Things you do not wish to Chapter 8: Be a part of, an alpha centauri fanfic

Things you do not wish to...

An Alpha Centauri fan fiction by Shade

I say this only once before beginning. I don't own Alpha Centauri, owning myself is difficult enough. I intend no harm. Now that we're clear about this, let us begin...

8) Be a part of.

"D-deirdre?" Zakharov blinked, unable to believe his eyes. Was it really her, after all those years of hope, of heartache and incertainty, after all those years of hardship? Were his senses deceiving him?

"Oh... Is it really you?" She looked about ready to faint, and Zakharov realised he, too, must have paled. He sighed - his heart raced as he acknowledged it. 'She is alive! She's well!' "I can't believe it!" She smiled broadly and her eyes sparkled with tears, which Zakharov wanted to wipe away. Still, there was a distance of who knew how much between them. He sighed again, this time in defeat.

"Oh, Deirdre, I cannot believe it too. After all those years of wishing you were well... But how are you?" He smiled his softest smile, and she answered with a smile of her own.

"I'm well, thanks. How are you? I've only just spoken to Lal and now you... is my base near one of yours then?"

"Well, it appears so. I've sent my men scouting the surroundings and they reported seeing someone. When I asked Lal whether he knew who it was, he only gave me a commlink frequency - yours."

"Why that...", Deirdre started, seemingly offended, and then she stopped and giggled - the sound of which made Zakharov weak in the knees. He smiled. "I know, he wanted you to see for yourself. Had he told me he knew you were still alive - I would've fainted on the spot!" She grinned as she continued: "There are some assistants here who you would probably know... but they're too good to return, so if you don't mind, I'll keep them."

"Likewise here. And how's Sean? Have you already let him join the ranks of the learned?" At this Deirdre seemed to become pensive. "Oh... If I offended..."

"No, no, it's not that...", Deirdre said and she smiled softly. "He's found himself a girlfriend here and they've moved in together. He is working as an assistant, though. But it's just... I worry for him - and for her as well. They've moved into a small house near the labs. And near one of our daycare facilities..."

"Huh?" Zakharov didn't quite understand her worries at first, then realization dawned. "Oh..." She was afraid that the girl began to long for a child of her own. "It is understandable...", he began, but she shook her head.

"Well, it's just... they still look the same age they were when they arrived... I can't believe they're ready to have a child. I know they are, and that they probably will soon, but I can't believe it."

"Sean, too? Has he seemingly stopped aging?" Zakharov was baffled to hear it.

"Well, yeah, and the doctors say so have I. You too then? ...Well, you'll certainly have nothing but benefits."

"That I have...", Zakharov said and laughed. He looked at Deirdre, who seemed to be stunned - but then she recovered and laughed as well.

"Well, perhaps now you'll see that being old is better than being young." She snickered as she turned away from the screen. "I'll be there in a moment, Eliza..." Turning back, she explained: "Eliza, my self-appointed aide and Sean's girlfriend. Who has also stopped aging, for the record. She's told me my presence is needed in the xenobiology lab..."

"I understand. Shall we speak again this evening?" He saw her snicker again, then she smiled and said:

"Sure. We have so many things to talk about... This evening, nine o'clock, I'll be sitting right here. Good day then... and don't forget!"

"Nine. I'll be sitting here as well, and I'll be talking to a charming young woman too." He winked at her, which made her blush as she signed out and left him staring at a black screen. He sighed as he sat back and pondered about meeting Deirdre again. 'She was overjoyed to see me again... did she remember my kissing her?' He smiled softly. 'If she did, she didn't seem angry about it at all...'

"Ahem." He became aware that there was someone else in his study: looking at the door, he saw Tamar standing there. "Academician, with whom were you talking just now?" Then, after a pause: "Was it... her?"

"She is well... she is safe and sound." His voice sounded like someone else's again, but this time the emotion that filled it was a profound love. The assistant smiled again, genuinely happy.

