TITLE: A Tale of A Techno-mage and a Telepath part two
AUTHOR: CelineV and Crusaderat2002
FANDOM: Crusade
RATING: PG few words
ARCHIVE: Sure, but let me know where.
SUMMARY: The plan is put into action. With a little help from some others, fun will be had by all, unless you are Max.
DISCLAIMER: Warner Brothers and JMS owns Crusade. I own anyone you don't know.
NOTE: Italic Conversation between these means it is private. No one but the two people speaking can hear it. Many thanks to Rat and Azrah Syed for betaing this. You are truly a Saint!
~~
Lieutenant John Matheson got up a little slower then normal. He stayed up late with the Techno-mage Acate talking into the night. She had some good ideas on the cure. The woman was so excited about it all.
Though they had also come up with a plan to play a joke on Max Eilerson. The resident pervert had been following the techno-mage around the ship.
Max had voiced he's disapproval about letting the techno-mage walk around free. Max was afraid with two of them loose on the Excalibur they would take over the ship. As if Galen couldn't have done that by himself. Matheson was very sure that Galen could have done that a long time ago if that was what was on his mind.
The Lieutenant took a quick shower and got into his black uniform and was going out the door for a quick breakfast when he opened his door to find Acate standing outside. She had her hand out to push the bell.
"Acate, what are you doing here this morning?" asked the Lieutenant
"This is the morning we had planned on having breakfast, isn't it?" asked the Techno-mage.
'Oh she wants to start now,' thought the telepath. "Um yeah I guess it was today." Said the man as he came out the door. "Let's go. I am sure we will find something to eat."
Is this too soon, thought Acate to the telepath?
No it's fine. I just wasn't excepting it so soon. Don't worry about it. I will just make my brain work faster then.
"So how did you sleep Brother John," asked the woman. She turned her head and could see her shadow Brother Max just close enough to them to hear what they were saying.
"Stayed up way too late last night, but I don't want to hear about it Mom." Matheson started to laugh. Acate just held her hands up as to surrender.
"All right my son, then I won't say I TOLD YOU SO!" Acate started to laugh. Matheson laughed even harder.
"I am going to tell Sister Doctor and Sister Dureena about the joke today. I want to see if they want to play too." Acate had whispered it to Matheson. He nodded his head.
"So what is on your game plan for today?"
"I am going to talk to the Captain this morning about getting some of the undefined Azeal. Then I want to talk to the Sister Doctor about it. I want to get some brought aboard and we can see what we can do with it. Then I have lunch to cook us and the cats if you are still up for that. I mean people are only able to take me in small amounts at time. Then I thought I would meditate for a while. Play tonight by ear."
"Sounds good to me," said Matheson. They walked into the mess hall. "Gee the room hasn't changed at since last night."
Acate laughed and looked around the room for a place to seat. She saw Dr. Chambers. "I will ask the Sister Doctor if we may sit with her."
"OK," said Matheson. Acate moved away from the Lieutenant
Max took this moment to move closer to Matheson. "Well it looks like maybe you could have a girlfriend. Not bad for someone you aren't going to be able to touch. What joyless love that would be."
John wanted to pop the man in the mouth, but how would that look if the ships first officer hit someone, even if the person was an asshole, in the mouth. "I don't know what you think is going on Max, but what I do in private hours is my business and nothing for you to worry your head about."
"Sister Doctor, could Brother John and I sit here with you for breakfast?" asked Acate.
Doctor Sarah Chambers looked up at Acate, 'Did I just hear her correctly?' "What did you say Acate? I'm sorry I was lost in my own little world."
Acate handed the Doctor a piece of paper. "Can Brother John and I sit here with you?"
"Sure you and Matheson can sit here with me," said the Doctor. She was in a little bit of shock. A Techno-mage and a telepath going out together?
"Good. Look at it after I leave," said the Mage. Then she turned to catch up with John in line for food.
Sarah opened the paper up. Doctor need to see you today after I see the Captain. What to talk to you and Dureena about something. Must keep it a secret for now. If anyone ask, you are giving me a pre-flight exam. Acate
Sarah watched John and Acate in line. 'What was going on?'
