We would have a celebration on the planet tomorrow night, and another, as planned, on the Andromeda. I had no sooner left the building then Rommie contacted me.
"Dylan, we have a situation up here," she said.
"And that is?"
"The Zillians are become increasingly nosey and I'm running out of incription locks that their scanners need more than 5 seconds to unincript. Tyr is also getting a little . . . . trigger happy. He has already threatened to shoot at least 6 of the engineers." I sighed.
"I suppose locking them in a cargo bay is out?"
"They keep getting out and they have some kind of scattering field in their scanners so I can't keep an acurrate count on how many of them there are." Rommie was starting to sound a little flustered.
"I thought I told you to stay out of here little man!" I heard Tyr yell.
"Tyr, leave him alone! Tyr, no . ." I heard Rommie say.
"Tyr, he better just be stunded," I said as I made my way to a shuttle port.
"He is and the others are about to share the same fate."
"Tyr, come back!" I heard Rommie sigh. "He's gone Dylan."
"I'll be right there, just make sure he doesn't accidentally kill any of them."
*I'm glad we're back Beka!*
Well, Dylan once again managed to avoid a diplomatic faux pas with Tyr and his itchy trigger finger. It turns out that the `scanners' were nothing more than simple decodeders and scattering field projectors. They couldn't even record information. It was the Zillian's way of checking on our security protocols for the Supreme Chancellor's visit. Dylan wasn't impressed. Oh well, it feels good to be back, even if it is only for a short while.
"I'm glad we're back Beka!" Cassie sighed as she wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder.
"So am I Cass. What do you say to a nap before the party?"
"I'm not sleepy," she said as she tried to stay awake.
"Oh, okay, how about a story then?"
"Ok." was all she said. She was asleep by the time the story was over and I was following her quickly.Trance and Harper had worn her out both days in a row and she needed to do a little catching up. My excuse? Well, I just didn't get much sleep because of a certain High Gaurd Captain who shall remain nameless . . . DYLAN HUNT!! But I didn't say that out loud. . .
"Well, if it isn't the two sleeping beauties . .*
I had a long talk with the Chancellor about his security teams and it was actually news to him that we had no idea that that's what they were. He apologized profusely and sent all the Zillians with their decoderes back so Rommie could personally erase them. She was happy, Tyr was moderately happy and I was elated when they finally left. I filled everyone but Beka and Cass in on the gathering on the planet and looked at Tyr, "Yes, attendance is MANDATORY. Especially since you missed the last day of negotiations." He grumbled and left. Rommie got a happy little look on her face, so did Trance.
"Does this mean formal wear?" asked Harper.
"Yes. I'm sure Rommie can help you out with finding something apropriate. Can't you Rommie?"
"Certainly Dylan," she said with a sly smile. "Shall I help Beka as well?"
"No need, unlike Harper, she hung on to her formal wear. You know, just in case," I said. "Well, that's it. You're all free until the party." And with that we all scattered. I made my way to Beka's quarters and smiled to myself as I saw her and Cass asleep in the chair with a book between the two of them. I couldn't resist.
"I hope this still works." I mumbled to myself, remembering the story of the kiss that woke Sleeping Beauty, and preceeded to do just that. "Ah, and the lovely princess awakes," I said quietly.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"It's early. Lots of time." She mumbled something as she got up and put Cass in bed.
"We've got to get her her own bed," she said as she came and snuggled up to me on the couch.
"Yeah, she's crampin' our style hot stuff." She laughed at that. "How can you be tired?" I asked her, "You've done nothing but sit all day."
"Yeah, there was this guy last night who was REALLY insistant that I help him out with this stiff muscle and he would NOT leave me alone . . ." she trailed off.
"Ouch Valentine. Very nasty. I don't remember you complaining though." I waited for the reply. "Beka?" she was alseep. I sighed and grabbed the oh so conviently there flexi and fulfilled my role as pillow.
*You mean no one knows where she is?!?!*
We all woke up, thanks to Dylan and got ready. Cassie eagerly put on the blue dress that Rommie had provided and proceeded to twirl around the room and cry out with delight as the skirt billowed out around her.