"Well, now that you've seen her again on the screen, you've started thinking about winning her over, I'm sure."

"Well... I would be all the happier, but she knows what I feel. If she changes her feelings, I'll know it, Tamar. You are a true friend to be so concerned for me."

"Who said I was concerned for you?", she retorted with a wink. "Now, professor, the laboratories need you. The mathematicians and information specialists say that they're nearing a breakthrough in polymorphic software research. They're close to discovering the last strings of code they need..." Zakharov nodded and followed her to the labs, still thinking of Deirdre and of how she had visited his dreams - and in his dreams, too, she remained the same age...

University logs / private logs / P.L. Zakharov, Academician - entry 23/04/2110

Praise to every deity that still lives in this universe! I have seen Deirdre again! She is still as radiant and beautiful and smiling as she was on board the Unity. Her eyes - her answers - her smile! Oh, I've missed her so terribly - dreams are in no way a replacement for hearing her voice... I have seen this beautiful Skye again...

University logs / formal inter-faction relations log / Gaia's Stepdaughters

April 23rd 2110: discovery of faction

April 24th 2110: peaceful relations established - technology trade: Doctrine Flexibility for Doctrine Mobility, Polymorphic Software for Centauri Ecology - mineral trade established: rare minerals traded for nutrients surplus.

May 5th 2110: alliance negotiated and confirmed. Map of Gaian terrain downloaded, map of University terrain given. Steady trade agreements reached.

November 13th 2120: personal visit by Academician planned to Gaian capitol (Gaia's Landing). Reason of visit: confidential.

'Confidential indeed', Zakharov thought as he travelled with a small group of Deirdre's troops - detached to University Base to escort him safely to their own home. The mind worms' obedience to their brood trainers was a marvel in itself, but the fact that they were sentient was baffling. He never thought the small horrors capable of thought, let alone awareness. Yet their thoughts about the 'tall earthvisitor' were being voiced by the brood trainers and answered wordlessly.

The capitol was large, and his first thought as he entered it was one of awe: 'How did Deirdre manage to accumulate all this!' The buildings were tall and organic-looking, almost like trees with large mushrooms - balconies, ventilation systems and other extensions of the rooms inside. In the middle of the city, a walled-in forest stood. Zakharov passed it and saw the memorial plaque, which he read out loud while the brood trainers waited patiently.

"We left our mother Gaia with grief, and when we were gone her other children most cruelly killed her. Though we treat our new mother Planet with care and respect, we may never forget those that died along with our true mother. Our kind destroyed Earth, but we will never allow ourselves to harm Chiron." He smiled. 'A truth that is both shattering and endearing...', he thought as the men escorted him further, to a larger building in the westernmost part of the city. They brought him inside and he immediately noticed the various rooms filled with equipment - a laboratory.

"Lady Skye will see you in a moment, she is still working on her research. Please wait here.", one of the brood trainers said as he showed Zakharov a small meeting room: the tall scientist nodded and the men left. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, appeared a young woman that was apparently a scientist - she wore a lab coat though it was soiled with what appeared to be earth.

"You're him, right?" Zakharov was taken aback by her: she had deep green eyes that stared at him relentlessly, though she wore a smile that softened her inquisitive gaze a bit. "Zakharov, I mean. Academician of the University. The one that only Lady Deirdre gets to call 'Prokhor' - your first name, I presume?"

"True. You're an observant girl. You are... Eliza? Deirdre's aide, Sean's fiancée?"

"The very same." She bowed gracefully as she sat down. "Lady Deirdre speaks much of you, sir - or should I call you 'Academician'?"

"'Sir' will do just fine. I've never asked for my title, and I take it neither has Deirdre. ...But I am being impolite. It is a pleasure to meet you." He extended his hand to her and she shook it firmly and with a smile. "How is Sean doing?"