Max was right behind them and it looked like he was hassling them too. John carried a tray over to the table and Acate walked behind him. Max was right behind her with his mouth going a mile a minute. Max didn't even ask to sit with them, he just took a chair.
Doctor Chambers had an urge to hit the Zeno Archaeologist. No one would have reported it, well Max would have, but since he didn't count.
"Morning Doctor," said Max.
"Max," replied the Doctor.
"I was just telling Acate and Lieutenant Matheson about the sex drives of the Mawata planet. You know they only do it with the moon turns ice blue color." The man popped a grape into his mouth.
Matheson handed Acate a cup of hot water. Taking the cup from John, Acate took something out of the cloak. Dropped it into the water. John and Sarah noticed the water had turned blue. Max watched as the water turned purple. The three humans looked up at mage. Smiling, "It's a little early for me to eat. Harcore Tea is good for those mornings when you just had a touch too much booze the night before."
"How many of those things did you eat last night?" asked Matheson through his laughter.
"The rest." Closing her eyes, it made the pain go away. "At least there was only five left or I would still be sleeping it off this morning." Acate opened her eyes to see Max and the Doctor staring at her. "Last night I throw a little party for myself. Today is a holiday for the Techno-mages, but I did the party last night. Brother John got to sample one of the treats. He won't be that crazy again."
"You've got that one right. I won't try that stuff again, but I didn't taste the other stuff." John smiled at her. You are going to get us killed, you know that, thought John.
Max has to catch me first! Thought Acate back.
"So are you going to keep the party going tonight?" asked Max.
"No, I don't think so. I am not too sure how well the Captain's sense of humor when most of the key crew members don't show for their shifts. They will all be in bed in a glorious drunk sleep. Then he would come and murder me. So no party tonight."
"Why didn't you celebrate with Galen?" asked Max.
"He was busy with the Captain for most of the night," said Acate.
"Well I have to get to work," said Lieutenant Matheson. He got up from the table. He carried his tray over to where it goes after eating.
"I will go up with you, Brother John. I need to see if I can get some time with the Captain. Sister Doctor, I want to discuss with you what the Brother Captain and I talked about. Are we still on for my pre-flight exam?"
"Yes we are. Come on down when you are ready," said Doctor Chambers.
"Then I hope you all have a good day," said Acate as she walked off with Matheson.
Max jumped up from the table and ran almost out of the mess hall.
'What the hell is up with him?' thought the Doctor.
~~
Max stayed far enough away from the telepath and the techno-mage so they didn't see him. Though this time, he couldn't hear them talking. When the Zeno Archaeologist got on the edge of the bridge, he stayed there. He could see and hear from here.
"Captain," said Matheson as he slipped on his head set. "Acate would like a moment or two of your time."
Gideon turned in his chair to see Acate standing not far from where Matheson was standing. 'Well this could be interesting,' thought Gideon. "All-right Acate you have my full attention." Said the Captain.
"Brother Captain, last night I was talking to Brother Lieutenant Matheson last night and going through hard copies of the last report I gave to you." Acate moved closer to the Captain. "As I was going through the paper work, I started to get an idea. On one of the planets I did a soil sample just for the heck of it. It had a high content of Azeal mineral."
"I've never heard of this Azeal," said Gideon.
"There is no reason that you should. It is used on animals not human. Though a Doctor did use it on humans when he ran out of human medicines. I will show you the reports if you like to see it?"
"Just go on with what you were thinking about, Acate," said the Captain.
"Well I would like to get some unrefined Azeal and start there for a building block, I hope for the cure. I have not spoke to Sister Doctor yet about this, but I wanted to put it to you first. If you don't think it is a good idea then I won't speak of it again." Acate stopped talking, she knew Galen had come onto the bridge and was not far behind her. Keeping her eyes on Gideon, she waited for something to happened.
Max stood there listening to what the mage had to say. 'If this stuff could be the building block for the cure, what the hell.' Max stepped out onto the bridge and spoke, "I say give the girl a shoot at it."
Oh now that is scary, thought Acate to Galen. Max is in my corner. Can I go to my ship now and hide?
It could be worse, thought Galen. Max could be fighting with you over the idea.
Very true, thought Acate. Looking over at Matheson, the female mage smiled. Matheson smiled back at her. Galen turned and walked off the bridge without a word.
