Star Blazers is 2003 by Vorager Entertainment, Inc.

A Woman's Intuition

by Darkrider62

Chapter 7: Plans

"Women and elephants never forget an injury" - Saki (1904)

Synopsis: When we last saw our intrepid Star Force, we learned that Sandor had been engaged to Colleen O'Flanagon and Nova has plans for Derek.

"Are you sure you really want to do this?" asked Kathleen aka Kat as she stepped away from the Living Group leader.

"Positive," Nova affirmed, "if you do the cooking, he won't have any idea." She turned in her chair to study herself in the mirror. Her brown eyes now stood out, lined with a thin black line, her lashes made longer with mascara, the hint of blush on her cheek, and her skin flawless. Kathleen had found a black and tan striped bow and had pulled Nova's hair back with it. She had also loaned her friend a pair of delicate gold hoops. Nova grinned to herself and Kat's reflection. "I have forgotten how much make-up can be."

"I still can't believe that you're only female who came on this mission." Kathleen crossed the room to sit on the corner of Nova's tiny desk. "Why?"

"Someone had to keep an eye on the boys," quipped Nova. "I knew that most of them couldn't make it this time and besides, I couldn't bear to see Derek go without me. I do have a responsibility and a commitment to the Star Force. I wasn't about to run out on them." She paused and turned in her chair to look at Kathleen. "I also had a feeling that I had better go. I don't know why, I simply did. Do you understand?"

"About what? Commitment? Duty?" Kat was sober. "I understand commitment. Just because I like bending the rules doesn't mean I'm not a dedicated officer." The Intelligence officer sighed. "I have to get Derek to understand about hitting that base. I feel that time is running out."

Nova was aghast, her mouth hug open. "You have got to be kidding! Aren't you?"

Kathleen rose to her feet. "If I cook the cake, you have to work your magic on Wildstar. We will need him distracted long enough for Kit and I to hit that base and free our shipmates. You don't even have to stay around. There are ships there we can steal to get back home with."

"Whoa now girl," protested Nova putting up her hands in defense. "It's true I care deeply for Derek but I don't think I'll be able to help you in that respect." She glanced up at a small clock. "Gads! I've got to be on duty." Rising to her feet, the brunette rushed out the door leaving a thoughtful Kathleen in her wake.

"I think," whispered the dark haired woman, "it's time for Plan B."

Nova came rushing onto the bridge calling out, "Sorry Derek. Got held up." She headed straight for the Cosmo Radar and peered into it.

She missed Derek and Mark Venture, the pilot, slowly peeking from their chairs at the beribboned officer. She also never saw the glances given in her direction by the rest of the bridge crew. The Living Group leader raised her head and caught sight of head's whirling back to their own work. A very tiny smile flittered across her face. "Derek?"

"Uh, yes?" The Deputy Captain turned hesitantly in his chair.

"Radar is clean except for the asteroid best on the port side which keeps us out of sight of that enemy base."

"Enemy base?" For some reason he couldn't founder, something about Nova unnerved him.

"The one Kit and Kat told us about in the debriefing," promted Nova, arching her eyebrows up.

"Oh, yeah." Realization flooded the young man with a crashing wave. He shook his head and got down to business again. Turning to the pilot, the Deputy Captain told him, "Keep her slow and out of range of that base." To Homer, "Tell Conroy I've got a job for him and his boys." Turning towards Sandor, only Sandor wasn't at his space. Royster was.

Derek rose and, glaring at Royster, demanded with his hands on his hips, "Where is Sandor? Anybody know?"

"Don't ask me," muttered Nova keeping busy at her station.

Derek's gaze sweeped the bridge. Eager was scanning for rockets to his far left, Mark was at his elbow, concentrating on flying the Yamato, Nava was in front of him, absorbed in the Cosmo Radar, old man Orion was telling the engineering crew something, Dash was sitting closer to his right, hunched over his equipment, while Homer was relying his orders. "Well?"

"He ask me to switch shifts," Royster defended himself.

Derek growled softly. As he stalked off the bridge, he commented, "Find him please. Tell him to met me on the flight deck."

Once he had cleared off, everyone turned to Nova. Her head shot up in surprise, "Don't look at me! I have no idea."

"Sure, Nova," coxed Dash. "We all know you're cozy with your twin friends."

"Well, I don't know," repeated the brunette. "Get back to work."

"Oh come on Nova," said Eager accusingly, "you are the most logical suspect."

Nova sat straight up in her seat and turned her head to look Eager dead in the eye. He flinched under her withering gaze. She huffed in righteous indignation, "Just because you think I might have something to do with Sandor's not being here doesn't mean that I had anything to do with it."

Eager dropped his eyes and meekly went back to work. Nova couldn't believe his nerve. She had absolutely no idea where the Science officer was. And, she frowned, come to think of it, she hadn't seen Kit after the debriefing either. The Living Group officer checked her radar then made up her mind. "Homer, could you ask my relief to come up here. I have something to do and I think I know where Sandor is."

"Yes, ma'am." Homer got on the comm while Nova rose and left the bridge.

It suddenly hit Derek as he rode down to the hanger level that Nova had been calling him by his first name ever since she stepped onto the bridge that day and that there was a sparkle about her he hadn't seen in a while. His lips curved into a private smile. She was growing on him more each day and he found he was glad she had stayed when he ordered her off at the beginning of this trip. The elevator came to a stop and the Deputy Captain started off only to pause in mid-step, I think I know why she's been in such a good mood. It's her friends!

Kathleen careened around a corner and ran right smack into a cluster of Space Marines. She instinctively froze as they jumped up and snapped to attention. She gave them a grin, a quick salute, then a silly wave, "Hi guys! Don't mind me."

"Thank you ma'am," said the corproal who was with them.

"Aw, I don't stand much on ceremony," remarked Kat brightly. "You can call me Kat." She gestured for them to close in. "Say, I've got a big favor to ask of you boys. See my sister has disappeared and I can't find her. Now, this here ship is way to big for me to search all by my lonesome and I could use a helping hand. Interested?"

There was a wave over the Marines as they began to grin at each other then they nodded in various degrees. The corporal told Kat, "You got yourself a deal sister."

"Great!" She gave them a light bulb bright smile. "Break up into groups. Odd's are she's with the Science officer, Sandor. If not and you see him first, ask him where she is. When you find her, tell her her sister said to meet up at our cabin and to stay put til I get there. Then you can comm me. Got it?"

"You bet!" chorused the men.

"Well? Whata ya waiting for?" Kathleen was reminded of the beginning of the "Lone Ranger" theme song as the group broke up "Happy hunting!" She then noticed the corporal was still there. "Yes?"

"I was the odd man out," he explained deadpaned.

"Oh." An eyebrow cocked up as she turned her head slightly. "Come on then."