"Okay, and just how coincidental is it that you have a dress uniform in my quarters?"
"I hide spares in here?" he asked hope fully as he pulled on the white sweater that went under the coat.
"Right," I said as I slid that little black number from the last formal Commonwealth outing on. "Zip me?"
"Any time," he said as he placed a kiss at the top of the zipper and on the back of my neck.
"Okay, stop now or we'll be late," I said with a smile as I ducked out of his embrace and grabbed one of the hair bands Trance had lent me. "Come'er Cass," I called.
"Didn't you tell me that punctuallity is over rated?" he asked.
"What's puncturallity?" Cassie asked as she came to a stop in front of me.
"Punctuallity," I corrected as she decided how to go about putting Cassie's hair up. "It means on time," I said as I finally put an off centered part in her hair and placed the band in to hold in in place.
"Oh. Okay," she said as she left the room and started twirling again, the curls at the ends of her hair flying in the wind she was creating.
"What?" he asked me.
"I wish I had curls like that in my hair." He looked at me. I started laughing. "What?"
"Well, you and your hair bots could get them couldn't you?"
"I don't know, I've only ever used them for colour. Come on kiddo," I said. I had to laugh when she fell becuase she had made herself dizzy, which I immediately regreted when she started to cry because she hit her head on the floor. "Cassie!" I called as I rushed over and picked her up. There was a little cut on the side of her head. "Dylan, get me a towel!" I called, he came back with one that was half wet, half dry. I took it and wiped her head off. He sat down on the floor and held her in his lap, facing me. The bleeding soon stopped and the cut was barely noticeable. I wiped her face off with the non bloodied wet part and then dried it off. "Are you okay now?" She shook her head no. "Do we need to get Trance, to have an operation?" I asked with a little smile. She shook her head no again, but didn't smile. I sighed and got up to put the towel in the laundry. "I'll be right back." I stopped in the door way and steadied myself. I had watched others fall like that and other kids and had never understood why the parents made such a big deal out of it and I understood now. You don't look at something like that with your own kid and say, `It was just a tumble. She'll be fine.' You immediately think of the worst case senario. I looked back at the two of them again and watched as Dylan whispered something to her, stroked her hair and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. She leaned back against him for a moment, then got up off him and got his jacket for him.
"Are you coming?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm coming," I said as I came over and picked Cass up at her request. "What did Dylan tell you?" I asked.
"I can't tell," she said. "It's a secret."
"Oh, okay," I said. We went to the banquet and things were great! The food, music, dancing . . . everything was great. I still felt a little weird without a weapon, but I soon forgot about that. Later in the evening, after the dancing was in full swing, I felt a little tug on my dress. "Hey, I thought you were with Dylan."
"He said I could come see you. He's over there." She pointed to where he was. He had a questioning look on his face. I pointed down and he smiled and nooded. He was making sure she got to me. . . . . hmmmm . . . do I sense his paternal instincts kicking in?
"Well, what can I do for you?"
"I wanna see Tyr, but I can't find him," she said. I saw the translation in this: `I wanna sit down `cause I'm tired, but I'm not gonna tell you that.'
"Okay, hold on." I looked around for Tyr and, despite the heels, I still couldn't see him.
"Are you looking for some one?" one of the taller Zillians asked.
"Yes. I'm looking for Tyr .. " I was about to give a description.
"Yes, the Nietzchean. I last saw him in a booth in the corner over there." He gestured to the other side of the room. I strained my neck and finally saw him. I also saw Trance, Harper and Dylan in between. "Thank you very much," I said as he smiled and left. "He's all the way on the other side of the room. Do you want me to take you?"
"No, I can do it!" she said as she took off. I grabbed her by the arm.
"Hey, hold on. I want you to go back to Dylan, he's in the same place and I want you tell him to send you to Harper."
"But, I want Tyr!"
"He'll send you to Harper and then you ask Harper to send you to Trance and then ask Trance to send you to Tyr. Okay?" I asked, the last thing I needed was her to get lost in here . . .
