How Long Love
Chapter 7: in another life
Count D-
The Enterprise was far bigger than D had expected and he smiled with something like pride, though he was sure sofu would disapprove. Humans had built this ship (admittedly with some little help from aliens) and D was proud of their accomplishment. D still remember when humans believed that the sun revolved around the Earth and it was satisfying to see how far they'd come in such a relatively short amount of time. So far from the desecration of the Earth their ancestors had done. Truly, D was proud of them.
Still, this is the first time D had been out of his home, deep in the forests, for many years and his judgment of them could be mistaken. 'I will have to wait to decide if humans have matured at all or if they have simply found more dangerous toys to play with.' D looked out the window of the shuttle craft and saw a glimpse of the moon, shining silver in the ink of the void. It made him sad to look at it.
'The princess and the rabbit are dead. The astronauts kill them.' Oh, Leon had been so angry when D had told that to little Chris. More angry than he'd ever been at D for any of the suspected killings. 'But its true. Those beliefs died when the astronauts found nothing but a rocky wasteland on the moon. How could such beliefs continue to live when there was such proof against them?' Yet, D believed. Perhaps Chris was right and Princess Kaguya and the rabbit Gyokuto still live...somewhere. Gyokuto still powdering medicine for the people of Earth and Kaguya, princess of an immortal race, still leads men astray by her beautiful light. 'I'll make a trip there, one day. To see if they are still there.'
No more time to muse.
The arrived and landed inside the ship where D was certain Leon now lived. There wasn't a doubt in his mind and he knew that the phoenix had something to do with the knowledge, but even D wasn't sure how he knew.
"Welcome to the Enterprise." A cheery looking young man smiled at D as he start down the ramp of the shuttle craft. The young man is saying the same thing to everyone who gets off the shuttle craft and doing his best to be polite, but D could see in his eyes that this was not the job he wishes for. He wished for something greater and D feel reassured by that. For all the changes to the Earth, humans are still basically the same, greedy and ambitious.
D gave a slight bow to the young man before following the other humans onto the Enterprise and could feel the young man's eyes on him as he passed by. It wasn't just that young man, D knew everyone was staring at him. Good. Let them stare. D had no intention of hiding himself amongst the crowds of people on this ship anymore than he had hidden in Chinatown of long ago.
D had not taken more than a few steps before a woman stopped him, stepping in front of him. She was tall and slender with coarse orange hair and a sharp face, but not entirely unattractive as humans go. The woman was neither young nor old, a respectable age of maturity for a human. Her face was pleasantly lined with smile wrinkles and D liked her right away.
"Hello." She said, with a smile. "I'm doctor Beverly Crusher, chief medical officer of the Enterprise. I'm very sorry to have to do this so soon after your arrival, but I wondered if I could have a word with you." She held out her hand, presumably to shake hands, but D declined to shake and bowed instead. He tried not to touch people when he had a choice. "You must be Count D, right?"
"I am. Greetings," D told her, both curious and worried that she already knew him. "I am most pleased to be on this ship. What would you like to talk about?"
"It's just a small detail, I'm sure we can get it all cleared up in no time. Would you walk with me to sickbay?" She looked at a small computer she held in one hand even as they started to walk side-by-side. "I never received any medical history for you and we have a very strict rule about keeping health information on our crew and passengers. In short, I need you to come to sick bay for a physical." She was all business, but still firmly polite.
D certainly wasn't about to subject himself to any such exam. "There is no need." D told her and opened his suitcase just a fraction to pull out the paper he'd brought for just this occasion. It must look like an antique to anyone who sees it, but D's suitcase was very important and he would never go anywhere without it. "I brought such information with me, in the event that it was needed." Without taking his eyes off her, D reached into his suitcase and, after a pretense of searching around, pulled out a paper with all the information he knew this doctor would require. It was D's young brother who had helped him with this. Baby D had not lived with humans for so many long years and not learned what they would need.
"Paper?" Doctor Crusher took the paper as if she'd never touched anything like it before and frowned. "Why didn't your doctor just sent it to us?"
"I find charm in the old ways and I have a distrust of computers." It was only partly a lie. D had never had any doctor examine him, that paper was forged by a customer of his younger brother's in lieu of payment for a pet. "There is no problem with delivering the information this way, is there?" Of course D already knew the answer. Legalities were all important to know and he'd studied them before even leaving home.
"No, it all looks in order." Doctor Crusher answered, looking the paper over carefully. "I'd still like you to come by for a routine check up in the next day or so."
D smiled and closed his suitcase with an audible snap. "I shall consider it, doctor."
"Thank you. Enjoy your stay on the Enterprise, Count D. Or may I call you D?"
"Please, Count will be good enough." D didn't let his irritation show through his smile. There was only one person allowed to call him D. Only Leon.
"Count, then." Doctor Crusher smiled, not seeing D's displeasure, and walked away with her thigh-length blue coat swishing behind her as she moved.
D would not be going for a check up. This isn't like the old days where a doctor would simply check the heart and eyes before declaring one fit. This doctor Crusher would try to take samples of blood and other invasive tests. Those sort of things would cause trouble without a doubt. D continued onto where he knew his 'quarters' would be. It was time to get settled into this new life.
The quarters D had been 'assigned' were plain, white, and very dull looking. Just like the rest of the ship, all gleaming and sanitized. If it hadn't been for the smell of the humans that was so thick on this ship, D wouldn't have been able to stand it. 'Everything looks sterilized. There's no life here.' D thought sadly. Not that what he was given was going to at all influence the way he lived. D took his suitcase to the closet just inside the door of the room. Best to do this where he would be least likely to be discovered. The closet was a perfect place. He set it on the floor of the closet. 'Oh, my beautiful children.' D thought, stroking the side of his suitcase. 'It's time to rebuild our home.' D set the suitcase on the floor and knelt gracefully before it. A soft click of the clasp opened the suitcase and released the power held within. A warm light flooded out of the suitcase and D smiled.
In his quarters-
Leon-
Leon knew, at once, that something had changed. He wasn't sure what, exactly, but he knew it was something big. He woke from a sound sleep with his heart racing. It couldn't have been a nightmare, Leon hadn't had any dreams for years, not since he'd started taking his medication. Yet he knew there was something different. Not bad, exactly, just different.
Jill was making such an awful row, tearing around the room and cawing her head off. She flew so low that Leon had to duck or she'd have hit him right in the head. "Jill! What are you doing? Calm down!" He'd never seen her act like this before. "Jill! Lights!" When the lights flashed instantly on and Leon rubbed his eyes to clear them, ducking once again when Jill dove straight at his face. "JILL!"
Jill didn't listen, no matter how hard Leon yelled, so he jumped out of bed and began chasing Jill around the room. Of course it was no good and the only thing it accomplished was making Leon exhausted while Jill easily evaded him. He was dashing around so erratically that he didn't notice when he got to close to the doors and they activated, opening before Leon could close them again, Jill flew out into the halls.
"You stupid bird!" Leon yelled, all sleep completely gone from his mind at the panic of having Jill wrecking havoc all over the ship. "Get back..." But it was too late. The doors slid closed and Jill was gone. "Aww, shit!" Leon cursed. His unease of whatever it was that had woken him vanished as he chased after Jill. He was glad he'd worn pajamas to bed, even if it had only been the bottoms. At least he wouldn't be caught streaking on his first night on the Enterprise. Even if everyone did think he was mad as he ran, half-naked, down the halls screaming after his bird. "Jill!"
Guinan-
'He's here.' Guinan bit her bottom lip as she stared out at the stars from her quarters. 'I shouldn't be surprised. Well...there's no putting it off.' She steeled herself for the meeting. This was something she HAD to do, there was no getting around it. A pity they were still orbiting Earth, though it was for only a short time. She debated whether or not to wait until they got further from Earth, but it wouldn't do much good. No matter how far they got from Earth, this newcomer would always be more powerful that she was. Unless, of course, Earth miraculously exploded in the next few hours. That was really too much to hope for. Shame.
"Are you going out?" Jean-Luc asked when Guinan came out of her quarters and started through Ten-Forward. "At this hour?"
"Don't I ever get a night when you aren't here?" Guinan wanted to stay and talk with Jean-Luc, her favorite human, by far. There just didn't seem to be any time for it. Despite that, she walked in his direction and they ended up looking out at the stars together. It seemed that they did that a lot. "I thought you be on the bridge, getting ready to set off. Where are we going again?"
Jean-Luc Picard was not an old man, but he was old enough to have lost all his hair and have worry lines etched onto his face. He wasn't tall, but seemed to fill a room when he wanted to. The man should have been an actor, Guinan had always thought. Depending on his mood, Jean-Luc could easily vanish into the crowds or draw all eyes to him, just by walking in the door. Not everyone knew about his soft side, though Guinan had seen it right off. Then again, she'd known him for many, many years. Since he'd been a child, really. It was a wonder that Jean-luc had never asked why she didn't seem to age.
"I'm not sure. The orders haven't come in, yet. They should be here by morning." Jean-Luc smiled in anticipation and at once his strict expression vanished and he looked like a small child let into a candy shop. It wasn't often that anyone was able to see Jean-Luc like this and Guinan was pleased to be one of the few he shared his emotions with. "We'll have plenty to do in the meantime, though. Beverly has two new doctors she wants to run though the paces and a few new nurses. Mr. Worf has nearly twenty new security officers and he says he wants to test them, personally, to see if they're up to his standards. I doubt he'd find three he doesn't feel he needs to be retrained. Not to mention that Geordi has some fine-tuning to do, though he hasn't told me exactly what that means. We'll be ready by the morning. Right now, I'm just enjoying the peace. Tomorrow, anything might happen."
"It could happen right now." Guinan studied Jean-Luc in the soft light of the artificial night of the ship. He was a proud and good man and, best of all, he was curious. Strangely enough, Guinan appreciated that quality. It proved that he wasn't at all closed minded, with the exception of the Borg and Guinan whole-heartedly agreed with him on that point. She wanted to tell Jean-Luc what was going on and beg him to delay setting off and then tell him about the newest passenger. He should be aware of the danger. Really, though, there was nothing Jean-Luc could do about it, one way or the other. In fact, as he was human, he probably wouldn't notice anything odd about the visitor at all.
