The Royals: The Alternate Time
Part IV: To Dream Of Angels
By The Underfaker Writing as Bocephus Manticore
Helena enters sickbay at about one o'clock in the morning, she sees that Len is gone as Liam sent her to get some sleep. She sees Liam wake up and she says "Liam I'm so sorry, Captain Mercer told me what happend," he looks up at her and says "mum i feel so guilty, if it hadent been for me, If I would have just shut up and played darts she would still be here." she tears up, hugs him and whispers "your love for her was pure Liam, I'm sure she did not regret your time together, you were happy those three months, more happy than I have ever seen you be." Liam just looks at the cealing and says "my happiness cost her, her life." She takes his and and tells him how proud of him she is, and that Ophelia will always be with him. Dr. Finn then enters and tells Liam that he is discharged, He thanks her for he time. Helena and Liam go back to his quarters. Liam hugs her and says "mum be proud of Lenni, she saved my life", he then tells her about his dream and how callous Robert was in it. Helena kisses him on the cheek and says "Robert has to be the most lothsome person I've ever met, I'm sorry you have him for a brother", he turns to her and says "ther was nothing you could have done mum before all of this I was proud to call him my brother, I would have jumped in front of a bus for him..." Helena intrupts "I know you would have Liam, you have always been a good person, Ophelia saw that too, I know she would be proud of who you've become." He smiles and and replies "thanks, mum, I just wish I could hear her say it, I'm ready to start the training for our little operation."
At about 4:30 in the morning Jasper returns to his and Len's quarters training. Right after he enters he sees what looks like candle light, lighting the room, he hears music start playing "I never meant to cause you any sorrow, I never meant to cause you any pain", he looks arround the room and sees Len standing seductivly in lingerie in the doorway to the bedroom, "ONLY WANT TO SEE YOU LAUGHING IN THE PURPLE RAIN... PURPLE RAIN... PURPLE RAIN", he smiles walks over to her, they gaze into eachother's eyes, "you... look so hot right now" says Jasper, she replies "Always for you... sorry I can be such a jacka...", he kisses her and says "you may be a jackass but your my jackass, I've never had a dull moment with you" the music shuts off they move to the couch and just hold eachother, she turns her head toward him and says, "when I got that news I was numb, I felt dead inside, I came here and just screamed like Al Pachino in Godfather Part 2", "Part 3" he says, they are both looking deeply and lovingly at eachother, "right... but I got in that bathtub to see if i could still feel, even though I was only semi concious, I remember it all", Jasper smiles, she then says "I remember you, pulling me out of there like Captain America come to life, the jacket, shared bodily warmth, all of it, and I remember thinking how much I love my bodyguardian angel." He nibbles playfully at her ear and whispers "here we are sharing bodily warmth again", she starts kissing the side of his neck, he turns on the holloscreen and picks Raiders of the Lost Ark, Len arches her right eyebrow at him and he says "I realized that we've never just cuddled and watched a movie, this one has romance, action, and a big rolling ball", "You don't think I've seen Indiana Jones, and by the way that ball pales in comparaison to my favorite balls" she says, Jasper laughs, he turns on Jaws, Len says "sounds dirty", Jasper face palms, then kisses her cheek and playfully says "It's about a shark dummy", she strokes his cheek and says "a dirty shark", he chuckles and says "yes a dirty, rotten, people eating shark." Len sits on Jasper's lap and says "promiss me one thing", "anything" he replies, she tears up a little looks in he eyes and says "when we go to retake the palace, keep my mum away from me at all times." She thinks to herself "If you want to shoot me Robbie, shoot me... bitch."