"Nervous, but he'll hold. Aren't you nervous, sir? I know Lady Deirdre is..." This surprised Zakharov.

"Why should I be nervous? And why should she?" But then the door opened and Deirdre entered - and suddenly he was unable to speak, unable to think of anything to say.

She was... there was no word for it.

"Deirdre...", he merely said and took her extended hand: but instead of shaking it, he brought it to his lips and placed a soft kiss on it, which made Deirdre blush.

"Prokhor, it is such a pleasure to see you, especially considering the reason of your coming here. ...Sean should be here in a minute." She looked at him with a soft smile. "You're still agreed, right?"

"Yes, Deirdre. I've told you before, it would be my pleasure to grant you a favor. Anything you ask of me, I'll do." 'She has no idea that the favor she asks of me is small in comparison of what she could ask me...', he thought and felt his heart doing overtime again. "And then you'll have plenty of reasons to come over to my base and visit me. We should play chess again." A knock on the door, and then Sean appeared.

"You've sent for me, Dee? ...Professor Zakharov?" Even knowing that Sean had not or barely aged since his arrival, it was still a shock to Zakharov to see him stand before him looking like a twenty-year old: but it was an even greater shock for Sean to see him sitting there, apparently, for all colour quickly drained from his face.

"It's 'Academician' Zakharov nowadays, but it is refreshing to hear my old title again." The older scientist was first to recover and he smiled at the young man before him. "I've gathered that you've become quite the scientist since your arrival on Chiron."

"Yes... well, Planet's been a start for all of us, hasn't it?" Zakharov noted his choice of words and decided to ask Deirdre later why he spoke of 'Planet' rather than 'Chiron': now, he turned quickly to the matter at hand.

"Deirdre thinks that you've got potential, but that you need a bit of guidance. It so happens I was looking for someone that could be my right-hand man. How would you like to come and work at University Base for a while and extend your skills?" He saw a variety of emotions pass over Sean's face, and then he looked at Eliza.

"What do you think? ...Can you miss me for a while?" His eyes were pleading. The girl only nodded in approval and Sean turned to Zakharov again. "I'd be glad to."

"Good. Now that this is settled... Deirdre, I would love a personal tour through your city."

"Well, then, a tour is what you shall get!", she said as she offered him her arm. He blinked and instead offered her his - a social convention from long ago springing up into his mind. For a moment, Deirdre looked confused, then she smiled and took his offered arm, guiding him back outside...

"D-deirdre?" Zakharov looked the way she felt: not willing to believe it.

"Oh... Is it really you?" She felt all sorts of emotions wash over her, draining the colour from her face as she swooned under such mental strain. He looked as bad as she had to, and she smiled, losing the battle against the upcoming tears. "I can't believe it!" She saw Zakharov start as if he wanted to wipe away her tears.

"Oh, Deirdre, I cannot believe it too. After all those years of wishing you were well... But how are you?" He smiled, a disarmingly charming smile that felt good to see again after such a long time, and she returned it unconsciously.

"I'm well, thanks. How are you? I've only just spoken to Lal and now you... is my base near one of yours then?"

"Well, it appears so. I've sent my men scouting the surroundings and they reported seeing someone. When I asked Lal whether he knew who it was, he only gave me a commlink frequency - yours."

"Why that...", Deirdre started, offended, and then she stopped and giggled. She could easily imagine Lal now thinking of the miracle he had seemingly accomplished. Zakharov raised an eyebrow and she explained: "I know, he wanted you to see for yourself. Had he told me he knew you were still alive - I would've fainted on the spot!" She continued with a grin: "There are some assistants here who you would probably know... but they're too good to return, so if you don't mind, I'll keep them."

"Likewise here. And how's Sean? Have you already let him join the ranks of the learned?" At the mention of Sean, Deirdre suddenly remembered the genuine amazement on his face at getting a bonus on his first day. Her brother, though young in body, sometimes belied his true age by seemingly acting as a teenager. "Oh... If I offended..." Zakharov's voice made her realise that she had been pondering in silence for a while.