"What do you mean?" Jean-Luc looked at her curiously, though he still smiled. "Are you expecting something to happen?"
All the trust in that smile made Guinan feel just a little guilty. He trusted her to tell him what was going on when something this big could affect his ship and crew. This was one time Guinan was going to have to betray that trust. "Nothing. I'm just babbling. You'll excuse me." Guinan smiled gently. "I really don't think you need me here, so I'll be off."
Jean-Luc nodded politely and went back to admiring the beauty of the void.
Out of curiosity, and maybe just a touch of fear, Guinan made a pit-stop before she went to see the visitor. It was the zoological study room, a small zoo with specimens of animals from many different planets. Of course only small, harmless creatures were kept, for safety's sake. Ordinarily, Guinan didn't like to see the animals, they only brought back painful memories of her own beloved creatures, now long dead. This time, she wondered what the reaction of the animals would be. As it was, there were only a few Earth animals in the zoo. There was a small, green and brown garden snake. A large white rat in a glass cage next to preying mantis. All of them seemed to be acting strangely, at least Guinan thought so. The rat was running itself frantic in circles around its cage. The snake was acting with far more energy than Guinan thought reptiles ever showed, crawling rapidly around it's container and poking its nose against the glass, as if to find a way out, and even reaching up far enough to bump its nose against the top of the glass container. The preying mantis was snapping its claws shut very rapidly, seeming to grab invisible things from the air.
"Odd, isn't it?"
Guinan looked up and found one of the zoological scientists also looking at the Earth animals. "You think so?"
"Oh, yes. Especially the snake. He's usually so docile. It's kept a cold enough temperature that he really should be sleeping right now, I don't understand what he thinks he's looking for. I'll have to check. Maybe there's a scent that got in there somehow. He might think there's something good to eat and he just can't find it. No. That shouldn't be it, either. He was fed just a little bit ago and snakes usually ignore prey unless they're hungry. The insect's a lot more active than normal, too. It isn't hungry and its not mating season for any of these animals. As for the rat, I'm going to have to sedate her."
"Why? Don't rats usually like to run around like that?" Guinan knew the answer before she'd asked the question. Still, the question was expected and there was no point in drawing attention to herself.
"They do like running around, but not like this. She's been running in circles for two hours and hasn't stopped for a minute. She's going to injure herself." There was real concern in the young woman's voice and she leaned forward, tapping the rat's glass cage with a fingernail, but it didn't even pause. "Poor thing."
Guinan left then, without so much as a goodbye. There was a very good reason why the Earth animals were all acting so strangely. They were excited. Overjoyed. There wasn't a word that could do the emotion the animals were feeling justice? Their god (for lack of a better word) was visiting. How could they not try to escape their confinement and seek him out? Even as she walked down the halls, Guinan had a foreboding feeling of something great and terrible getting closer. Closer.
A rustle behind her and Guinan turned in time to see the crow, or whatever it was, rush passed her, racing down the corridor. She didn't have time to take even one step before a man, a blonde human man, ran after the crow with feet and chest bare and an irritated expression on his face. As he passed Guinan time seemed to slow for a brief instant and she took a good look at his face. She'd seen him only briefly in Ten-Forward, but it was definitely the same man the crow had said it was watching. The instant passed and time started again. The man ran by without even glancing at Guinan, he was so occupied with trying to catch the crow.
A few steps more before Guinan turned a corner and stopped walking. Her breath caught in her throat and she stepped back a bit. The blonde man was still as the dead, frozen as he stared at the visitor. Neither said a word and Guinan looked into the eyes of the visitor, a Kami from Earth. She couldn't penetrate them anymore than she could Q's eyes. Secrets hidden in those eyes, secrets meant only for Earth. He didn't look at her, gave no sign that he even knew she was there. The crow had landed on the Kami's outstretched hand, flapping its wings as it landed elegantly, then turned with a hop to face the blonde man.
Something about the situation seemed horribly...intimate. Guinan couldn't bring herself to interfere.
D-
'As beautiful as ever. My dear Leon has appeared when I go to look for him.' D could barely contain his smile. He wanted to run to Leon, to throw his arms around his human and hold him forever. Melodramatic? Yes. Honest. Yes. Wise. No. There was something odd about Leon's stunned expression and D didn't want to confuse or frighten Leon.
"Do I know you? You look kinda familiar. I could swear we've met before." Leon scratched the back of his head in a painfully familiar gesture.
D bit back a cry of grief and rage at Leon's words. Leon didn't remember him, at least not entirely. It wasn't just Leon's loss of memory that angered D, that was really only a small part of it. Memories could be regained and to be reincarnated was such a traumatic experience, some distortions of the mind as well as confusion was inevitable. D could fix those things, though. He could bring back Leon's memory or make Leon forget that this whole new life of his had ever happened. What made D angry was the deliberate pollution. There was something foreign in Leon's body and D knew that it was an unnatural substance. It was human-made and, therefore D considered it a willful threat to Leon. D could smell it, some pungent, abnormal smell leaking from Leon's pores and even from his breath. Someone had poisoned Leon.
D glanced quickly to the female by his side, but she met his eyes evenly and said nothing. She held his arm lightly and D could see the wisdom and wicked glee that he had always seen in her. A truly magnificent creature, the phoenix. An immortal, older even that D, and she was as beautiful as any goddess. Her hair was tied into two coils on top of her head and there was both malice and kindness in her eyes. She had seen everything on Earth, there were no secrets from her. The phoenix had great wisdom but it was tempered by cynical amusement at the expense of the creatures she saw around her. D had many questions for her. What had happened to Leon in this life and who had poisoned him? Why did he seek to leave Earth by roaming into the void? Answers would come later.
"Perhaps we've met, in another life." D smiled at Leon as if nothing had changed between them.
Leon frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but an announcement rang out over some kind of intercom and Leon looked up sharply. All new security personal, report to the main security office for inspection. You have six minutes. Though the voice was soft spoken, there was an air of definite command there.
Leon paled and D realized that his love of protection people must have carried though to this life and he'd become a security officer of this ship. "Crap." Leon muttered. It seemed that his language hadn't improved any.
It was too perfect of an opportunity. "Please," D bowed his head slightly to Leon. "Go on your way, but return here," D gestured to the door of his quarters. "when your business is finished. I will look after your friend."
Leon's eyes lit up in such a heartbreakingly familiar way. "Really? Hey, thanks. Ya know...shit! I'm going to be late. I gotta run!" Leon turned on his heel and ran, just as he'd appeared and vanished again.
The sudden loss of Leon was like a punch in the stomach for D and he thought he did very well not to double over in agony. No time for that. There was no reason to be impatient, not after all the waiting D had already done. He could afford to wait for Leon. He could wait another lifetime.
"Leon is like mold." The Phoenix said lightly to D. "He grows on one, doesn't he?"
"True." D knew suddenly that he wasn't alone and he cursed himself for not realizing it sooner. It should have been obvious, but D had been too enraptured by finding Leon again. That was potentially dangerous and could not be allowed to happen again.
"You've noticed our audience?" The phoenix asked, her tone still light. "I've made her acquaintance. She's no threat, one of the wanderers. No power. However, there is one of power with rights over this ship. One of the Q questioned me about my presence here."
"What did you tell him?"
"Very little, Count. I told them both that I have no interest in this ship or crew except for the one that I am watching. They were not pleased, by either my presence or my answer, but have done nothing to interfere with myself or Leon."
"I see." D gestured to the closed door of his quarters and the phoenix, politely, took her cue. She gave him a little nod before heading into the quarters where Leon would be certain to find her later. Before Leon came back, though, D wanted to know everything that had happened to Leon in this life and the phoenix, who had been there virtually every moment of Leon's life, was the perfect one to tell him. Perhaps over a nice cup of hot tea. First of all, though, he would have to deal with his visitor. "May I help you?"
She stepped out from around the corner and didn't show any sign of shame that she'd been listening at all. She had a stern, serious face, but pleasant eyes, and D was actually surprised to find her here. "Actually, yes." The woman folded her arms over her chest and stepped closer. "I wasn't expecting visitors. You and your crow came as quite the shock. I was just wondering what your intentions were."
So blunt. "Would you care to step inside? Such things should not be discussed in public." D stepped aside slightly and motioned for her to enter his quarters. It didn't surprise him that she referred to the phoenix as a crow. That was the disguise the phoenix was using and, as she wasn't a Kami of Earth, the woman would see only the shape that regular humans were meant to see. "It has been many years since we've spoken."
"I heard about your parent. My condolences." She said, stepping into the quarters. "You were a child when I met your parent, that first time."
"That only time." D's papa hadn't been pleased when this alien creature had shown up on his doorstep, requesting sanctuary. That was a long time ago and, true to what she'd said, D had been a very small child.
Flashback-
It was a very quiet morning when she came to the pet shop, then located in France. There was a knock on the door and little D rushed to answer it. It was his job to let the clients in and escort them to the parlor where his papa waited for them. D was proud of his job, just as he was proud when his papa would tell him that one day he would be responsible for the pet shop and all the darling pets. D answered the door with a smile, which faded quickly on seeing the woman who stood before him.
She was ugly. D didn't even know why he thought that, but she was. Unspeakably ugly and he backed away from her, frightened. Never had he seen anything so horrible as the woman before him. She wasn't very tall and had skin the color of chocolate, not very different from many of the human clients who'd come to the pet shop in hope of aid from D's papa. Her hair was worn up in a stylish bun on her head, like so many ladies of upper society wore their hair. To go along with her look of upper class, her clothes seemed to be in the latest fashion, a floor-length gown of dark red with a high collar and sleeves right down to her wrists, despite the terrible heat of mid-summer. The woman smiled, nervously. "Hello. Would you be Count D?" She spoke perfect French, but D didn't even like her voice. It sounded wrong.
Little D shook his head and took another step backwards. "This is my papa's shop. I am just helping."
"May I speak with your papa, then?" She seemed to notice his fear then and tried to reassure him. "You don't have to worry, I don't bite."
