A/N- thanks for the comments/ reviews.
Raven Sage... C/7 !?!?! There are people out there (apart from TPTB) that actually believe that would even happen!?!?! He doesn't even *like* Seven.
And i honestly don't mind if people don't read cos they can't see J/7. I can't see C/7 so it takes all sorts. ;-)
***
Eryn hurried as she readied herself for work, the morning air was cold against her naked skin as she stepped out of the jets and dressed in her uniform.
As expected, her recollection of yesterday's meeting was vague. She did know that military activity around the city was becoming unpredictable and they had been encouraged to move ahead with their plans. Anik's reassignment to micro-biotics was exactly what they had been waiting for, and she hoped all would go well for her team-mate.
Finished in the bathroom, Eryn crossed the room, quickly glancing at the sleeping space she shared with Anik as she wrapped her jacket around her shoulders. The young woman was wide-awake, her hands tucked under the back of her head as she lay staring at the ceiling.
"You're awake," she said, approaching the bed.
Anik turned at the sound of her voice. "I am. I thought I would say goodbye before you left."
Smiling gently, Eryn sat on the edge of the bed, her feet resolutely planted on the floor.
"You have a lot to do today, you should sleep."
"I can't. I must have slept well during the night, I don't feel tired at all," Anik replied, sitting up slightly.
Eryn watched her move, thinking she should get off the bed and move away from the young woman. Instead she sat there, a tiny hint of a smile creasing her lips as she tried to guess at her companion's thoughts.
Yesterday was yesterday, it would be a mistake to assume that Anik intended to pursue a relationship with her. Yet she knew this young woman and she was not one to act lightly or without purpose. She would not have kissed her, touched her with such passion, if she had not meant every moment of it. Still, Eryn hesitated and remained perched on the edge of the bed.
"How long to you intend to sit there doing nothing?" Anik asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"As long as it takes," Eryn replied immediately and again silence settled between them.
"I'll get another bottle of water on my way home."
"And a seed-cake?"
"Maybe," Anik smiled. "I'll do my best," she added in response to the pleading look on her companion's face.
"I have to go." Unsure about her next action, she slowly leaned closer, watching Anik's eyes as they followed her movements. When the blonde woman shut her eyes and leaned forward, Eryn relaxed, closing the distance between them with more confidence.
She touched the soft red lips with her own, lingering just enough to reassure herself that yesterday had not been a dream. Lessening the contact she prepared to move away. Elegant fingers brushed against her cheek, gliding along her skin to settle on her lips. Anik's touch tickled on her mouth, tracing its outline, the gentle contact causing goosebumps to rise on her flesh. Eryn gasped when those fingers were replaced by the tip of Anik's tongue as it slid across her lips, requesting entry. Opening her mouth, she deepened the kiss only slightly, keeping her movements slow and pulling back when Anik demanded more.
"Not this morning!" Eryn mumbled, a wry grin on her face. "I was a mess yesterday because of you."
Anik laughed quietly, the look on her face such an overwhelming mix of innocence and sensuality that Eryn felt her stomach flip and turn to jelly.
"Tonight," Eryn said firmly. "When neither one of us has any place to be other than right here."
Anik took a deep breath and nodded. Standing finally, the older woman backed away from the bed, late for work again.
***
Moving quickly to take her place in the queue, Eryn filed into the Ministry behind her workmates. Brightly-garbed officials were already moving up the steps to the main entry as she passed on her way to the service gate. She found herself wondering what had caused them to start their day so early.
The talk around her was muted, no-one willing to discuss the affairs of the Minister's people without reason. From their whispered conversations it was clear that there was trouble outside the walls and the Minister was preparing to act.
Taking her equipment from the store Eryn headed to her wing, ignoring the watchful eye of the head attendant. Several doors were shut along her corridor, the auburn-haired woman moved past them, entering a vacant room at the end of the hall. Opening the window, Eryn listened intently, hoping to overhear the discussions taking place in the conference room next door. Unable to hear a word, she began her duties, planning a way to get inside one of the meeting rooms.
***
Balancing a tray of warm bread and juice, Eryn knocked on the conference room door. A call came from within and she stepped inside.
"Breakfast, Ministers," she said, moving towards the table.
"About time," one of them grumbled.
Spaces were cleared in the jumble of files and charts to make room for their meal. Placing the tray on a side table, Eryn began to dish out individual servings for each of the eight men and women present. Recovering from the interruption, they continued their discussion, ignoring the attendant who busied herself serving them, listening intently to every word.
By the time her double shift ended, Eryn was more than a little concerned. The Ministry had uncovered plans for an attack on the city three days from now and were planning a pre-emptive strike on the force massing outside their walls. Rumours were to be circulated regarding a possible attack from the Ila'Cor people on their space fleet to cover any local activity. Security was being increased in key locations in the district and the Minister himself was retreating to his personal shuttle.