"Huh?" Zakharov seemed to be nonplussed, and then his featured alighted as he realised what exactly was on her mind. "It is understandable..." She shook her head to dismiss the thoughts that dwelled inside her mind.

"Sean, too? Has he seemingly stopped aging?" Now she had amazed the scientist, she thought with a smile.

"Well, yeah, and the doctors say so have I. You too then? ...Well, you'll certainly have nothing but benefits."

"That I have..." Zakharov chuckled, and it took a while for Deirdre to see the fun in her remark, but when she did, she laughed heartily.

"Well, perhaps now you'll see that being old is better than being young." She snickered as she was disturbed by a knock on the door. With a soft sigh, she turned away from the screen. "I'll be there in a moment, Eliza...", she said as she waved the girl away - signifying that the disturbance came at a bad moment. She turned back to Zakharov and explained to him: "Eliza, my self-appointed aide and Sean's girlfriend. Who has also stopped aging, for the record. She's told me my presence is needed in the xenobiology lab..."

"I understand. Shall we speak again this evening?" Deirdre snickered again softly - 'He can't miss me now he knows I'm here, can he?' - and she nodded with a smile.

"Sure. We have so many things to talk about... This evening, nine o'clock, I'll be sitting right here. Good day then... and don't forget!" The older scientist's bad memory had been the object of many jokes on board the 'Unity'.

"Nine. I'll be sitting here as well, and I'll be talking to a charming young woman too." She blushed as he winked: 'Oh, he is such a... scoundrel!', she thought as she signed out. Then, she softly started laughing.

"Oh, Prokhor, if you had any idea...", she said as she rose from her chair. At that exact moment, Eliza burst through the door.

"Lady Skye, you're missing what might be the most significant breakthrough in the history of Planet!"

"I don't care, Eliza...", Deirdre said with a smile. "I've talked to him again."

"Him? Him who?" Eliza hadn't known either Deirdre or Zakharov when on board - she had almost immediately been put into cryostasis. Luckily, Sean chose that same moment to appear mysteriously.

"Do you happen to mean the professor?", he asked, his glee barely concealed. "Professor Zakharov, the leader of the science teams on board the 'Unity', and the one only Deirdre gets to call 'Prokhor', he he...", he clarified with a truly devious little chuckle at the end.

"Oh, if you think you're above all humanity and friendship, let's see you work, my little scientist!", she said, pushing Sean into one of the other corridors while heading down another with Eliza.

"Now, this discovery, what is it about?"

"We've unravelled a large portion of the Centauri ecology, Lady Deirdre." The girl started discussing the breakthrough and Deirdre found her mind focusing on the biology of the matter. However, in the back of her mind now sat a warm spot, like a candle in her head, that heated her heart when she thought of the conversation she was going to have that evening...

Gaia's Landing - private files - Lady Deirdre Skye - diary, 23/04/2110

Today will be in my heart forever. I have spoken to Prokhor again. The conversation was one of little things, but it warmed my heart to know that my best - and perhaps my only - friend is doing well. It was a terrible time, not to know about him... but now that time is over and I can look forward to a new period of our friendship...

Gaia's Landing - outgoing communication - sender: Lady Deirdre Skye / recipient: Academician P.L. Zakharov of the University

Prokhor, in light of many things that have come up recently, I want to ask you a favor. Our alliance has lasted for quite a while now - ten years, has it really been that long? - and our friendship has not only strengthened, but also deepened.

The reason for my request is Sean. He has, over the course of these ten years, become the very best physicist/information specialist the Gaians have. But I fear his education is lacking something. He needs the proper environment to learn everything, and the very best to teach him. Knowing your experience and excellent reputation both here and on Earth and considering that Sean respects you more than anyone else, I was wondering if Sean could work for a while under your supervision at University Base. You have more technologically advanced labs and better trained assistants, so he should be able to learn so much more when working together with you. What do you say? Yours sincerely, Deirdre.