Little D wasn't so sure about that. His job was to escort the clients to papa, but little D knew he didn't want this woman in the pet shop. He wanted to tell her to go away, but papa would probably be very angry with him and little D didn't like it when his papa was angry with him. Perhaps he should just close the door and hope she'd go away. His hands tightened into fists so tightly that his little fingernails sliced into the palms of his hands and his smile, which his papa had taught him to always wear in front of clients, slid off his face. "I...I do not think..."
"Go to the parlor, little one."
Little D was saved from the choice by his papa's voice and looked up, over his shoulder. He was wonderful, in little D's eyes. Without a bit of fear, little D's papa kept his eyes firmly on the woman at the door. With an elegant wave of his arm, little D's papa gave the woman a little bow and motioned her to enter. "Forgive my offspring." Papa said when the woman had entered. "His manners need refining."
'He's angry.' Little D thought, alarmed. 'With me or the woman?' He slowly backed away from the two adults and went to do as he was told, wait in the parlor. As he did, little D didn't take his eyes off the visitor. He couldn't help but think there was something terribly wrong with her being there. Little D only went so far as the parlor doorway and peeked around the corner. Though little D's papa had let the woman step into the pet shop, it seemed that he was unwilling to let her in any further and stood firmly in her path, least she try to take advantage of his hospitality.
The woman didn't smile now, but had a blank, set look on her face. Whatever they spoke about, little D never learned. He watched, from the doorway of the parlor, but they spoke so softly he couldn't hear a word of their conversation. Neither moved while they spoke, though little D could tell his papa was getting more and more upset as the conversation went on. Whatever the woman was thinking, little D had no idea. Finally, the woman spoke with a slightly raised voice.
"I'll petition your elder."
Papa stood a bit straighter, if that was possible. "As is your right. You will find him even less amiable than myself."
"I don't need amiability." The woman sounded very angry. "I need sanctuary."
"I suggest you go. May you live in interesting times."
The woman froze and her mouth dropped open just a little, in shock. Even little D was shocked at what his papa had said. Without another word, the woman turned with a rustle of her long gown and walked out, very dignified.
"Papa?" Little D stepped out of his hiding place, his hands folded behind his back, and looked up at his papa. When little D's papa didn't answer and kept staring at the now closed door as if he thought the woman might open it again, little D went closer and gave his papa's long sleeve a small tug. "Papa? Who was that?"
"Never mind, my little one." Papa smiled down at little D and took his child's hand. "It is not important."
Little D smiled at once and moved closer to his papa, putting his free hand on his papa's robes. Little D was young, but not stupid. He knew that the woman was someone important and he knew his papa didn't like her. He knew he was afraid of her and that whatever she'd come to talk about was just as important as what she was. However, little D loved his papa and wanted to obey him. He loved the feeling of his papa's hand on his and the way his papa's smile made him feel so happy inside. He wanted his papa to keep smiling at him. "Why did you curse her?"
"Because I am offended that she dares to walk on the Earth. That one has no right to be here and she come to my door expecting favors simply because she is.... She should not be returning." The older Kami brushed his fingernails against little D's face. "My ugly child. My only offspring. Deformed..."
Little D was hurt, but not surprised. His papa often was sidetracked like this. Little D stayed silent and wondered why he had been created so malformed. His papa was perfect, as was sofu. Why should D be any less? It was a great shame, the pain he caused his papa just by living, but little D honestly believed that if he was good enough, his papa would one day see passed his mismatched eyes and his other failings.
End flashback-
D-
D shook himself out of his memories. His wish had never come true. For the rest of his life, D's papa had always thought of him as some kind of failed experiment. He had learned the truth about the woman much later, and not from his papa, but from his sofu.
"I'm called Guinan." The woman seemed all business. "What should I call you here?"
"You may call me Count D."
"I was led to believe that title had been passed to the youngest of the Kami currently on Earth. You are not he."
"My younger brother is caretaker of the pet shop, but I will not have the mortal creatures of this ship thinking they can be familiar with me. I will use the title, Count, while I am here. Won't you come in?" D walked to the closet where he'd 'set up shop', so to speak. It was all set up, now, but still safe enough to have visitors. Little Chris was still deep in his induced sleep and wouldn't be woken just yet, no matter how impatient Tet-chan was getting. They would only be on this ship for a short while and then D would go back to Earth, taking Leon with him. Now that he knew for certain Leon was alive and well, they could be together again. This time, D wouldn't make the same mistake he made before. This time, he would tell Leon exactly how he felt.
"This will be fine, thank you." Guinan looked at the closet door and probably knew what lay behind it, from the expression on her face. "I wasn't exactly welcomed the last time I paid your clan a visit, so we'll keep this short. Why are you here?"
"To collect my human."
"The eldest Kami of Earth formally gave up all rights to humans if they were not on Earth. That was his free choice. Are you going against your elder? It'll take a while for you to collect all the humans scattered around the void, if that's what you're intending."
D had been ready for this argument, though he hadn't been expecting to argue it with a member of her clan. He had thought that he would meet one of the Q clan. "My sofu's judgment stands. I would not speak or act against him. However, I am not here for just any human and I have no intention of trying to lure them all back to Earth. I am here to retrieve one human. MY human. He belongs to me."
"That's all? Just one human?"
"Just one."
Guinan's eyes hardened and D could easily see her as she must have been before her power had been taken from her. What a formidable creature she must have been. It really was a shame to see her brought down like this and forced to live off the mercy of other clans. How lonely she must be.
"Your human?" Guinan asked with a raised eyebrow. "You've claimed him? Then, may I ask, why did you have to come to fetch him? He should have been bound to you." She had a valid question and one that could hurt D's argument about his right to take Leon.
If she decided to be stubborn about it, D would find himself in the position of having to fight for Leon. Fight, he would, even if he had to fight every clan in existence, if Guinan tried to stand between himself and Leon. D wasn't sure he wanted to explain the complicated and still painful story that led up to him being in the void. He still had nightmares about finding Leon covered in his own blood. Leon's terrified voice as death came for him...those memories were still too close. "There was an accident."
"Really?" She didn't believe him, not that she had any reason to. "Well, whatever you're here for, let me give you some advice. I'm very fond of these people. I'll do anything to keep them safe. Absolutely anything. If I have to reveal who and what you are, I will. I don't care if they find out what I am. In just a few hours, this ship will leave Earth's orbit and head out into the void. Your power will diminish very quickly. You won't be able to affect the minds of even the humans on this ship. I expect that, outside your territory," Guinan gestured to the still closed closet doors. "You'll be as powerless as I am. The one you're looking for is that boy, the blonde one? I saw him with your crow, or whatever it is. You can have him. Take him and go."
"Somehow, I expected more of a fight."
"Would you rather I petition the Q clan to get you off this ship? This way is better than a war. I don't think anyone would want that." Guinan scowled, her eyes seeming to go empty, then said . "I'm not happy about it, but I'd rather have you take that one boy and get off this ship than hang around and cause trouble. One of the Q has already paid me a visit since the arrival of your human and that bird. I'd rather he didn't come back." Guinan turned and stalked out of D's quarters.
'My, but she was a bit tense. Perhaps she was ready for a fight, too.' It was times like this that D missed darling Q-chan. He could have had Q-chan follow Guinan and make sure that she wasn't going to be a danger. It was for the best, though. Q-chan was safer staying on Earth at the new pet shop and helping D's younger brother. No matter. 'She's right. Best to get this over with. All I have to do is wait for Leon to return and then we can go back to Earth together. I will convince him, make him remember his other life, if I must. He will come with me. I'll do whatever I must to get him back to Earth.'
There was a soft laughter and D turned to find that Ten-chan had left the closet where D had left him. He sat on the floor with his legs crossed and looked very amused. "So, there are other Kami besides your illustrious family? I never would have guessed."
"You weren't supposed to." As one of the most intelligent, as well as curious, pets, Ten-chan was usually the first one to figure these things out. "I asked you to wait inside."
"I heard voices. I wanted to see who you were talking to. Besides, a lady came in and sat in your parlor. I thought you'd want to know." Ten-chan stood and stretched his arms high over his head, grinning all the time. "How long are we going to stay here, boss? Mind if I explore a bit?"
"Lady? Ah, the phoenix. Yes." He had duties to take care of before Leon returned. "We won't be here long, just until Leon returns. There's no point in wasting your time exploring."
"There's never waste when it comes to satisfying my curiosity."
"As you wish, but don't let yourself be noticed and don't be too long."
Ten-chan bowed low before he dashed out of the room, into the corridors of the Enterprise.
Hours later-
Leon-
'Damn...stupid...ass...I could kill all Klingons.' Leon's dark thoughts were just letting off steam and he felt he had a perfect right to let off a little steam. For the passed four hours, Leon's new immediate superior, Lieutenant Worf, had been running them all ragged in the gym. The Lieutenant hadn't been satisfied with Starfleet's approval of his new ensigns physical readiness for their new duties, so he'd decided to test them all. Leon had never been so tired in his entire life and he still couldn't go to bed. He still had to go get Jill from that guy. Even in all the excitement of going though the Lieutenant's grueling tests, Leon hadn't forgotten that man. There was something familiar about the man, but Leon was sure he'd have remembered meeting a person like that.
He couldn't go straight to the man's quarters, though. Frankly, he stunk. Leon was covered in sweat and he didn't want to visit and have the stranger smelling him like this. A quick shower would wake him up a bit and he'd be a little more respectable. Just outside his quarters, Leon found Reggie leaning against the corridor wall, waiting for him.
The moment Leon came into sight, Reggie broke into a smile. "I heard Lieutenant Worf call out for everyone. I thought you might not be back for a while."
"And you waited out here? Why didn't you just go in? I told you I'd program the door so you could get in when you wanted to." Leon had very few people he actually trusted and Reggie was one of those few. He felt perfectly safe giving Reggie free access to his quarters.