In the simulator Liam and Len join Jasper, Alara, and 10 heavily armed Orville crew members for assault training, their using 21st century weapons and armor though. Various enemies are being simulated in the palace. "Len take that rally point ahead, we'll cover you" orders Alara, she runs for it and takes a simulated hit to the shoulder but fights through the pain to take the rally point, but instead of defending untill the others get there, she sees Robert and chases him to his office. She throws down her gun, and proceeds to fight him hand to hand, "Lenni lets be resonable" he pleads, "no you killed mum Robbie" Len angerly says, Robert backs up "Lenni I've done no such thing" he says, Len goes to punch him in the head, she does not see the knife that he had hidden behind a book and as soon as she makes her move he stabs her in the gut, she goes down from the simulated pain, she looks up at Robert who has a pistol pointed at her head, "If you're gonna shoot me, shoot me" she says, but he clicks the hammer down and leaves her to die "you're a monster Robbie... fuck you" she say defiantly as he leaves. Len passes out from the simulated pain, the others finally get to the office, then see Len on the ground... Jasper runs to her and then yells at Alara "YOU SAID THE SAFTEY PROTOCOLS WERE ON", Alara calmly replies "they are but the pain is simulated, she's just passed out" Jasper then manages to wake Len up, Alara says "the good news we and the other teams took took the palace, the bad news is we took one casualty, report to the briefing room" people begin to leave, Alara stops Len and says "you can't run off on personal vendettas, you're no good to us dead", Len then replies "the pain in my gut agrees with you." Alara looks her in the eyes and says "good you've learned, but there may come a time where you find yourself alone, in that senario, don't be afraid to take advantages if you see them, they may save your life." They see Liam sitting on one of the couches in a corridor, Alara begins to say that Len should go to the breifing room but asks her to sit with her as she talks to Liam. Len puts her arm around Liam's shoulder and says "sorry for running off like that", he looks at her with a small smile "I might have done the same thing, he needs to pay now more than ever." She hugs him and says "hey he will pay, for what he did to Phee, mum, and what he may have possibly done to dad", Liam looks confused "what did he do to mum", Len sighs "In the original timeline she died taking a bullet... for me." Liam then says "hey now we know we can avoid it", "Jasper promised to keep her away from me, though I did not tell him why." Liam then looks to and smiles at Alara then says "I believe this is the most time we've spent together, since I've been onboard", she smiles back but then goes blank and says to Liam "I know what your going through, I've been there before", he looks at her and said "someone you loved died because of you" Len slaps him on the back of his head and just says "hey", Liam apologizes, Alara takes his hand and says "none needed, no not someone I loved, a colleuge, there was some kind of accident in engineering a bulkhead had fallen on a man, I was running toward it, but then a fire started infront of me and I froze, I did not know how or why but later found out that it was some kind of childhood trauma", Liam hugs Alara "everyone has fears Alara, I can be a charging bull sometimes, Len can atest to that" Len looks over his shoulder and says "He right I can", Liam begins again "but that fire would have stoped me in my tracks too" "Its not that, I punished myself after that, I had my mind whiped went to the simulator and had Iaasc put me through some of the worst torture to test myself, I was nearly sucked out into space, eaten, chased by an evil clown, and overcame fire, point is I nearly died, because I thought I let a man die, don't hate your self for what happend, but keep that fire alive, because you might need it." They all then go to the breifing room where they discuss what went right and what defenitly went wrong.
The command crew and the family gather in Captain Mercer's quarters where the watch the day's episode of the Grhamm Norton show as the guest is Whillimina Moreno (Willow), the woman who is engaged to Robert and who they suspect sold them out. "I can't believe I trusted her, after I made sure she made it to her final test to be queen, she sold us out" says Len, but what Willow has to say shocks them. "I was the one who called the police on them, Liam and Len... Eleanor are two of my best friends, I just wanted the family to be safe after what I have to show tonight", says Willow, Len and Liam both raise eyebrows. "that timestamp has been confirmed as real and this footage is from the night of the blackout" says Norton, the footage is from Robert's office. It shows a few minutes of Robert staring out a window and then Robert says "3,2,1" lights outside the palace turn off, the camera then goes black,. People in the audience and people all around the world are shocked and angry, they realise that Liam, Len, Cyrus, Jasper, and Helena were more than justifyed in their overthrow attempt, angry mobs form around the palace, and #KingLiam begins trending again, forces loyal to Robert arrive and fortify it bringing in troops helicopters and air droped supplies including tanks. Liam sees all this on the tv and says "We have to get Willow out", "afirmitive" says Mercer, "Kelly you take Dr. Finn and a team of your choosing, for extraction" "Aye sir" says Kelly, Liam says "Len and I should go too Willow would be more willing to cooperate if we were there", "agreed" says Kelly. Len and Liam get red security uniforms with the provisional rank of ensign, they get the energy pistols, and they also get Longbow energy rifles, Kelly, Gordon, Alara, and Dr. Finn join Len and Liam on the shuttle. The Orville raises to a safe launch depth and then goes back to the bottom of the trench. Within 30 minutes the shuttle is cloaked and over London. "How are we going to find her in a city this big asks Gordon", Len stands up and says "Commader Grayson, I might have a way." "What is it ensign" asks Kelly, "Lt. kitan, see if you can tap into the street camera network, use a still of Willow from the Grahmm Norton Show and do a facial recognition search." "Good idea" says Alara, who implemets the search and finds Willow within a matter of minutes, "She's in Mayfair" says Alara who sends the live feed to Gordon. "Lt. Malloy land us up there in front of her route, we'll open when she gets close", they land and are about to open when two men in overcoats start following Willow, she starts to run, they open the door and Liam runs toward her, "LIAM" shouts Len, Liam scoops up Willow, the men open fire, most miss the shuttle and Liam completly, one bullet hits him in the shoulder but he keeps going, he gets Willow in the shuttle, only the interior is visable, the men stop in their tracks and look on as the shuttle lifts off and the door closes, within seconds it is back on the way to the ship, Liam falls to the floor as his adrenaline had worn off, Dr. Finn extracts the bullet and heals his wound, Willow faints on Len when she sees this, "goddamnit" Len whispers. Dr. Finn informs Liam that he will have sorness for several hours, "Ensign Henstridge, can I speak with you at the back of the shuttle" says Kelly, they both go to the back and she says "what you did was wreckless, and dangerous, but if it were one of my crew out there I would have done the same thing good work", "yes mam" he replies he laughs a bit in Len's direction who has Willow still out and on top of her, she shoots him a glare that says I know where you sleep. They quickly get back to the ship which preforms the same manuver for recovery that it did for launch and then it drains the water from the shuttle bay. Helena runs into the shuttle bay and hugs both Liam and Len at the same time, Liam winces in pain, Helena looks at him and, and he says "I got shot but not bad, Willow would have been dead if I didn't run to her", Helena smiles and says "I'm so proud of you for your courrage under fire." Helena then takes Willow to bring her up to speed Liam excuess himself and goes back to his quarters. Jasper and Len do the same, "I heared came up with the plan that saved Willow, never knew you were a tactican princess", "Im full of surprises" she says, They proceed where she suggests getting into the tub, with warm water this time. They disrobe and make passionate love and then playfully bathe eachother, then go to bed.