Gaia's Landing - incoming communication - sender: Academician P.L. Zakharov of the University / recipient: Lady Deirdre Skye

Deirdre, I would be delighted to. I will come and visit you in a week and then I will take him along with me. I may ask for a favor in return, but I cannot think of something at the moment. Yours in friendship and otherwise, Prokhor. (PS: make sure no one catches you calling me by my first name when you're ever in University Base, I think my people would probably think of it as blasphemy.)

Deirdre had seen the escort she had sent to University Base return, safely bringing Zakharov with them. Somehow, she felt nervous when she faced the thought of meeting him for real once more. The screen, however frustrating she found it sometimes, was a kind of protection at the same time. She vividly remembered his kiss and had never taken off the ring that he had once worn on his thumb - it had been her solace many times, when she had had difficulties. Noticing the city live out its life underneath her, she smiled and relaxed a little. How could she not feel at ease in this city, that now celebrated its twentieth year of existence - or nearly, anyway. There was much to remember, and at times like these, she found her mind busy.

"Eliza, go see if the Academician has arrived yet. If he has, tell him I'll be there in five minutes." Eliza nodded, glad to escape the tedious business of taking notes from one of the books that Deirdre kept in her study - far away from prying eyes and over-eager assistants. She sighed again as she heard the door close. 'Lord, if I get this nervous just for meeting an old friend...', she reprimanded herself. 'But then again... It is Prokhor we're talking about.' She giggled and closed the windows that led to her balcony, making sure they were securely shut before exiting her quarters and moving down the building, to the main floor meeting room where he would probably be waiting already...

She opened the door, resolving not to shake; but when she saw him, she couldn't help herself and felt her legs protest. Her heart raced and her head swam, which she concluded with some surprise.

"Deirdre..." She smiled softly and extended her hand for him to shake; but instead of doing so, he carefully raised it to his lips and placed a kiss on it, which made her blush for something she couldn't quite place.

"Yes, Deirdre. I've told you before, it would be my pleasure to grant you a favor. Anything you ask of me, I'll do." 'He really is too kind...', she thought as she blushed again - this time a bit more subdued. "And then you'll have plenty of reasons to come over to my base and visit me. We should play chess again.", he continued. Just as she was about to speak, a knock on the door sounded, and then Sean appeared.

"You've sent for me, Dee? ...Professor Zakharov?" Deirdre marvelled at the genuine amazement on her brother's face as it quickly became as white as a sheet - it had been mean not to say anything, but she knew he'd be all the more thankful.

"It's 'Academician' Zakharov nowadays, but it is refreshing to hear my old title again." Prokhor had recovered a bit faster than Sean, and she smiled at the thought. . "I've gathered that you've become quite the scientist since your arrival on Chiron."

"Yes... well, Planet's been a start for all of us, hasn't it?" Deirdre saw a surprised look on the tall scientist's face, but decided not to interrupt.

"Deirdre thinks that you've got potential, but that you need a bit of guidance. It so happens I was looking for someone that could be my right-hand man. How would you like to come and work at University Base for a while and extend your skills?" Sean seemed to contemplate the thoughts that undoubtedly raged through his mind - his face showed a rapid succession of various conflicting emotions - and then turned to the one whose opinion would decide: Eliza.

"What do you think? ...Can you miss me for a while?" When she nodded, he did so as well and turned to his new mentor. "I'd be glad to."

"Good. Now that this is settled... Deirdre, I would love a personal tour through your city."

"Well, then, a tour is what you shall get!" Deirdre rose and offered her arm to him - but he instead offered her his. Smiling as she realised he was being courteous - for the social custom was that the gentleman offered his arm to the lady - she took his arm and they walked outside together.