Replacing her trolley in the store, Eryn headed towards the bathroom facility, anxious to clean the smell of the sanitation blocks from her skin and clothes. It was nearing mid-afternoon and she still had plenty of time to collect dinner before Anik was due home.
Leaving the complex, she headed past the main entrance towards the edge of the ministerial centre. Instead of the road towards their apartment, Eryn wandered through the laneways towards the produce markets in the centre of town, deciding to use the opportunity to purchase something special for their evening meal.
Strolling up and down the paths between the stalls, she eyed the various products on display. After some deliberation, she found what was needed and had the items packaged for her journey home.
After ordering a snack, Eryn made her way to one of the small gardens that lined the busy marketplace, intending to take a break before heading back to their apartment. Finding a vacant seat where conversations could easily be heard through the noise of the crowd, she positioned herself in the warm sun. She remained there for some time, concerned by the talk of new hostilities with the Ila'cor at the border between their home worlds.
***
"This dish contains a single micro-robot." Professor Regarni held the clear canister for the four technicians to see. "You will work on only one specimen at a time. As you can well imagine, we have a limited supply. A single working prototype is all we ask. Understood?" He placed the dish on the trolley, without waiting for an answer, he moved towards the control panel.
"Doctor Elan, if you please?" he said, motioning for the head of the project to step forward. "The doctor has spent the last few days studying this program and has expressed confidence in his readiness to begin integrating it into our test subjects."
The doctor's face seemed guarded as the professor spoke, his eyes focused on the computer screen rather than his superior. Anik watched with some interest as the professor smiled at his associate. The coldness in his eyes spoke clearly of his dislike for the head of her new team.
"We hope his confidence is not misplaced," Regarni said before he turned and left the room.
Elan pounced on his team immediately, shouting orders at each technician. "Toban, get that damned micro back in the chamber. Leona, if I have to ask again for those feed-filaments you'll find yourself back in cognitive! Gori, have a look at the program, if we find any bugs in there, you'll be explaining to the professor why this team failed, not me." His gaze finally fell on the newest member of his team. "Anik, let's see what they have decided to send me this time. Prepare for download, let's see how much you know."
Without hesitation Anik took her place at the transfer console. Running a series of diagnostics, she familiarised herself with the equipment before setting the controls to download the new program into the micro-robot's memory.
The specifications of the tiny machines were unimpressive. Their abilities were extremely limited and Anik doubted they would be capable of processing the complicated set of engrams the doctor intended to download into their systems.
"All clear," Gori called from behind her.
Elan looked over at his technician, his gaze unreadable. "You have no problems with the program?" he asked.
Gori hesitated only slightly before responding. "The program is complex. To study it more fully as you have done would take time. I will defer to your judgement and superior experience in this case."
***
Elan scowled slightly at his team before moving behind the clear screen at the end of the room. "Proceed."
Anik studied the program as it was transferred into her console. It was indeed complex, an ever-changing set of variables controlled by a fluctuating algorithm. The mathematics of the equations alone would have taken days to unravel, were Anik not already familiar with them. The fact that those in charge of her team obviously knew enough about the program to provide her with the correct information was reassuring, even if her own understanding of its function was limited.
"Ready," she called when the download to her console was complete.
Toban motioned from his station that the micro-robot was ready to receive instruction. Initiating the transfer, the group watched the display monitor as a highly magnified cube sprouted a series of legs around the base of its body and latched onto a molecule of saline. An instant later the cube seemed to turn inside out as it imploded, sending minuscule ripples through the empty solution.
Stepping back into the lab, Elan opened a locked cabinet and retrieved another sample, passing it to Toban without a word. He fixed his gaze on each of the technicians.
"Find out where you went wrong and try it again," he suggested before returning to his protected area beyond the shield.
Accessing the program, Anik studied the flow of the formula, hoping to locate weaknesses in the complicated mathematics and finding none. It would be impossible to destroy the program, but she might be able to encourage it to rewrite itself.
Each team-member checked their work and came up with suggestions to improve their method. Anik made a few modifications of her own, storing them in the temporary buffer of her console. When Gori was ready to attempt a second download, she prepared to receive data from his terminal and sent a few small strings of code to the original program in return.
Each of their attempts produced similar results, the micro being destroyed in each trial. Nine empty dishes lay on the trolley at the end of the day, every saline molecule present and accounted for. The complex algorithms continued to mutate with each transfer as Anik sent a series of stimuli to the program, convincing it to adapt to the changes in its environment.
Certain that its destruction would serve a greater purpose, the program slowly degraded.