"Galen," yelled the Captain. "Now what the hell is wrong with him?"
"I have an appointment with Sister Doctor, Brother Captain. By your leave then?" said the techno-mage.
"Yeah sure," said Gideon.
Acate turned and walked off the bridge with Max in tow.
For a while Max just followed Acate down to Medlab. He didn't say a word. Then just as Acate was about to go into Medlab, "Do you think this will help with the cure?" asked Max.
Acate turned to look into Max's face. "I just don't know, but I hope it will be a beginning to something." Acate walked into the Medlab without Max in her wake. As Sarah showed her the way to a private examine room, Max did come in. He started to follow the woman into the room. The door sealed shut and would not open for Max. Dureena and Sarah and Acate could hear the man pounding on the door.
"Seal the room quiet," said Acate. "I want to make sure Max can't hear us. I wanted to tell you that Brother John and I have started to work on a joke to play on Brother Max. We hope to have it have this joke full to tell him about by April Fool's day."
Sarah Chambers started to laugh. "You are going to play a joke on that S.O.B. Oh this is priceless."
"What is April Fools Day?" asked Dureena.
"It's a day on Earth that jokes are played on people. Nothing hurtful. Just something to make people laugh. I am not sure how the day really got it start, but it's come through the centuries as a day of jokes." Said Chambers. "So what are you two up to on Max?"
"Well we have started to put into action that it looks like we are having an affair," said Acate. "Max doesn't trust me. So I thought I would give him something else to think about."
"So that is why you came to breakfast with John this morning?" said the Doctor.
"You came to breakfast with Matheson this morning?" said Dureena. "I have to get to breakfast most often."
Three women all started to laugh. Max could still be heard pounding on the door.
"Unseal," said Acate. Waving her hand, some of Acate's clothes were removed from her body. The door opened up and Max fell into the room.
Sarah stood next to Acate as Max picked himself off the floor. The Doctor had a scanner in hand. "You are cleared for the pre-flight exam." Said the Doctor.
"Thank you Sister Doctor. Brother Captain will be glad to know that." Said Acate as she grabbed her clothes. "Oh yes, I also wanted to tell you about an idea I had last night."
"Was this in between getting drunk with the Lieutenant?" asked Doctor Chambers.
"You got drunk with the Lieutenant?" Asked Dureena. Her voice had a bit of shock in it.
"NO," laughed Acate. "I got drunk after we parted company." Looking over at the Zeno Archaeologist, "I won't do anything improper. I am just like Max here." Acate walked out of the room and put her clothes out in the main part of Medlab. "What I was going to tell you is that I had an idea about working with Azeal."
"Isn't that an animal medicine?" asked Sarah.
"Yes it is. I am glad you have heard about it. I will go to my ship and get you the stuff I was working on. I think we can use it as a building block for the cure, but I will let you make your own mind up on it. I will return in a few minutes with the other stuff for you. Plus I have to start lunch. John is coming down to my ship for lunch." From the corner of her eye, Acate saw a reaction from Max. "I shall return in a bit." With that the techno-mage walked out of the Medlab.
"So how long has this been going on?" asked Max as he watched the mage leave the room.
"How long has what been going on?" asked Dureena very innocently.
The Techno-mage been going out with the Telepath," said Max. "This should be wrong in every way.
"Oh what does it matter, Max. If they are having fun, don't interfere." Said Sarah.
Max turned and walked out of the Medlab. Sarah and Dureena laughed after Max left the room. So it started.
'How could Gideon allow Matheson to go out with a techno-mage. It could be the most dangerous thing in the universe,' Max thought as he stormed up to the bridge to yell at the Captain. He was going to make that idiot see it. Max hit the bridge at full tilt. He had a good amount of steam behind him. "Captain," yelled out Max. As Max looked around he saw that Matheson was not on the bridge.
"What the hell is the yelling about Eilerson?" asked the Captain as he came out of his office with Matheson.
Gideon looked pissed and Matheson had his poker face on. That boy never let anything get away from him when he was on duty.
"I want to talk to you about the mage." said Max.
"Which one, Max?" asked the Captain.
"Funny, Gideon. I am talking about Acate. You've given her free roam of the ship. You let her leave the ship whenever she wants. Now you let her go out with your First Officer. She could take over the ship and you wouldn't give a damn."