In Liam's quarters he immediatly lays down in his fleet issued teeshirt, and falls fast asleep. He begins to dream that he is in a park but he's the only one there when all of the sudden he hears a voice which is rapidly getting closer say "wanna race you idiot" he knows the voice, he turns around and Ophelia jumps into his arms. "Hey" he says, "hey yourself" she replies, they then go for a romantic walk. "Don't punish yourself for what happend, espesially not against Mike Tyson", He looks at her and asks her how she knows who he fought, "I'm dead, Liam, I see it all" she replies, he stops and says "I got you killed Phee, you always said you wanted me and not my world, in the end my worl..." She begins kissing him passonatly, then says "no you didn't, If being alive meant giving up our time together I'd rather die, those three months were the happiest time in my life", he and she then lay down on the grass holding hands and just starring at a pefectly blue sky. Liam tells her about the dream he had and says "I couldn't get you, as hard as I tried, I was helpless, I had to watch as Robert put his hand on your throat and threw you across the room, you put up a fight and drew blood, then you spit in his face... and then he threw you in to the street, 10 storry's down, you didn't scream though." "Flying down to the street I wanted to scream but I didn't want to give your brother's hitman the satisfaction" she replies. Liam then says "hey when I become king" he whispers something in her ear and she says "that is the most noble thing I have ever heard, just when I thought it was not possible to love you more than I already do, I'm so proud of you and how you've grown." He pulls her on top of him and they passonatly make out and talk for what seems like blissfull hours. "I have to go soon she says, please dont blame yourself", "I know you have to go, I don't blame myself anymore thanks to you." She begins to leave, he asks her to wait, "When I get to you some day will you marry me," "Of course I will", she says, he gets down on one knee "Ophelia Pryce will you marry me, I don't have a ring, i have something better" she tilts her head in confusion for a second, and then tears start welling up in her eyes as she sees what it is. Liam takes a small bell out of his pocket and rings it, Ophelia begins to feel a strange but good sensation as two magnificent, glistening, large wings sprout from her back, "you've always been an angel, but i thought you might you might want them" Liam says. "Aw hell one more time for the road" she asks, their clothes are off and they make passonat love when Ophelia lifts up off the ground with Liam and flies."This is the best experience i've ever had, I'll wait until I get to you to experience it again" he says as they put their clothes back on, "no you enjoy the time you have on Earth with Kathryn, she's pregnant with triplets, two girls and a boy, and when you guys get up here all 3 of us can be together, I would be willing share you with her, she's a really good person." She kisses him and says "anytime you feel a light breeze ruffle your hair that's just me saying hi." "See you again someday" he says, she begins to fly away but turns around and says "Robert was right about one thing... I am defenatly enjoying my flight" Liam just smiles and whispers to himself "Goodbye Ophelia, I love you," then he wakes up to his door chime ringing "enter" he says, Len walks into the quarters, he walks into the living room and sees her sitting in a chair, he sits on the couch, "why are you so happy" she cheerfully asks, "I saw her Lenni, I saw Ophelia, I got to spend one more day with her." she grabs his hand and says "good dream", he looks at her and says "it felt real Lenni, I felt everything, even the mid air sex we had", "TMI" she replies, he sinks back into the couch and says "she said she would marry me when I got to her, I didn't have a ring so I proposed with a bell", Len hugs her brother and says "you gave her, her wings Liam, thats way better than any ring." "She also said that Kathryn is pregnant with triplets, to enjoy my time on earth with her, and said she would be willing to share me with her." They have breakfast together, then Len leaves to go see how Willow's doing. Liam lays on the couch looking upward and says "computer, play Kiss From A Rose by Seal."
To be continued