***
Raven Sage... C/7 !?!?! There are people out there (apart from TPTB) that actually believe that would even happen!?!?! He doesn't even *like* Seven.
And i honestly don't mind if people don't read cos they can't see J/7. I can't see C/7 so it takes all sorts. ;-)
***
Eryn hurried as she readied herself for work, the morning air was cold against her naked skin as she stepped out of the jets and dressed in her uniform.
As expected, her recollection of yesterday's meeting was vague. She did know that military activity around the city was becoming unpredictable and they had been encouraged to move ahead with their plans. Anik's reassignment to micro-biotics was exactly what they had been waiting for, and she hoped all would go well for her team-mate.
Finished in the bathroom, Eryn crossed the room, quickly glancing at the sleeping space she shared with Anik as she wrapped her jacket around her shoulders. The young woman was wide-awake, her hands tucked under the back of her head as she lay staring at the ceiling.
"You're awake," she said, approaching the bed.
Anik turned at the sound of her voice. "I am. I thought I would say goodbye before you left."
Smiling gently, Eryn sat on the edge of the bed, her feet resolutely planted on the floor.
"You have a lot to do today, you should sleep."
"I can't. I must have slept well during the night, I don't feel tired at all," Anik replied, sitting up slightly.
Eryn watched her move, thinking she should get off the bed and move away from the young woman. Instead she sat there, a tiny hint of a smile creasing her lips as she tried to guess at her companion's thoughts.
Yesterday was yesterday, it would be a mistake to assume that Anik intended to pursue a relationship with her. Yet she knew this young woman and she was not one to act lightly or without purpose. She would not have kissed her, touched her with such passion, if she had not meant every moment of it. Still, Eryn hesitated and remained perched on the edge of the bed.
"How long to you intend to sit there doing nothing?" Anik asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"As long as it takes," Eryn replied immediately and again silence settled between them.
"I'll get another bottle of water on my way home."
"And a seed-cake?"
"Maybe," Anik smiled. "I'll do my best," she added in response to the pleading look on her companion's face.
"I have to go." Unsure about her next action, she slowly leaned closer, watching Anik's eyes as they followed her movements. When the blonde woman shut her eyes and leaned forward, Eryn relaxed, closing the distance between them with more confidence.
She touched the soft red lips with her own, lingering just enough to reassure herself that yesterday had not been a dream. Lessening the contact she prepared to move away. Elegant fingers brushed against her cheek, gliding along her skin to settle on her lips. Anik's touch tickled on her mouth, tracing its outline, the gentle contact causing goosebumps to rise on her flesh. Eryn gasped when those fingers were replaced by the tip of Anik's tongue as it slid across her lips, requesting entry. Opening her mouth, she deepened the kiss only slightly, keeping her movements slow and pulling back when Anik demanded more.
"Not this morning!" Eryn mumbled, a wry grin on her face. "I was a mess yesterday because of you."
Anik laughed quietly, the look on her face such an overwhelming mix of innocence and sensuality that Eryn felt her stomach flip and turn to jelly.
"Tonight," Eryn said firmly. "When neither one of us has any place to be other than right here."
Anik took a deep breath and nodded. Standing finally, the older woman backed away from the bed, late for work again.
***
Moving quickly to take her place in the queue, Eryn filed into the Ministry behind her workmates. Brightly-garbed officials were already moving up the steps to the main entry as she passed on her way to the service gate. She found herself wondering what had caused them to start their day so early.
The talk around her was muted, no-one willing to discuss the affairs of the Minister's people without reason. From their whispered conversations it was clear that there was trouble outside the walls and the Minister was preparing to act.
Taking her equipment from the store Eryn headed to her wing, ignoring the watchful eye of the head attendant. Several doors were shut along her corridor, the auburn-haired woman moved past them, entering a vacant room at the end of the hall. Opening the window, Eryn listened intently, hoping to overhear the discussions taking place in the conference room next door. Unable to hear a word, she began her duties, planning a way to get inside one of the meeting rooms.
***
Balancing a tray of warm bread and juice, Eryn knocked on the conference room door. A call came from within and she stepped inside.
"Breakfast, Ministers," she said, moving towards the table.
"About time," one of them grumbled.
Spaces were cleared in the jumble of files and charts to make room for their meal. Placing the tray on a side table, Eryn began to dish out individual servings for each of the eight men and women present. Recovering from the interruption, they continued their discussion, ignoring the attendant who busied herself serving them, listening intently to every word.
By the time her double shift ended, Eryn was more than a little concerned. The Ministry had uncovered plans for an attack on the city three days from now and were planning a pre-emptive strike on the force massing outside their walls. Rumours were to be circulated regarding a possible attack from the Ila'Cor people on their space fleet to cover any local activity. Security was being increased in key locations in the district and the Minister himself was retreating to his personal shuttle.