"Thought it might be rude." Reggie muttered, ducking his head with embarrassment
Leon rolled his eyes and grabbed his friend by the arm. "Rude? Get in, will ya? I gotta take a shower, but I'll be right with you." He nearly shoved Reggie into the quarters and started stripping off his clothes as soon as the door closed behind them. Having been roommates for several years had stripped away most modesty that Leon had, at least around Reggie. They'd seen each other naked often enough that modesty seemed a bit pointless. Hell, they used to shower together in the big communal shower of Mr. Goti's home. That had taken a bit of getting used to. There were two huge shower rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys. Each room had about a dozen shower stalls and since everyone was required to shower together, it wasn't unusual to have to share a shower stall with someone. Since they knew and trusted each other, it seemed only natural that they ended up sharing.
Reggie just nodded. "Do you want something to eat? I can get something from the replicator for you."
"Naw." Leon said, heading into the bathroom. "I can't eat before I sleep. Makes me sick. So, why'd you stop by? Just want to chat or did you get lonely?" By now, Leon was in the bathroom and could barely hear Reggie at all. "Speak up!" He called when he heard nothing more than a mutter from Reggie.
"I said, I couldn't sleep and thought you might want some company on your first night." Reggie yelled back. The conversation died when Leon stepped into the shower and resumed when he came out looking for his clothes. Thoughtfully, Reggie had already gotten a new set of clothes and tossed the trousers to Leon. Leon was grateful that Reggie knew him well enough not to give him another uniform. Instead, he'd gotten a set of civilian clothes, green trousers and a tanned shirt, for Leon. "Where's Jill?" Reggie asked. "I haven' t seen her at all and she's usually always right there when someone comes in your room."
Leon chuckled. "She's being bird-sat. You should see this guy. I've never seen anyone like him." After pulling on the trousers, Leon reached for the shirt only to have Reggie seize his arm in an almost painful grip. "Reggie, what the...?!"
Reggie was staring at the crux of Leon's elbow, his eyes wide and angry. Leon realized his mistake too late and pulled back his arm with a jerk. "Leon..."
"It's not what you think, Reggie."
Because he was so thin and unassuming, everyone tended to think Reggie was weak physically. That was far from the truth. Reggie lurched forward, grabbing Leon's arm again and pushing him up against a wall. Leon could have pushed away, at least he was pretty sure he could have, but he didn't want to hurt Reggie. "I think it looks like track marks on your arm." He stretched Leon's arm out to get a better look. Small, faint circles decorated Leon's arm from the last several times he'd given himself the medication. They faded with time, but three were easily visible. "Tell me I'm wrong, Leon. Tell me you aren't still taking Mr. Goti's drugs."
Leon couldn't meet Reggie's eyes. "It's my business, okay? You know I can't deal without them." If anyone should understand, it was Reggie.
Reggie went pale and released Leon. He took several backward steps away from Leon, almost stumbling, before he stopped and put his face in his hands. "God...Leon, why didn't you go through rehab, like everyone else?" His voice was weak and he sounded as if he might cry. "They shouldn't have even let you in the Academy. You changed your own records, didn't you?"
"The day I heard they'd caught Mr. Goti and then let him go free. Reggie, this isn't something just to make me feel good, I NEED them!" Leon felt like he was defending himself and he didn't like it. Why didn't Reggie understand? He knew what would happen if Leon stopped taking them.
"The Federation doctors could have found a way to get you passed that. If they find out you've falsified your records, though, you'll get court marshaled. Your career will be over and they'll make you go through rehab, anyway. You don't even know what you're taking, do you? Have you had the guts to ask someone to analyze them?" Reggie took his hands away from his face and he was terribly angry, glaring at Leon. "Those things could be doing anything to you! They could kill you tomorrow. You know what they found in the kids they sent through rehab? Cancer, diseases, weakened...weakened hearts." Reggie's fury died very suddenly at that last statement and he got a far away look in his eyes.
"You went through rehab?" Leon asked, keeping his voice quiet. "What did you...er..."
"My liver was rotting and had to be replaced. I had a brain tumor and I was going blind in my left eye." Reggie looked very old when he spoke. "Leon, you have to tell doctor Crusher."
"No!"
"Leon!"
"No!" Leon turned away from Reggie and pulled his shirt on quickly. He was glad he'd taken his medication after he'd left Jill with that guy, when he was getting dressed to report to Lieutenant Worf. It would look very bad if he had to take it in front of Reggie. "Without them, I'm nothing more than a vegetable, so what does it matter? I'll die one way or the other. At least this way I get to pretend I'm alive."
Reggie's scowl deepened. "That's selfish. You mean it doesn't matter if you live or die?!" It was the closest Reggie had ever come to yelling when he wasn't on the drugs Mr. Goti gave him. "You're just going to let yourself die? Well, think about the bigger picture for a minute. You accepted a job as security for a ship load of children. If something goes wrong, if the drugs make you lose your mind all of a sudden, what's going to happen to the people you're supposed to be guarding? People could get killed because of you, little kids!"
"Look," Leon took a deep breath to keep from yelling back. He'd never seen Reggie like this. Never seen him so worked up and it was the longest speech he'd ever heard from Reggie. Not to mention that Reggie hadn't stuttered once while he was speaking. "I don't want to fight, Reggie. I'm not changing my mind. Yeah, your doctor Crusher might be able to help, but she probably won't. I won't spend the rest of my life staring into space, drooling. If something goes wrong, there are always more security personnel. I won't even be missed."
"I'd miss you." Reggie's jaw was set, but he took a minute to calm himself down and put his arms around himself. "You're as thick-headed as always."
"Yeah. I guess so. Come on. I've gotta get my bird, you can keep me company." Leon set off briskly, not eager to look at Reggie's angry face, but not really wanting his friend to leave, either. "Wait till you see this guy."
To be continued...
Evil Little god of Writing: Hmmmm....now here's a fic with potential. Drugs, child abuse with the drugs, and the possibility of war on a cosmic scale. Not to mention human eating animals roaming the halls of the Enterprise.
Little Demoness: They aren't wandering the halls! They're all being very good and staying with D.
Evil Little god of Writing: Bwhahaha! For now, you mean. You just wait.
Dear readers, I'd like to thank everyone who has been reviewing.
Yami Kaosu: I hope you still like this story, even though it is a crossover. I have to admit, I love crossovers. I'll read those before anything else and they're very challenging to write, too. I wanted to do something I'd never seen and I've never seen Petshop of Horrors crossed over with ST:TNG. I'm glad you liked D's flirting, I thought it might be a little too cliche. Anyway, if you still like it, enjoy the rest of the story.
Kimlore: Hi, thanks for the review. Actually I have thought about doing a Petshop of Horrors crossed over with YYH. I've got notes for it and everything. I'll have to work on that one as soon as all my other projects are finished. In fact, it seems like such an easy idea, I'm surprised I can't find any other crossovers of these two fandoms. Think about it, folks, they both have kitsune in common, if nothing else.
Spitefulhope: You sound so enthusiastic, I hope you like what I've done.
Kurochan: Thanks for the review, I'm pleased that you like it.
tigerlady21: I hope you aren't too disappointed that Leon is reborn as himself. Actually, I was going to have him reborn as either Barclay or Picard, but I would hate to lose Leon's lovely face. I hope I'm doing all right with the Star Trek part of the story. I'm not an expert in it and I've heard that fans can be pretty brutal if one gets even a tiny detail wrong. Doing my best, though.
Nissi Nirvani: Chris will wake up very soon. Tet-chan's getting impatient for his friend.
nameless: Yup, Troi's going to be a bit of trouble and Q's got his part to play, too. The question is, how much effect will D have over her, since she's half human? Also, what's D going to think when he learns that humans have bred with species from other planets?
Copper Fire: Hahaha! Glad to meet another D/Leon supporter. Thanks for the review.
Jazzy: Thanks for the review. I'll keep writing until this story is finished. I never start a story I don't intend to finish, even if it does take me a while.
dhrachth: Thanks for the compliment on characterization, they're very hard, especially the star trek characters, just because I don't watch it often enough. I love crossovers, too. Funny, not many people see to.
Tegasus: I promise it'll be finished. I already have the ending, so all that's left is to fill in the middle bits.
Koriaena: Glad you liked it. Hope you keep reading, too. I have revised a couple of the chapter's. Sorry if that's confused you. Ah, but we all know Leon isn't normal. How normal can it be to be the center of the universe for a Kami?
Cor-chan: I'll keep writing. Thanks for the review. I like Tet-chan, too. He's easily my favorite pet with the possible exception of Ten-chan.
Lin: Oh, don't worry. D's not going to be at all happy when he learns what Mr. Goti did to his dear lion.
Sapphire: Yup, two weeks wait. Sorry about that.
Ramineko: Such nice compliments. The Count will probably find something nicely horrible to do to Mr. Goti and I'm sure Tet-chan wouldn't mind the meal. I know what you mean about there not being enough Petshop of Horrors fics, there never seem to be enough and even fewer crossovers with Petshop of Horrors. I have a couple more already started, though I don't know if they'll ever be posted. I'd like to do a crossover with Petshop of Horrors and Weiss Kreuz, for one. Then a crossover with Banana Fish, a fantastic manga series.
ChancingFaith: Yup, he did make it twice. One was from his POV and the other was from Tet-chan's POV. I do that sometimes, just because I like to see the same situation from two points of view.
Sailor Aurora: Glad you like the story and I hope you like the rest of it.
Mercedes No Inuari: So glad you liked the first chapter. Sigh...that one took about three tries before it came out right. yes, I did keep switching tenses, for some reason. I'm working on fixing those mistakes now. Awww! I like Sofu. He isn't cruel, just inhumane. He has to save the rest of the planet and he can't do that if he's worried about one destruction little species like humans. I chose Reggie because he's my favorite Star Trek character. Weird, I've been told, but I still like him. I always thought he'd have been a lot better off if he had just one good friend, so I gave him Leon. Yup, it's a native American legend about the crow and I've always like that one. Actually, I know nothing about Guinan's past, I'm pretty much making it up. She's one character I'd like to know more about. The only thing I do remember is that Guinan has been on Earth a very long time ago. There was an episode where they went back in time, to the early 20th century and they met her then. Other than that, and the fact that she hates Q and somehow blames him for her planet being destroyed (I think) I know very little about her.
Feather Quill: Thanks for the review. I agree, I'll have to get some more D and Leon in there. They need to be together again.
Ragna 01: Here's your update :) Just so you know, I try very hard to update every other Saturday.