"Why do you worry so much over Acate?" said Galen right into Max's ear.
Max turned around real quick. His face was mere inches from Galen's face.
Max took a step back. "Because we don't know a thing about her."
"I have seen proof for the main body of the techno-mage. These couldn't be forged. I don't need anything else, but if the Captain would like to see them. Just to put your mind at ease." Galen looked over at Gideon for the first time.
"If you want to show them to me, Galen this is fine. I don't need to see them just because Max is acting like a complete idiot." said Gideon as he moved closer to Galen and Max.
Acate and Doctor Chambers came up on to the bridge. The area looked like it was ready for a battle.
Galen, thought Acate. What is going on?
Max has decided to tell the ship that you are a danger.
"Oh Gods to protect us," said Acate. "Max what is the problem with you and me? What could I have done to you to make you think that I am going to endanger any of you?"
"We don't know you. You could be any Joe blow off the street. How do we really know that the Techno-mages sent you to help us. We have no proof at all," said Max.
"All right Max for you." Acate took a step away from Sarah. A light flashed and a hologram appeared in the middle of the room. There stood a woman, Herazade of the Techno-mage. "Galen, this is Acate. She was trained by me. We have sent her to Excalibur to help with hunt for the cure of the plague that has taken over human's homeworld of Earth. She is trained in medical and animal medicines too. She will be a help to the humans. She knows that she can't come back to us. All of her ties to us have been severed. So there is hope that she will be able to work on our project too. I have enclosed all materials on our project. Please look at it and see if there is anything that you could add to it. We have heard the stories of your travels. We believe that between all of you, that a cure will be found. Ketla ve tano." The woman bowed her head and disappeared.
Everyone turned toward Max and then to Galen. "It is Herazade of the Techno-mage," said Galen. "She is one of our leaders." Acate stepped off the bridge. She wasn't going to stay there. If the Captain was going to kick her off Excalibur that was fine. She would still do the work and find the cure on her own if she had to.
Galen turned to look over at Acate and she was gone. He had felt her leave, but he had hoped she hadn't gone far.
"Max you've seen what she brought to Galen as an introduction. What more do you want?" Asked the Captain. "Max you are the biggest ass in the universe. If you weren't so important to the mission, I would have dropped your ass into an airlock and put you out into space. By the way, what is the big idea about following Acate around the ship?"
"You let her have free range of the ship. Someone had to keep an eye on her. So I took upon myself to do it since you weren't going to do it," said Max. The pride rang in his voice.
Gideon balled up a fist, but he kept it at his side.
Matheson and Chambers moved to the other side of the bridge. Galen and Dureena moved a little closer to the men.
"Lieutenant," said Galen.
"Aye, Galen," said Matheson.
"Acate has gone down to her ship. You might want to leave for lunch a little early. She was a little upset." The Techno-mage just watched Gideon and Max.
"I am going to lunch, "called out Matheson as he took off his headset and moved off the bridge.
"Aye, sir." said a bridge officer.
"Do you think Gideon will punch him?" Asked Dureena.
"Oh yes, but when is the question you should be asking," said Galen. He smiled at Dureena.
Matheson got down to the flight deck. He saw Acate's ship. There was no movement around the ship. So the Lieutenant started walk around the ship. On the back side of the ship was a black cat. "Azoe Mazat, I am guessing?" said telepath.
The cat looked up at John and seemed to moved it's head in response.
"OK so do you know where Acate?"
The cat jerked it's head in a way that looked like 'this way' and walked away from John. It stopped away from the First Officer and looked back at the man. It gave the officer 'Are you coming?'
"Right with you." said John as he followed the cat.
Azoe walked among the Excalibur shuttles. Finally going over to a ladder going up to the catwalks above the flight deck.
"You want me to go up there?" asked John to the cat.
Cat looked like it shook it's head yes. The cat moved away from the ladder.
John started up the ladder and when he got to the catwalk, John could see someone up there. "Acate?"
Crawling out onto the catwalk on his hands and knees, the telepath was able to get close enough to see that it was Acate. Her back was to him. Reaching out to her shoulder, Matheson got a bit of a electrically shock. Moving very close to her, the Lieutenant could see that there was a power bouncing back and forth between her index fingers.