Replacing her trolley in the store, Eryn headed towards the bathroom facility, anxious to clean the smell of the sanitation blocks from her skin and clothes. It was nearing mid-afternoon and she still had plenty of time to collect dinner before Anik was due home.
Leaving the complex, she headed past the main entrance towards the edge of the ministerial centre. Instead of the road towards their apartment, Eryn wandered through the laneways towards the produce markets in the centre of town, deciding to use the opportunity to purchase something special for their evening meal.
Strolling up and down the paths between the stalls, she eyed the various products on display. After some deliberation, she found what was needed and had the items packaged for her journey home.
After ordering a snack, Eryn made her way to one of the small gardens that lined the busy marketplace, intending to take a break before heading back to their apartment. Finding a vacant seat where conversations could easily be heard through the noise of the crowd, she positioned herself in the warm sun. She remained there for some time, concerned by the talk of new hostilities with the Ila'cor at the border between their home worlds.
***
"This dish contains a single micro-robot." Professor Regarni held the clear canister for the four technicians to see. "You will work on only one specimen at a time. As you can well imagine, we have a limited supply. A single working prototype is all we ask. Understood?" He placed the dish on the trolley, without waiting for an answer, he moved towards the control panel.
"Doctor Elan, if you please?" he said, motioning for the head of the project to step forward. "The doctor has spent the last few days studying this program and has expressed confidence in his readiness to begin integrating it into our test subjects."
The doctor's face seemed guarded as the professor spoke, his eyes focused on the computer screen rather than his superior. Anik watched with some interest as the professor smiled at his associate. The coldness in his eyes spoke clearly of his dislike for the head of her new team.
"We hope his confidence is not misplaced," Regarni said before he turned and left the room.
Elan pounced on his team immediately, shouting orders at each technician. "Toban, get that damned micro back in the chamber. Leona, if I have to ask again for those feed-filaments you'll find yourself back in cognitive! Gori, have a look at the program, if we find any bugs in there, you'll be explaining to the professor why this team failed, not me." His gaze finally fell on the newest member of his team. "Anik, let's see what they have decided to send me this time. Prepare for download, let's see how much you know."
Without hesitation Anik took her place at the transfer console. Running a series of diagnostics, she familiarised herself with the equipment before setting the controls to download the new program into the micro-robot's memory.
The specifications of the tiny machines were unimpressive. Their abilities were extremely limited and Anik doubted they would be capable of processing the complicated set of engrams the doctor intended to download into their systems.
"All clear," Gori called from behind her.
Elan looked over at his technician, his gaze unreadable. "You have no problems with the program?" he asked.
Gori hesitated only slightly before responding. "The program is complex. To study it more fully as you have done would take time. I will defer to your judgement and superior experience in this case."
***
Elan scowled slightly at his team before moving behind the clear screen at the end of the room. "Proceed."
Anik studied the program as it was transferred into her console. It was indeed complex, an ever-changing set of variables controlled by a fluctuating algorithm. The mathematics of the equations alone would have taken days to unravel, were Anik not already familiar with them. The fact that those in charge of her team obviously knew enough about the program to provide her with the correct information was reassuring, even if her own understanding of its function was limited.
"Ready," she called when the download to her console was complete.
Toban motioned from his station that the micro-robot was ready to receive instruction. Initiating the transfer, the group watched the display monitor as a highly magnified cube sprouted a series of legs around the base of its body and latched onto a molecule of saline. An instant later the cube seemed to turn inside out as it imploded, sending minuscule ripples through the empty solution.
Stepping back into the lab, Elan opened a locked cabinet and retrieved another sample, passing it to Toban without a word. He fixed his gaze on each of the technicians.
"Find out where you went wrong and try it again," he suggested before returning to his protected area beyond the shield.
Accessing the program, Anik studied the flow of the formula, hoping to locate weaknesses in the complicated mathematics and finding none. It would be impossible to destroy the program, but she might be able to encourage it to rewrite itself.
Each team-member checked their work and came up with suggestions to improve their method. Anik made a few modifications of her own, storing them in the temporary buffer of her console. When Gori was ready to attempt a second download, she prepared to receive data from his terminal and sent a few small strings of code to the original program in return.
Each of their attempts produced similar results, the micro being destroyed in each trial. Nine empty dishes lay on the trolley at the end of the day, every saline molecule present and accounted for. The complex algorithms continued to mutate with each transfer as Anik sent a series of stimuli to the program, convincing it to adapt to the changes in its environment.
Certain that its destruction would serve a greater purpose, the program slowly degraded.
***