Till next time, readers....
Count D-
The Enterprise was far bigger than D had expected and he smiled with something like pride, though he was sure sofu would disapprove. Humans had built this ship (admittedly with some little help from aliens) and D was proud of their accomplishment. D still remember when humans believed that the sun revolved around the Earth and it was satisfying to see how far they'd come in such a relatively short amount of time. So far from the desecration of the Earth their ancestors had done. Truly, D was proud of them.
Still, this is the first time D had been out of his home, deep in the forests, for many years and his judgment of them could be mistaken. 'I will have to wait to decide if humans have matured at all or if they have simply found more dangerous toys to play with.' D looked out the window of the shuttle craft and saw a glimpse of the moon, shining silver in the ink of the void. It made him sad to look at it.
'The princess and the rabbit are dead. The astronauts kill them.' Oh, Leon had been so angry when D had told that to little Chris. More angry than he'd ever been at D for any of the suspected killings. 'But its true. Those beliefs died when the astronauts found nothing but a rocky wasteland on the moon. How could such beliefs continue to live when there was such proof against them?' Yet, D believed. Perhaps Chris was right and Princess Kaguya and the rabbit Gyokuto still live...somewhere. Gyokuto still powdering medicine for the people of Earth and Kaguya, princess of an immortal race, still leads men astray by her beautiful light. 'I'll make a trip there, one day. To see if they are still there.'
No more time to muse.
The arrived and landed inside the ship where D was certain Leon now lived. There wasn't a doubt in his mind and he knew that the phoenix had something to do with the knowledge, but even D wasn't sure how he knew.
"Welcome to the Enterprise." A cheery looking young man smiled at D as he start down the ramp of the shuttle craft. The young man is saying the same thing to everyone who gets off the shuttle craft and doing his best to be polite, but D could see in his eyes that this was not the job he wishes for. He wished for something greater and D feel reassured by that. For all the changes to the Earth, humans are still basically the same, greedy and ambitious.
D gave a slight bow to the young man before following the other humans onto the Enterprise and could feel the young man's eyes on him as he passed by. It wasn't just that young man, D knew everyone was staring at him. Good. Let them stare. D had no intention of hiding himself amongst the crowds of people on this ship anymore than he had hidden in Chinatown of long ago.
D had not taken more than a few steps before a woman stopped him, stepping in front of him. She was tall and slender with coarse orange hair and a sharp face, but not entirely unattractive as humans go. The woman was neither young nor old, a respectable age of maturity for a human. Her face was pleasantly lined with smile wrinkles and D liked her right away.
"Hello." She said, with a smile. "I'm doctor Beverly Crusher, chief medical officer of the Enterprise. I'm very sorry to have to do this so soon after your arrival, but I wondered if I could have a word with you." She held out her hand, presumably to shake hands, but D declined to shake and bowed instead. He tried not to touch people when he had a choice. "You must be Count D, right?"
"I am. Greetings," D told her, both curious and worried that she already knew him. "I am most pleased to be on this ship. What would you like to talk about?"
"It's just a small detail, I'm sure we can get it all cleared up in no time. Would you walk with me to sickbay?" She looked at a small computer she held in one hand even as they started to walk side-by-side. "I never received any medical history for you and we have a very strict rule about keeping health information on our crew and passengers. In short, I need you to come to sick bay for a physical." She was all business, but still firmly polite.
D certainly wasn't about to subject himself to any such exam. "There is no need." D told her and opened his suitcase just a fraction to pull out the paper he'd brought for just this occasion. It must look like an antique to anyone who sees it, but D's suitcase was very important and he would never go anywhere without it. "I brought such information with me, in the event that it was needed." Without taking his eyes off her, D reached into his suitcase and, after a pretense of searching around, pulled out a paper with all the information he knew this doctor would require. It was D's young brother who had helped him with this. Baby D had not lived with humans for so many long years and not learned what they would need.
"Paper?" Doctor Crusher took the paper as if she'd never touched anything like it before and frowned. "Why didn't your doctor just sent it to us?"
"I find charm in the old ways and I have a distrust of computers." It was only partly a lie. D had never had any doctor examine him, that paper was forged by a customer of his younger brother's in lieu of payment for a pet. "There is no problem with delivering the information this way, is there?" Of course D already knew the answer. Legalities were all important to know and he'd studied them before even leaving home.
"No, it all looks in order." Doctor Crusher answered, looking the paper over carefully. "I'd still like you to come by for a routine check up in the next day or so."
D smiled and closed his suitcase with an audible snap. "I shall consider it, doctor."
"Thank you. Enjoy your stay on the Enterprise, Count D. Or may I call you D?"
"Please, Count will be good enough." D didn't let his irritation show through his smile. There was only one person allowed to call him D. Only Leon.
"Count, then." Doctor Crusher smiled, not seeing D's displeasure, and walked away with her thigh-length blue coat swishing behind her as she moved.
D would not be going for a check up. This isn't like the old days where a doctor would simply check the heart and eyes before declaring one fit. This doctor Crusher would try to take samples of blood and other invasive tests. Those sort of things would cause trouble without a doubt. D continued onto where he knew his 'quarters' would be. It was time to get settled into this new life.
The quarters D had been 'assigned' were plain, white, and very dull looking. Just like the rest of the ship, all gleaming and sanitized. If it hadn't been for the smell of the humans that was so thick on this ship, D wouldn't have been able to stand it. 'Everything looks sterilized. There's no life here.' D thought sadly. Not that what he was given was going to at all influence the way he lived. D took his suitcase to the closet just inside the door of the room. Best to do this where he would be least likely to be discovered. The closet was a perfect place. He set it on the floor of the closet. 'Oh, my beautiful children.' D thought, stroking the side of his suitcase. 'It's time to rebuild our home.' D set the suitcase on the floor and knelt gracefully before it. A soft click of the clasp opened the suitcase and released the power held within. A warm light flooded out of the suitcase and D smiled.
In his quarters-
Leon-
Leon knew, at once, that something had changed. He wasn't sure what, exactly, but he knew it was something big. He woke from a sound sleep with his heart racing. It couldn't have been a nightmare, Leon hadn't had any dreams for years, not since he'd started taking his medication. Yet he knew there was something different. Not bad, exactly, just different.
Jill was making such an awful row, tearing around the room and cawing her head off. She flew so low that Leon had to duck or she'd have hit him right in the head. "Jill! What are you doing? Calm down!" He'd never seen her act like this before. "Jill! Lights!" When the lights flashed instantly on and Leon rubbed his eyes to clear them, ducking once again when Jill dove straight at his face. "JILL!"
Jill didn't listen, no matter how hard Leon yelled, so he jumped out of bed and began chasing Jill around the room. Of course it was no good and the only thing it accomplished was making Leon exhausted while Jill easily evaded him. He was dashing around so erratically that he didn't notice when he got to close to the doors and they activated, opening before Leon could close them again, Jill flew out into the halls.
"You stupid bird!" Leon yelled, all sleep completely gone from his mind at the panic of having Jill wrecking havoc all over the ship. "Get back..." But it was too late. The doors slid closed and Jill was gone. "Aww, shit!" Leon cursed. His unease of whatever it was that had woken him vanished as he chased after Jill. He was glad he'd worn pajamas to bed, even if it had only been the bottoms. At least he wouldn't be caught streaking on his first night on the Enterprise. Even if everyone did think he was mad as he ran, half-naked, down the halls screaming after his bird. "Jill!"
Guinan-
'He's here.' Guinan bit her bottom lip as she stared out at the stars from her quarters. 'I shouldn't be surprised. Well...there's no putting it off.' She steeled herself for the meeting. This was something she HAD to do, there was no getting around it. A pity they were still orbiting Earth, though it was for only a short time. She debated whether or not to wait until they got further from Earth, but it wouldn't do much good. No matter how far they got from Earth, this newcomer would always be more powerful that she was. Unless, of course, Earth miraculously exploded in the next few hours. That was really too much to hope for. Shame.
"Are you going out?" Jean-Luc asked when Guinan came out of her quarters and started through Ten-Forward. "At this hour?"
"Don't I ever get a night when you aren't here?" Guinan wanted to stay and talk with Jean-Luc, her favorite human, by far. There just didn't seem to be any time for it. Despite that, she walked in his direction and they ended up looking out at the stars together. It seemed that they did that a lot. "I thought you be on the bridge, getting ready to set off. Where are we going again?"
Jean-Luc Picard was not an old man, but he was old enough to have lost all his hair and have worry lines etched onto his face. He wasn't tall, but seemed to fill a room when he wanted to. The man should have been an actor, Guinan had always thought. Depending on his mood, Jean-Luc could easily vanish into the crowds or draw all eyes to him, just by walking in the door. Not everyone knew about his soft side, though Guinan had seen it right off. Then again, she'd known him for many, many years. Since he'd been a child, really. It was a wonder that Jean-luc had never asked why she didn't seem to age.
"I'm not sure. The orders haven't come in, yet. They should be here by morning." Jean-Luc smiled in anticipation and at once his strict expression vanished and he looked like a small child let into a candy shop. It wasn't often that anyone was able to see Jean-Luc like this and Guinan was pleased to be one of the few he shared his emotions with. "We'll have plenty to do in the meantime, though. Beverly has two new doctors she wants to run though the paces and a few new nurses. Mr. Worf has nearly twenty new security officers and he says he wants to test them, personally, to see if they're up to his standards. I doubt he'd find three he doesn't feel he needs to be retrained. Not to mention that Geordi has some fine-tuning to do, though he hasn't told me exactly what that means. We'll be ready by the morning. Right now, I'm just enjoying the peace. Tomorrow, anything might happen."
"It could happen right now." Guinan studied Jean-Luc in the soft light of the artificial night of the ship. He was a proud and good man and, best of all, he was curious. Strangely enough, Guinan appreciated that quality. It proved that he wasn't at all closed minded, with the exception of the Borg and Guinan whole-heartedly agreed with him on that point. She wanted to tell Jean-Luc what was going on and beg him to delay setting off and then tell him about the newest passenger. He should be aware of the danger. Really, though, there was nothing Jean-Luc could do about it, one way or the other. In fact, as he was human, he probably wouldn't notice anything odd about the visitor at all.