Acate, thought Galen from the bridge. He was still watching Gideon and Max talk. Acate!
What? Thought back the woman.
Galen could tell that Acate was a little annoyed. I sent Lieutenant Matheson down to you. Think about calming down and talk to him. You are missing a great fight up here. Matthew is chewing out Max. The only thing missing that fist flying into Max's face.
Why did you send down Brother John to talk to me?
You two seem to get along. You need someone to talk to sometimes. We don't know each other well enough to have a venting buddy.
Acate could swear she heard Galen laughing. Now that was a scary thought. Brother John is here now. I am medicating. It might be better is I keep medicating for awhile.
No just talk to the Lieutenant. Oh Max is coming out of Gideon office. He is carrying his ass in a slang. Oh this could be very amusing. Talk to the Lieutenant.
All right Galen. Acate opened her eyes and looked for the Lieutenant. When she turned her body, she found Matheson. John found a cat in her lap.
"Who is your friend?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Oh this one is Phineas and the one that showed you where I was is Azoe Mazat," said Acate.
"You own two cats?" said the telepath.
"Yeah I went out of my mind and brought both me. This one is a brat and the other is grouch. She is forever complaining about something. I would love to give that one away, but I've had her forever and I would miss the grouch."
"Well I don't know if you know it or not, but Max loves cats. You could most like get him to cat sit for you sometime when they get on your nerves."
"Oh that is funny. Max, I know you hate my guts, but you watch my cats for me. If you don't, I'll have to give them to you and you don't want that kind of punishment."
John started to laugh uncontrollable.
Acate put down the cat and started to crawl with John over to the ladder and they got down. Walking back over to Acate's ship when they saw Gideon and Max coming out on to the flight deck.
Gideon gave Max a nudged in the shoulder. The Zeno Archaeologist gave the Captain a dirty look but kept walking toward the Techno-mage.
"Um Acate," said Max.
The woman didn't act like she heard Max. When she did turn toward the man, she was smiling.
John Matheson, not knowing if he should get closer to Max to save the man or get closer to Acate to keep from killing Max. That smile worried the telepath a bit.
"Um Acate," said Max again.
The two cats came out of nowhere. Phineas climbed up Acate and laid down around her neck, Azoe Mazat sat down between her feet.
"You have two cats," said Max. He walked up to Acate and pet the one sitting around the woman's neck.
John smiled, 'well she is trying to defuse the thing. That is good. Unless she throws the cats at him.' John started to laugh out loud. Max turned and gave the telepath a dirty look.
FLYING PUSSY, Brother John. What is that? Thought Acate to the telepath.
John started to laugh even more, I'll tell you later. I promise.
Max didn't know what was going on with Matheson, but it was really getting on his nerves. Looking back at the techno-mage, Max cleared his throat. "Acate, I wanted to apologies to you for being such a horses ass to you. I sort of, went a little off the edge. I am sorry. What are your cats names?" Max bent down to pet Azoe Mazat.
"I wouldn't do that, she is a bit of a grouch. Her name is Azoe Mazat and the one on my shoulders is Phineas." Said Acate with a smile.
"Azoe and Phineas, strange name for cats," said Max.
"No not really. I named Azoe after my Father's Mother and Phineas after my Brother. I never meet either one of them. So my way of being with them."
"Max, get on with it," said Gideon.
"Oh yeah, any way I just wanted to tell you I won't follow you around the ship anymore." Said Max a little softer then before.
Acate looked over at John and the telepath looked at the ceiling. I will talk to later, Brother John!
Yeah I bet you will, thought John back to the techno-mage.
"You don't mind if I get Brother John's lunch out?" asked Acate to Max.
"No I don't mind at all," said Max.
Acate moved to her ship and the door slid open. She came back out with something in her hands. Unfolding a blanket and laid it out on the flight deck.
Max's eyes got big. "Acate, you know what you have there?" Max leaned down and picked up a corner of the blanket.
"It's my Grandfather's blanket. He always had it on the chair in his office. When he died, my Mom received it then. She kept it in her office. When she died, I received it."
"It's from Cakorga. They don't let outsiders take anything off that world. It's a good copy." Said Max. He kept looking at the blanket. "It's not a copy, it's a real Cakorga blanket. How did you get one off the planet?"