"Yup."
"What are you going to do?"
"Go to Dylan, ask him to find Harper for me, then ask Harper to find Trance then ask Trance to find Tyr. Can I go now?" she asked. I checked for Dylan once more, got his attention and held Cass up. He nodded and I sent her off. Dylan motioned that he had gotten her, so did Harper and Trance and Tyr. The party went on for another hour and still didn't show signs of stopping. Harper and Trance were asking for permission to duck out and they got it. I went to Dylan and he just looked at the chancellor and explained that it was late and he had to get Cass home and the Chancellor apologized for keeping him here this long and the two of us thanked him and we went over to Tyr. "Where's Cass?" I asked as we got over to him.
"She went with Harper. Are we leaving?" he asked as he stood.
"Harper just left with Trance and they didn't have Cassie," I said.
"I sent her over and Harper motioned to me that he had her," Tyr said.
"Here, I got the coats," Harper said as he walked in. "What?"
"Where's Cassie?" Dylan asked.
"Should be with Tyr. Don't tell me you lost her big guy," he said with a smile that quickly faded.
"I sent her to you. You motioned you had her."
"I didn't even know she was coming to me!" he said in his own defense. I swallowed hard and felt that hated rock forming in my stomach. We all just looked at each other, split up and started asking people. Within 20 minutes, had gone through the entire room and met up with each other again.
"You mean no one knows where she is?!?!" I practically yelled. Dylan took my hand in his and calmly stated a plan. Trance and Harper went to security, Tyr called Andromeda and then started to walk around the grounds and Dylan tried to keep me calm . . .
"Yes Captain Hunt, I do belive everything is in order now. I also don't see a need for a third day of negotiations. We will use tomorrow as a celebration for our entering the Commonwealth," Supreme Chancellor Zertanori said with a pleased look on his face as he stood from the table. I nudged Beka who wasn't paying attention. I was glad to see that her reaction to this was improving. It was no longer a big jump of surprise on her part, it was now a casual observation and go with the flow. She quickly stood up and shook hands as well.
"You guys wouldn't mind if I snuck out a little early would you? I mean, whatever you guys choose is fine and well . . ." she trailed off, her eyes pleading with me.
"It is fine with me. Captain Hunt?"
"Yes, sure Beka, just stay out of trouble," I said with a smile. She shot me a `What, me get into trouble?' look and a fake salute and she was gone. I, on the other hand, ended up sticking around for another hour while we worked out the details. We would have a celebration on the planet tomorrow night, and another, as planned, on the Andromeda. I had no sooner left the building then Rommie contacted me.
"Dylan, we have a situation up here," she said.
"And that is?"
"The Zillians are become increasingly nosey and I'm running out of incription locks that their scanners need more than 5 seconds to unincript. Tyr is also getting a little . . . . trigger happy. He has already threatened to shoot at least 6 of the engineers." I sighed.
"I suppose locking them in a cargo bay is out?"
"They keep getting out and they have some kind of scattering field in their scanners so I can't keep an acurrate count on how many of them there are." Rommie was starting to sound a little flustered.
"I thought I told you to stay out of here little man!" I heard Tyr yell.
"Tyr, leave him alone! Tyr, no . ." I heard Rommie say.
"Tyr, he better just be stunded," I said as I made my way to a shuttle port.
"He is and the others are about to share the same fate."
"Tyr, come back!" I heard Rommie sigh. "He's gone Dylan."
"I'll be right there, just make sure he doesn't accidentally kill any of them."
*I'm glad we're back Beka!*
Well, Dylan once again managed to avoid a diplomatic faux pas with Tyr and his itchy trigger finger. It turns out that the `scanners' were nothing more than simple decodeders and scattering field projectors. They couldn't even record information. It was the Zillian's way of checking on our security protocols for the Supreme Chancellor's visit. Dylan wasn't impressed. Oh well, it feels good to be back, even if it is only for a short while.
"I'm glad we're back Beka!" Cassie sighed as she wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder.
"So am I Cass. What do you say to a nap before the party?"