"What do you mean?" Jean-Luc looked at her curiously, though he still smiled. "Are you expecting something to happen?"
All the trust in that smile made Guinan feel just a little guilty. He trusted her to tell him what was going on when something this big could affect his ship and crew. This was one time Guinan was going to have to betray that trust. "Nothing. I'm just babbling. You'll excuse me." Guinan smiled gently. "I really don't think you need me here, so I'll be off."
Jean-Luc nodded politely and went back to admiring the beauty of the void.
Out of curiosity, and maybe just a touch of fear, Guinan made a pit-stop before she went to see the visitor. It was the zoological study room, a small zoo with specimens of animals from many different planets. Of course only small, harmless creatures were kept, for safety's sake. Ordinarily, Guinan didn't like to see the animals, they only brought back painful memories of her own beloved creatures, now long dead. This time, she wondered what the reaction of the animals would be. As it was, there were only a few Earth animals in the zoo. There was a small, green and brown garden snake. A large white rat in a glass cage next to preying mantis. All of them seemed to be acting strangely, at least Guinan thought so. The rat was running itself frantic in circles around its cage. The snake was acting with far more energy than Guinan thought reptiles ever showed, crawling rapidly around it's container and poking its nose against the glass, as if to find a way out, and even reaching up far enough to bump its nose against the top of the glass container. The preying mantis was snapping its claws shut very rapidly, seeming to grab invisible things from the air.
"Odd, isn't it?"
Guinan looked up and found one of the zoological scientists also looking at the Earth animals. "You think so?"
"Oh, yes. Especially the snake. He's usually so docile. It's kept a cold enough temperature that he really should be sleeping right now, I don't understand what he thinks he's looking for. I'll have to check. Maybe there's a scent that got in there somehow. He might think there's something good to eat and he just can't find it. No. That shouldn't be it, either. He was fed just a little bit ago and snakes usually ignore prey unless they're hungry. The insect's a lot more active than normal, too. It isn't hungry and its not mating season for any of these animals. As for the rat, I'm going to have to sedate her."
"Why? Don't rats usually like to run around like that?" Guinan knew the answer before she'd asked the question. Still, the question was expected and there was no point in drawing attention to herself.
"They do like running around, but not like this. She's been running in circles for two hours and hasn't stopped for a minute. She's going to injure herself." There was real concern in the young woman's voice and she leaned forward, tapping the rat's glass cage with a fingernail, but it didn't even pause. "Poor thing."
Guinan left then, without so much as a goodbye. There was a very good reason why the Earth animals were all acting so strangely. They were excited. Overjoyed. There wasn't a word that could do the emotion the animals were feeling justice? Their god (for lack of a better word) was visiting. How could they not try to escape their confinement and seek him out? Even as she walked down the halls, Guinan had a foreboding feeling of something great and terrible getting closer. Closer.
A rustle behind her and Guinan turned in time to see the crow, or whatever it was, rush passed her, racing down the corridor. She didn't have time to take even one step before a man, a blonde human man, ran after the crow with feet and chest bare and an irritated expression on his face. As he passed Guinan time seemed to slow for a brief instant and she took a good look at his face. She'd seen him only briefly in Ten-Forward, but it was definitely the same man the crow had said it was watching. The instant passed and time started again. The man ran by without even glancing at Guinan, he was so occupied with trying to catch the crow.
A few steps more before Guinan turned a corner and stopped walking. Her breath caught in her throat and she stepped back a bit. The blonde man was still as the dead, frozen as he stared at the visitor. Neither said a word and Guinan looked into the eyes of the visitor, a Kami from Earth. She couldn't penetrate them anymore than she could Q's eyes. Secrets hidden in those eyes, secrets meant only for Earth. He didn't look at her, gave no sign that he even knew she was there. The crow had landed on the Kami's outstretched hand, flapping its wings as it landed elegantly, then turned with a hop to face the blonde man.
Something about the situation seemed horribly...intimate. Guinan couldn't bring herself to interfere.
D-
'As beautiful as ever. My dear Leon has appeared when I go to look for him.' D could barely contain his smile. He wanted to run to Leon, to throw his arms around his human and hold him forever. Melodramatic? Yes. Honest. Yes. Wise. No. There was something odd about Leon's stunned expression and D didn't want to confuse or frighten Leon.
"Do I know you? You look kinda familiar. I could swear we've met before." Leon scratched the back of his head in a painfully familiar gesture.
D bit back a cry of grief and rage at Leon's words. Leon didn't remember him, at least not entirely. It wasn't just Leon's loss of memory that angered D, that was really only a small part of it. Memories could be regained and to be reincarnated was such a traumatic experience, some distortions of the mind as well as confusion was inevitable. D could fix those things, though. He could bring back Leon's memory or make Leon forget that this whole new life of his had ever happened. What made D angry was the deliberate pollution. There was something foreign in Leon's body and D knew that it was an unnatural substance. It was human-made and, therefore D considered it a willful threat to Leon. D could smell it, some pungent, abnormal smell leaking from Leon's pores and even from his breath. Someone had poisoned Leon.
D glanced quickly to the female by his side, but she met his eyes evenly and said nothing. She held his arm lightly and D could see the wisdom and wicked glee that he had always seen in her. A truly magnificent creature, the phoenix. An immortal, older even that D, and she was as beautiful as any goddess. Her hair was tied into two coils on top of her head and there was both malice and kindness in her eyes. She had seen everything on Earth, there were no secrets from her. The phoenix had great wisdom but it was tempered by cynical amusement at the expense of the creatures she saw around her. D had many questions for her. What had happened to Leon in this life and who had poisoned him? Why did he seek to leave Earth by roaming into the void? Answers would come later.
"Perhaps we've met, in another life." D smiled at Leon as if nothing had changed between them.
Leon frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but an announcement rang out over some kind of intercom and Leon looked up sharply. All new security personal, report to the main security office for inspection. You have six minutes. Though the voice was soft spoken, there was an air of definite command there.
Leon paled and D realized that his love of protection people must have carried though to this life and he'd become a security officer of this ship. "Crap." Leon muttered. It seemed that his language hadn't improved any.
It was too perfect of an opportunity. "Please," D bowed his head slightly to Leon. "Go on your way, but return here," D gestured to the door of his quarters. "when your business is finished. I will look after your friend."
Leon's eyes lit up in such a heartbreakingly familiar way. "Really? Hey, thanks. Ya know...shit! I'm going to be late. I gotta run!" Leon turned on his heel and ran, just as he'd appeared and vanished again.
The sudden loss of Leon was like a punch in the stomach for D and he thought he did very well not to double over in agony. No time for that. There was no reason to be impatient, not after all the waiting D had already done. He could afford to wait for Leon. He could wait another lifetime.
"Leon is like mold." The Phoenix said lightly to D. "He grows on one, doesn't he?"
"True." D knew suddenly that he wasn't alone and he cursed himself for not realizing it sooner. It should have been obvious, but D had been too enraptured by finding Leon again. That was potentially dangerous and could not be allowed to happen again.
"You've noticed our audience?" The phoenix asked, her tone still light. "I've made her acquaintance. She's no threat, one of the wanderers. No power. However, there is one of power with rights over this ship. One of the Q questioned me about my presence here."
"What did you tell him?"
"Very little, Count. I told them both that I have no interest in this ship or crew except for the one that I am watching. They were not pleased, by either my presence or my answer, but have done nothing to interfere with myself or Leon."
"I see." D gestured to the closed door of his quarters and the phoenix, politely, took her cue. She gave him a little nod before heading into the quarters where Leon would be certain to find her later. Before Leon came back, though, D wanted to know everything that had happened to Leon in this life and the phoenix, who had been there virtually every moment of Leon's life, was the perfect one to tell him. Perhaps over a nice cup of hot tea. First of all, though, he would have to deal with his visitor. "May I help you?"
She stepped out from around the corner and didn't show any sign of shame that she'd been listening at all. She had a stern, serious face, but pleasant eyes, and D was actually surprised to find her here. "Actually, yes." The woman folded her arms over her chest and stepped closer. "I wasn't expecting visitors. You and your crow came as quite the shock. I was just wondering what your intentions were."
So blunt. "Would you care to step inside? Such things should not be discussed in public." D stepped aside slightly and motioned for her to enter his quarters. It didn't surprise him that she referred to the phoenix as a crow. That was the disguise the phoenix was using and, as she wasn't a Kami of Earth, the woman would see only the shape that regular humans were meant to see. "It has been many years since we've spoken."
"I heard about your parent. My condolences." She said, stepping into the quarters. "You were a child when I met your parent, that first time."
"That only time." D's papa hadn't been pleased when this alien creature had shown up on his doorstep, requesting sanctuary. That was a long time ago and, true to what she'd said, D had been a very small child.
Flashback-
It was a very quiet morning when she came to the pet shop, then located in France. There was a knock on the door and little D rushed to answer it. It was his job to let the clients in and escort them to the parlor where his papa waited for them. D was proud of his job, just as he was proud when his papa would tell him that one day he would be responsible for the pet shop and all the darling pets. D answered the door with a smile, which faded quickly on seeing the woman who stood before him.
She was ugly. D didn't even know why he thought that, but she was. Unspeakably ugly and he backed away from her, frightened. Never had he seen anything so horrible as the woman before him. She wasn't very tall and had skin the color of chocolate, not very different from many of the human clients who'd come to the pet shop in hope of aid from D's papa. Her hair was worn up in a stylish bun on her head, like so many ladies of upper society wore their hair. To go along with her look of upper class, her clothes seemed to be in the latest fashion, a floor-length gown of dark red with a high collar and sleeves right down to her wrists, despite the terrible heat of mid-summer. The woman smiled, nervously. "Hello. Would you be Count D?" She spoke perfect French, but D didn't even like her voice. It sounded wrong.
Little D shook his head and took another step backwards. "This is my papa's shop. I am just helping."
"May I speak with your papa, then?" She seemed to notice his fear then and tried to reassure him. "You don't have to worry, I don't bite."