"A person who was born on Cakorga can take things off the planet," said Acate.
"So who did your Grandfather know that would do something so dangerous?"
"My Mother," said Acate as she turned and went back into the ship. She came back out carrying a picnic basket. Putting it down on the blanket, she put plates on the blanket and then some fried chicken and potato salad. She found the napkins and silverware and put it down.
"Wait, your Mother took the stuff off Cakorga? How did she do it?" asked Max almost to the point of hyperventilating.
"My Grandfather was the Royal Doctor on Cakorga. My Mother was born on Cakorga as was I. I can go there and remove things at will. I have my papers that say it too. Signed by Vuja Gulda and then when he died by his son Vuja Verla. They were two of my Godfathers." Acate got up and went back into the ship and came back out with a another basket and piece of paper. Putting the basket down on the blanket and gave the paper to Max.
The Zeno Archaeologist looked at it and almost had a heart attack, "You were born on Cakorga! I don't believe it. You can legally have this stuff. I would love to look at whatever else you have of Cakorga."
Matthew Gideon walked over to Acate and Max, "Wait a minute. Acate, you were born on Cakorga, for real?"
"Yes, Brother Captain I was. I haven't been back since I was five years old. When my Father moved us to another planet then. My Mom had to give up her job as Royal Doctor to move. She wasn't very happy about it." Said Acate as she went back down on the blanket and pulled out of the new basket deviled eggs and some veggies and put them on the basket.
"You know we don't have a good relationship with Cakorga?" said Matthew to Acate.
"Brother Captain, no one has a good relationship with Cakorga. Not even the Minbari can talk to them. They don't like anyone that wasn't born on their planet. There is nothing that can be done about it."
"You may not know this but we are going to Cakorga's space station next month for a health conference. You could go down to the planet and help us with them on opening talks. You could be the one to get the door open for us."
"Are you ready for lunch, Brother John?" asked Acate.
"You made a picnic. Where did you get your information on it?" said John as he walked over to the blanket.
"My Mother is an Earthling, even though she was born on Cakorga," said Acate.
"Your one of us?" asked Max.
"My Mother is French, Irish, Scott, Welsh and the only one I have never been able to prove because I can't find a country is Nez Pierce." Said Acate.
"Nez Pierce is not a country, but an Native American tribe. You are Indian," said Max.
"So all of that is from Earth. Well I've got more things to think about," said Acate.
"What planet is your Father from?" asked Gideon.
Acate smiled and looked at the Captain, "I haven't got the foggiest where he is from. He said it was never important, but when the time came for me to know all of that the key would reveal itself to me. Never understood any of that. My Father could more cryptic then a normal mage could be." Acate got up and went back into the ship. She came back with another basket and a small box. Putting the basket down on the blanket, she handed the box to Max. "These are our 'home movies' from Cakorga. They were taken months before we left the planet. There are at the Royal palace and out at the Tordi palace and gardens. If you can stand looking at such foolishness, then Brother Max please have fun on me."
"You would allow me to watch them? If the government knew you were letting Zeno Archaeologist look at this stuff, they would be freaking out," said Max. He was smiling from ear to ear.
"Be my guest Brother Max. Now if you two don't mind, Brother John and I are going to have our lunch now. I have a feeling that his boss might get mad if he is too late from coming back from lunch." Acate had stood up and walked over to her ship and touched something and the side of ship changed to looking like trees and grass. There were birds singing in the trees and flying about in the air."
"Then Max and I will get out of here and let you eat. If you have any leftovers, the Captain would love some of the Fried Chicken and Potato salad when you come back to duty and I will forgive you being late." said Gideon as he pushed Max into life.
Acate and Matheson sat down on the blanket to lunch.
"Why did you tell Brother Captain about Brother Max following me around?" asked Acate.
"Because it was an issue. Max can't follow you around the ship. It's against the rules. I had to tell the Captain because of that. So if you are going to mad at me, fine but it wasn't safe the other way." said Matheson.
Acate smiled at John, "Brother John, I could never be mad at you for long. It passed some time ago. So lets eat lunch, I am finally ready to eat." said Acate as the Lt. started to dish up so food.