"I'm not sleepy," she said as she tried to stay awake.
"Oh, okay, how about a story then?"
"Ok." was all she said. She was asleep by the time the story was over and I was following her quickly.Trance and Harper had worn her out both days in a row and she needed to do a little catching up. My excuse? Well, I just didn't get much sleep because of a certain High Gaurd Captain who shall remain nameless . . . DYLAN HUNT!! But I didn't say that out loud. . .
"Well, if it isn't the two sleeping beauties . .*
I had a long talk with the Chancellor about his security teams and it was actually news to him that we had no idea that that's what they were. He apologized profusely and sent all the Zillians with their decoderes back so Rommie could personally erase them. She was happy, Tyr was moderately happy and I was elated when they finally left. I filled everyone but Beka and Cass in on the gathering on the planet and looked at Tyr, "Yes, attendance is MANDATORY. Especially since you missed the last day of negotiations." He grumbled and left. Rommie got a happy little look on her face, so did Trance.
"Does this mean formal wear?" asked Harper.
"Yes. I'm sure Rommie can help you out with finding something apropriate. Can't you Rommie?"
"Certainly Dylan," she said with a sly smile. "Shall I help Beka as well?"
"No need, unlike Harper, she hung on to her formal wear. You know, just in case," I said. "Well, that's it. You're all free until the party." And with that we all scattered. I made my way to Beka's quarters and smiled to myself as I saw her and Cass asleep in the chair with a book between the two of them. I couldn't resist.
"I hope this still works." I mumbled to myself, remembering the story of the kiss that woke Sleeping Beauty, and preceeded to do just that. "Ah, and the lovely princess awakes," I said quietly.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"It's early. Lots of time." She mumbled something as she got up and put Cass in bed.
"We've got to get her her own bed," she said as she came and snuggled up to me on the couch.
"Yeah, she's crampin' our style hot stuff." She laughed at that. "How can you be tired?" I asked her, "You've done nothing but sit all day."
"Yeah, there was this guy last night who was REALLY insistant that I help him out with this stiff muscle and he would NOT leave me alone . . ." she trailed off.
"Ouch Valentine. Very nasty. I don't remember you complaining though." I waited for the reply. "Beka?" she was alseep. I sighed and grabbed the oh so conviently there flexi and fulfilled my role as pillow.
*You mean no one knows where she is?!?!*
We all woke up, thanks to Dylan and got ready. Cassie eagerly put on the blue dress that Rommie had provided and proceeded to twirl around the room and cry out with delight as the skirt billowed out around her.
"Okay, and just how coincidental is it that you have a dress uniform in my quarters?"
"I hide spares in here?" he asked hope fully as he pulled on the white sweater that went under the coat.
"Right," I said as I slid that little black number from the last formal Commonwealth outing on. "Zip me?"
"Any time," he said as he placed a kiss at the top of the zipper and on the back of my neck.
"Okay, stop now or we'll be late," I said with a smile as I ducked out of his embrace and grabbed one of the hair bands Trance had lent me. "Come'er Cass," I called.
"Didn't you tell me that punctuallity is over rated?" he asked.
"What's puncturallity?" Cassie asked as she came to a stop in front of me.
"Punctuallity," I corrected as she decided how to go about putting Cassie's hair up. "It means on time," I said as I finally put an off centered part in her hair and placed the band in to hold in in place.
"Oh. Okay," she said as she left the room and started twirling again, the curls at the ends of her hair flying in the wind she was creating.
"What?" he asked me.
"I wish I had curls like that in my hair." He looked at me. I started laughing. "What?"
"Well, you and your hair bots could get them couldn't you?"