Little D wasn't so sure about that. His job was to escort the clients to papa, but little D knew he didn't want this woman in the pet shop. He wanted to tell her to go away, but papa would probably be very angry with him and little D didn't like it when his papa was angry with him. Perhaps he should just close the door and hope she'd go away. His hands tightened into fists so tightly that his little fingernails sliced into the palms of his hands and his smile, which his papa had taught him to always wear in front of clients, slid off his face. "I...I do not think..."
"Go to the parlor, little one."
Little D was saved from the choice by his papa's voice and looked up, over his shoulder. He was wonderful, in little D's eyes. Without a bit of fear, little D's papa kept his eyes firmly on the woman at the door. With an elegant wave of his arm, little D's papa gave the woman a little bow and motioned her to enter. "Forgive my offspring." Papa said when the woman had entered. "His manners need refining."
'He's angry.' Little D thought, alarmed. 'With me or the woman?' He slowly backed away from the two adults and went to do as he was told, wait in the parlor. As he did, little D didn't take his eyes off the visitor. He couldn't help but think there was something terribly wrong with her being there. Little D only went so far as the parlor doorway and peeked around the corner. Though little D's papa had let the woman step into the pet shop, it seemed that he was unwilling to let her in any further and stood firmly in her path, least she try to take advantage of his hospitality.
The woman didn't smile now, but had a blank, set look on her face. Whatever they spoke about, little D never learned. He watched, from the doorway of the parlor, but they spoke so softly he couldn't hear a word of their conversation. Neither moved while they spoke, though little D could tell his papa was getting more and more upset as the conversation went on. Whatever the woman was thinking, little D had no idea. Finally, the woman spoke with a slightly raised voice.
"I'll petition your elder."
Papa stood a bit straighter, if that was possible. "As is your right. You will find him even less amiable than myself."
"I don't need amiability." The woman sounded very angry. "I need sanctuary."
"I suggest you go. May you live in interesting times."
The woman froze and her mouth dropped open just a little, in shock. Even little D was shocked at what his papa had said. Without another word, the woman turned with a rustle of her long gown and walked out, very dignified.
"Papa?" Little D stepped out of his hiding place, his hands folded behind his back, and looked up at his papa. When little D's papa didn't answer and kept staring at the now closed door as if he thought the woman might open it again, little D went closer and gave his papa's long sleeve a small tug. "Papa? Who was that?"
"Never mind, my little one." Papa smiled down at little D and took his child's hand. "It is not important."
Little D smiled at once and moved closer to his papa, putting his free hand on his papa's robes. Little D was young, but not stupid. He knew that the woman was someone important and he knew his papa didn't like her. He knew he was afraid of her and that whatever she'd come to talk about was just as important as what she was. However, little D loved his papa and wanted to obey him. He loved the feeling of his papa's hand on his and the way his papa's smile made him feel so happy inside. He wanted his papa to keep smiling at him. "Why did you curse her?"
"Because I am offended that she dares to walk on the Earth. That one has no right to be here and she come to my door expecting favors simply because she is.... She should not be returning." The older Kami brushed his fingernails against little D's face. "My ugly child. My only offspring. Deformed..."
Little D was hurt, but not surprised. His papa often was sidetracked like this. Little D stayed silent and wondered why he had been created so malformed. His papa was perfect, as was sofu. Why should D be any less? It was a great shame, the pain he caused his papa just by living, but little D honestly believed that if he was good enough, his papa would one day see passed his mismatched eyes and his other failings.
End flashback-
D-
D shook himself out of his memories. His wish had never come true. For the rest of his life, D's papa had always thought of him as some kind of failed experiment. He had learned the truth about the woman much later, and not from his papa, but from his sofu.
"I'm called Guinan." The woman seemed all business. "What should I call you here?"
"You may call me Count D."
"I was led to believe that title had been passed to the youngest of the Kami currently on Earth. You are not he."
"My younger brother is caretaker of the pet shop, but I will not have the mortal creatures of this ship thinking they can be familiar with me. I will use the title, Count, while I am here. Won't you come in?" D walked to the closet where he'd 'set up shop', so to speak. It was all set up, now, but still safe enough to have visitors. Little Chris was still deep in his induced sleep and wouldn't be woken just yet, no matter how impatient Tet-chan was getting. They would only be on this ship for a short while and then D would go back to Earth, taking Leon with him. Now that he knew for certain Leon was alive and well, they could be together again. This time, D wouldn't make the same mistake he made before. This time, he would tell Leon exactly how he felt.
"This will be fine, thank you." Guinan looked at the closet door and probably knew what lay behind it, from the expression on her face. "I wasn't exactly welcomed the last time I paid your clan a visit, so we'll keep this short. Why are you here?"
"To collect my human."
"The eldest Kami of Earth formally gave up all rights to humans if they were not on Earth. That was his free choice. Are you going against your elder? It'll take a while for you to collect all the humans scattered around the void, if that's what you're intending."
D had been ready for this argument, though he hadn't been expecting to argue it with a member of her clan. He had thought that he would meet one of the Q clan. "My sofu's judgment stands. I would not speak or act against him. However, I am not here for just any human and I have no intention of trying to lure them all back to Earth. I am here to retrieve one human. MY human. He belongs to me."
"That's all? Just one human?"
"Just one."
Guinan's eyes hardened and D could easily see her as she must have been before her power had been taken from her. What a formidable creature she must have been. It really was a shame to see her brought down like this and forced to live off the mercy of other clans. How lonely she must be.
"Your human?" Guinan asked with a raised eyebrow. "You've claimed him? Then, may I ask, why did you have to come to fetch him? He should have been bound to you." She had a valid question and one that could hurt D's argument about his right to take Leon.
If she decided to be stubborn about it, D would find himself in the position of having to fight for Leon. Fight, he would, even if he had to fight every clan in existence, if Guinan tried to stand between himself and Leon. D wasn't sure he wanted to explain the complicated and still painful story that led up to him being in the void. He still had nightmares about finding Leon covered in his own blood. Leon's terrified voice as death came for him...those memories were still too close. "There was an accident."
"Really?" She didn't believe him, not that she had any reason to. "Well, whatever you're here for, let me give you some advice. I'm very fond of these people. I'll do anything to keep them safe. Absolutely anything. If I have to reveal who and what you are, I will. I don't care if they find out what I am. In just a few hours, this ship will leave Earth's orbit and head out into the void. Your power will diminish very quickly. You won't be able to affect the minds of even the humans on this ship. I expect that, outside your territory," Guinan gestured to the still closed closet doors. "You'll be as powerless as I am. The one you're looking for is that boy, the blonde one? I saw him with your crow, or whatever it is. You can have him. Take him and go."
"Somehow, I expected more of a fight."
"Would you rather I petition the Q clan to get you off this ship? This way is better than a war. I don't think anyone would want that." Guinan scowled, her eyes seeming to go empty, then said . "I'm not happy about it, but I'd rather have you take that one boy and get off this ship than hang around and cause trouble. One of the Q has already paid me a visit since the arrival of your human and that bird. I'd rather he didn't come back." Guinan turned and stalked out of D's quarters.
'My, but she was a bit tense. Perhaps she was ready for a fight, too.' It was times like this that D missed darling Q-chan. He could have had Q-chan follow Guinan and make sure that she wasn't going to be a danger. It was for the best, though. Q-chan was safer staying on Earth at the new pet shop and helping D's younger brother. No matter. 'She's right. Best to get this over with. All I have to do is wait for Leon to return and then we can go back to Earth together. I will convince him, make him remember his other life, if I must. He will come with me. I'll do whatever I must to get him back to Earth.'
There was a soft laughter and D turned to find that Ten-chan had left the closet where D had left him. He sat on the floor with his legs crossed and looked very amused. "So, there are other Kami besides your illustrious family? I never would have guessed."
"You weren't supposed to." As one of the most intelligent, as well as curious, pets, Ten-chan was usually the first one to figure these things out. "I asked you to wait inside."
"I heard voices. I wanted to see who you were talking to. Besides, a lady came in and sat in your parlor. I thought you'd want to know." Ten-chan stood and stretched his arms high over his head, grinning all the time. "How long are we going to stay here, boss? Mind if I explore a bit?"
"Lady? Ah, the phoenix. Yes." He had duties to take care of before Leon returned. "We won't be here long, just until Leon returns. There's no point in wasting your time exploring."
"There's never waste when it comes to satisfying my curiosity."
"As you wish, but don't let yourself be noticed and don't be too long."
Ten-chan bowed low before he dashed out of the room, into the corridors of the Enterprise.
Hours later-
Leon-
'Damn...stupid...ass...I could kill all Klingons.' Leon's dark thoughts were just letting off steam and he felt he had a perfect right to let off a little steam. For the passed four hours, Leon's new immediate superior, Lieutenant Worf, had been running them all ragged in the gym. The Lieutenant hadn't been satisfied with Starfleet's approval of his new ensigns physical readiness for their new duties, so he'd decided to test them all. Leon had never been so tired in his entire life and he still couldn't go to bed. He still had to go get Jill from that guy. Even in all the excitement of going though the Lieutenant's grueling tests, Leon hadn't forgotten that man. There was something familiar about the man, but Leon was sure he'd have remembered meeting a person like that.
He couldn't go straight to the man's quarters, though. Frankly, he stunk. Leon was covered in sweat and he didn't want to visit and have the stranger smelling him like this. A quick shower would wake him up a bit and he'd be a little more respectable. Just outside his quarters, Leon found Reggie leaning against the corridor wall, waiting for him.
The moment Leon came into sight, Reggie broke into a smile. "I heard Lieutenant Worf call out for everyone. I thought you might not be back for a while."
"And you waited out here? Why didn't you just go in? I told you I'd program the door so you could get in when you wanted to." Leon had very few people he actually trusted and Reggie was one of those few. He felt perfectly safe giving Reggie free access to his quarters.
"Thought it might be rude." Reggie muttered, ducking his head with embarrassment
Leon rolled his eyes and grabbed his friend by the arm. "Rude? Get in, will ya? I gotta take a shower, but I'll be right with you." He nearly shoved Reggie into the quarters and started stripping off his clothes as soon as the door closed behind them. Having been roommates for several years had stripped away most modesty that Leon had, at least around Reggie. They'd seen each other naked often enough that modesty seemed a bit pointless. Hell, they used to shower together in the big communal shower of Mr. Goti's home. That had taken a bit of getting used to. There were two huge shower rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys. Each room had about a dozen shower stalls and since everyone was required to shower together, it wasn't unusual to have to share a shower stall with someone. Since they knew and trusted each other, it seemed only natural that they ended up sharing.
Reggie just nodded. "Do you want something to eat? I can get something from the replicator for you."
"Naw." Leon said, heading into the bathroom. "I can't eat before I sleep. Makes me sick. So, why'd you stop by? Just want to chat or did you get lonely?" By now, Leon was in the bathroom and could barely hear Reggie at all. "Speak up!" He called when he heard nothing more than a mutter from Reggie.
"I said, I couldn't sleep and thought you might want some company on your first night." Reggie yelled back. The conversation died when Leon stepped into the shower and resumed when he came out looking for his clothes. Thoughtfully, Reggie had already gotten a new set of clothes and tossed the trousers to Leon. Leon was grateful that Reggie knew him well enough not to give him another uniform. Instead, he'd gotten a set of civilian clothes, green trousers and a tanned shirt, for Leon. "Where's Jill?" Reggie asked. "I haven' t seen her at all and she's usually always right there when someone comes in your room."
Leon chuckled. "She's being bird-sat. You should see this guy. I've never seen anyone like him." After pulling on the trousers, Leon reached for the shirt only to have Reggie seize his arm in an almost painful grip. "Reggie, what the...?!"
Reggie was staring at the crux of Leon's elbow, his eyes wide and angry. Leon realized his mistake too late and pulled back his arm with a jerk. "Leon..."
"It's not what you think, Reggie."
Because he was so thin and unassuming, everyone tended to think Reggie was weak physically. That was far from the truth. Reggie lurched forward, grabbing Leon's arm again and pushing him up against a wall. Leon could have pushed away, at least he was pretty sure he could have, but he didn't want to hurt Reggie. "I think it looks like track marks on your arm." He stretched Leon's arm out to get a better look. Small, faint circles decorated Leon's arm from the last several times he'd given himself the medication. They faded with time, but three were easily visible. "Tell me I'm wrong, Leon. Tell me you aren't still taking Mr. Goti's drugs."
Leon couldn't meet Reggie's eyes. "It's my business, okay? You know I can't deal without them." If anyone should understand, it was Reggie.
Reggie went pale and released Leon. He took several backward steps away from Leon, almost stumbling, before he stopped and put his face in his hands. "God...Leon, why didn't you go through rehab, like everyone else?" His voice was weak and he sounded as if he might cry. "They shouldn't have even let you in the Academy. You changed your own records, didn't you?"
"The day I heard they'd caught Mr. Goti and then let him go free. Reggie, this isn't something just to make me feel good, I NEED them!" Leon felt like he was defending himself and he didn't like it. Why didn't Reggie understand? He knew what would happen if Leon stopped taking them.
"The Federation doctors could have found a way to get you passed that. If they find out you've falsified your records, though, you'll get court marshaled. Your career will be over and they'll make you go through rehab, anyway. You don't even know what you're taking, do you? Have you had the guts to ask someone to analyze them?" Reggie took his hands away from his face and he was terribly angry, glaring at Leon. "Those things could be doing anything to you! They could kill you tomorrow. You know what they found in the kids they sent through rehab? Cancer, diseases, weakened...weakened hearts." Reggie's fury died very suddenly at that last statement and he got a far away look in his eyes.
"You went through rehab?" Leon asked, keeping his voice quiet. "What did you...er..."
"My liver was rotting and had to be replaced. I had a brain tumor and I was going blind in my left eye." Reggie looked very old when he spoke. "Leon, you have to tell doctor Crusher."
"No!"
"Leon!"
"No!" Leon turned away from Reggie and pulled his shirt on quickly. He was glad he'd taken his medication after he'd left Jill with that guy, when he was getting dressed to report to Lieutenant Worf. It would look very bad if he had to take it in front of Reggie. "Without them, I'm nothing more than a vegetable, so what does it matter? I'll die one way or the other. At least this way I get to pretend I'm alive."
Reggie's scowl deepened. "That's selfish. You mean it doesn't matter if you live or die?!" It was the closest Reggie had ever come to yelling when he wasn't on the drugs Mr. Goti gave him. "You're just going to let yourself die? Well, think about the bigger picture for a minute. You accepted a job as security for a ship load of children. If something goes wrong, if the drugs make you lose your mind all of a sudden, what's going to happen to the people you're supposed to be guarding? People could get killed because of you, little kids!"
"Look," Leon took a deep breath to keep from yelling back. He'd never seen Reggie like this. Never seen him so worked up and it was the longest speech he'd ever heard from Reggie. Not to mention that Reggie hadn't stuttered once while he was speaking. "I don't want to fight, Reggie. I'm not changing my mind. Yeah, your doctor Crusher might be able to help, but she probably won't. I won't spend the rest of my life staring into space, drooling. If something goes wrong, there are always more security personnel. I won't even be missed."
"I'd miss you." Reggie's jaw was set, but he took a minute to calm himself down and put his arms around himself. "You're as thick-headed as always."
"Yeah. I guess so. Come on. I've gotta get my bird, you can keep me company." Leon set off briskly, not eager to look at Reggie's angry face, but not really wanting his friend to leave, either. "Wait till you see this guy."
To be continued...
Evil Little god of Writing: Hmmmm....now here's a fic with potential. Drugs, child abuse with the drugs, and the possibility of war on a cosmic scale. Not to mention human eating animals roaming the halls of the Enterprise.
Little Demoness: They aren't wandering the halls! They're all being very good and staying with D.
Evil Little god of Writing: Bwhahaha! For now, you mean. You just wait.
Dear readers, I'd like to thank everyone who has been reviewing.
Yami Kaosu: I hope you still like this story, even though it is a crossover. I have to admit, I love crossovers. I'll read those before anything else and they're very challenging to write, too. I wanted to do something I'd never seen and I've never seen Petshop of Horrors crossed over with ST:TNG. I'm glad you liked D's flirting, I thought it might be a little too cliche. Anyway, if you still like it, enjoy the rest of the story.
Kimlore: Hi, thanks for the review. Actually I have thought about doing a Petshop of Horrors crossed over with YYH. I've got notes for it and everything. I'll have to work on that one as soon as all my other projects are finished. In fact, it seems like such an easy idea, I'm surprised I can't find any other crossovers of these two fandoms. Think about it, folks, they both have kitsune in common, if nothing else.
Spitefulhope: You sound so enthusiastic, I hope you like what I've done.
Kurochan: Thanks for the review, I'm pleased that you like it.
tigerlady21: I hope you aren't too disappointed that Leon is reborn as himself. Actually, I was going to have him reborn as either Barclay or Picard, but I would hate to lose Leon's lovely face. I hope I'm doing all right with the Star Trek part of the story. I'm not an expert in it and I've heard that fans can be pretty brutal if one gets even a tiny detail wrong. Doing my best, though.
Nissi Nirvani: Chris will wake up very soon. Tet-chan's getting impatient for his friend.
nameless: Yup, Troi's going to be a bit of trouble and Q's got his part to play, too. The question is, how much effect will D have over her, since she's half human? Also, what's D going to think when he learns that humans have bred with species from other planets?
Copper Fire: Hahaha! Glad to meet another D/Leon supporter. Thanks for the review.
Jazzy: Thanks for the review. I'll keep writing until this story is finished. I never start a story I don't intend to finish, even if it does take me a while.
dhrachth: Thanks for the compliment on characterization, they're very hard, especially the star trek characters, just because I don't watch it often enough. I love crossovers, too. Funny, not many people see to.
Tegasus: I promise it'll be finished. I already have the ending, so all that's left is to fill in the middle bits.
Koriaena: Glad you liked it. Hope you keep reading, too. I have revised a couple of the chapter's. Sorry if that's confused you. Ah, but we all know Leon isn't normal. How normal can it be to be the center of the universe for a Kami?
Cor-chan: I'll keep writing. Thanks for the review. I like Tet-chan, too. He's easily my favorite pet with the possible exception of Ten-chan.
Lin: Oh, don't worry. D's not going to be at all happy when he learns what Mr. Goti did to his dear lion.
Sapphire: Yup, two weeks wait. Sorry about that.
Ramineko: Such nice compliments. The Count will probably find something nicely horrible to do to Mr. Goti and I'm sure Tet-chan wouldn't mind the meal. I know what you mean about there not being enough Petshop of Horrors fics, there never seem to be enough and even fewer crossovers with Petshop of Horrors. I have a couple more already started, though I don't know if they'll ever be posted. I'd like to do a crossover with Petshop of Horrors and Weiss Kreuz, for one. Then a crossover with Banana Fish, a fantastic manga series.
ChancingFaith: Yup, he did make it twice. One was from his POV and the other was from Tet-chan's POV. I do that sometimes, just because I like to see the same situation from two points of view.
Sailor Aurora: Glad you like the story and I hope you like the rest of it.
Mercedes No Inuari: So glad you liked the first chapter. Sigh...that one took about three tries before it came out right. yes, I did keep switching tenses, for some reason. I'm working on fixing those mistakes now. Awww! I like Sofu. He isn't cruel, just inhumane. He has to save the rest of the planet and he can't do that if he's worried about one destruction little species like humans. I chose Reggie because he's my favorite Star Trek character. Weird, I've been told, but I still like him. I always thought he'd have been a lot better off if he had just one good friend, so I gave him Leon. Yup, it's a native American legend about the crow and I've always like that one. Actually, I know nothing about Guinan's past, I'm pretty much making it up. She's one character I'd like to know more about. The only thing I do remember is that Guinan has been on Earth a very long time ago. There was an episode where they went back in time, to the early 20th century and they met her then. Other than that, and the fact that she hates Q and somehow blames him for her planet being destroyed (I think) I know very little about her.
Feather Quill: Thanks for the review. I agree, I'll have to get some more D and Leon in there. They need to be together again.
Ragna 01: Here's your update :) Just so you know, I try very hard to update every other Saturday.
Till next time, readers....