"I don't know, I've only ever used them for colour. Come on kiddo," I said. I had to laugh when she fell becuase she had made herself dizzy, which I immediately regreted when she started to cry because she hit her head on the floor. "Cassie!" I called as I rushed over and picked her up. There was a little cut on the side of her head. "Dylan, get me a towel!" I called, he came back with one that was half wet, half dry. I took it and wiped her head off. He sat down on the floor and held her in his lap, facing me. The bleeding soon stopped and the cut was barely noticeable. I wiped her face off with the non bloodied wet part and then dried it off. "Are you okay now?" She shook her head no. "Do we need to get Trance, to have an operation?" I asked with a little smile. She shook her head no again, but didn't smile. I sighed and got up to put the towel in the laundry. "I'll be right back." I stopped in the door way and steadied myself. I had watched others fall like that and other kids and had never understood why the parents made such a big deal out of it and I understood now. You don't look at something like that with your own kid and say, `It was just a tumble. She'll be fine.' You immediately think of the worst case senario. I looked back at the two of them again and watched as Dylan whispered something to her, stroked her hair and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. She leaned back against him for a moment, then got up off him and got his jacket for him.
"Are you coming?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm coming," I said as I came over and picked Cass up at her request. "What did Dylan tell you?" I asked.
"I can't tell," she said. "It's a secret."
"Oh, okay," I said. We went to the banquet and things were great! The food, music, dancing . . . everything was great. I still felt a little weird without a weapon, but I soon forgot about that. Later in the evening, after the dancing was in full swing, I felt a little tug on my dress. "Hey, I thought you were with Dylan."
"He said I could come see you. He's over there." She pointed to where he was. He had a questioning look on his face. I pointed down and he smiled and nooded. He was making sure she got to me. . . . . hmmmm . . . do I sense his paternal instincts kicking in?
"Well, what can I do for you?"
"I wanna see Tyr, but I can't find him," she said. I saw the translation in this: `I wanna sit down `cause I'm tired, but I'm not gonna tell you that.'
"Okay, hold on." I looked around for Tyr and, despite the heels, I still couldn't see him.
"Are you looking for some one?" one of the taller Zillians asked.
"Yes. I'm looking for Tyr .. " I was about to give a description.
"Yes, the Nietzchean. I last saw him in a booth in the corner over there." He gestured to the other side of the room. I strained my neck and finally saw him. I also saw Trance, Harper and Dylan in between. "Thank you very much," I said as he smiled and left. "He's all the way on the other side of the room. Do you want me to take you?"
"No, I can do it!" she said as she took off. I grabbed her by the arm.
"Hey, hold on. I want you to go back to Dylan, he's in the same place and I want you tell him to send you to Harper."
"But, I want Tyr!"
"He'll send you to Harper and then you ask Harper to send you to Trance and then ask Trance to send you to Tyr. Okay?" I asked, the last thing I needed was her to get lost in here . . .
"Yup."
"What are you going to do?"
"Go to Dylan, ask him to find Harper for me, then ask Harper to find Trance then ask Trance to find Tyr. Can I go now?" she asked. I checked for Dylan once more, got his attention and held Cass up. He nodded and I sent her off. Dylan motioned that he had gotten her, so did Harper and Trance and Tyr. The party went on for another hour and still didn't show signs of stopping. Harper and Trance were asking for permission to duck out and they got it. I went to Dylan and he just looked at the chancellor and explained that it was late and he had to get Cass home and the Chancellor apologized for keeping him here this long and the two of us thanked him and we went over to Tyr. "Where's Cass?" I asked as we got over to him.
"She went with Harper. Are we leaving?" he asked as he stood.
"Harper just left with Trance and they didn't have Cassie," I said.
"I sent her over and Harper motioned to me that he had her," Tyr said.
"Here, I got the coats," Harper said as he walked in. "What?"
"Where's Cassie?" Dylan asked.
"Should be with Tyr. Don't tell me you lost her big guy," he said with a smile that quickly faded.
"I sent her to you. You motioned you had her."
"I didn't even know she was coming to me!" he said in his own defense. I swallowed hard and felt that hated rock forming in my stomach. We all just looked at each other, split up and started asking people. Within 20 minutes, had gone through the entire room and met up with each other again.
"You mean no one knows where she is?!?!" I practically yelled. Dylan took my hand in his and calmly stated a plan. Trance and Harper went to security, Tyr called Andromeda and then started to walk around the grounds and Dylan tried to keep me calm . . .
