CH 10 PURSUIT
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ENTERPRISE READY ROOM
Spock looks at the group of people gathered around the conference table. Before Kirk took command and re-assigned staff, these people were the Alpha crew of the Enterprise. Spock has every faith they will find an answer to their problem as efficiently as those on the planet surface. Spock takes Jim's seat at the head of the table. "Precisely four hours and eleven minutes ago the Captain along with his team took a shuttle to the surface of Upsilon Cerberus VI. Exactly eleven minutes ago the Captain and his crew should have broken orbit and requested docking coordinates with the Enterprise. So far this has not happened so we must assume there has been an incident on the surface. I know each of you have been monitoring from your respective stations. Please report on your findings." Spock sits ram rod straight and waits.
Lt. Aisha Darwin, Beta crew navigation, is the first to speak. "The solar flares generating the electromagnetic pulses have not abated in their frequency or duration. Every fifteen minutes the primary star produces another one. To avoid them we need to move father from the planet."
"Which takes us farther away from helping the crew get back on the Enterprise," Lt. Col Sam O'Neill replies. "And before you say anything I would be making this same statement if my husband and sons were not down there. We don't leave our people. We need a different plan."
"I agree with Lt. Col. O'Neill, but we have to establish communications with the away team. With all due respect ma'am…no one could be alive down there," Lt Dennis Hawkins, Beta crew communications, responds. "Sir the only reason we have internal communications is because of the Enterprise's shielding. If we did not have the shields up…we would be looking at another Deneb II situation. Lt. Hannity and I have been working on a way to boost the signal but at best only 25% of the communication gets through."
"What if we send a message in a bottle," Sam O'Neill murmurs thinking.
"Lt. Colonel please explain your idea," Spock asks. Like him Samantha O'Neill is over qualified for her job. She has the rank and knowledge to be the head of her department but chooses second in command for a reason.
"What if instead of sending a message burst through the atmosphere we send down a homing beacon? It can transmit updates but also act as a way to pinpoint specific life signs," Sam says getting the excited gleam in her eye she always gets when solving a problem. She walks to the large PADD on the wall. Picking up a stylus she begins to visually draw her idea. "Even if we know their exact location we can't beam them up due to the extraordinary amounts of kelbonite on the planet. That is why they used shuttles in the first place. I'm proposing we target all our search efforts in a tight, narrow beam around the homing beacon." Drawing a circle around the beacon she continues. "Maybe only twenty yards. When a life form enters the perimeter we send down a shuttle to retrieve them." Sam has more but waits to make sure everyone is on the same page so far. "Lt. Hawkins is correct. Our first course of action should be finding out who is alive," Sam admits.
"Let's say we can boost the signal," Lt. Rios proposes, "how will we know it is them? I mean it could be Klingon survivors triggering the pickup?"
Rob Hendorff shifts in his seat. Spock stares at his newly appointed COS. Even being Vulcan he finds it mildly amusing that Hendorff retained his position on the Enterprise. It is not every Captain that would allow a man to kick the shit out of you and still be on his crew. "If we are going to assume our guys survived, which we are, then some Klingons have also. We just go prepared. Take the tactile shuttle down. If it is not our guys we deal with them," Hendorff replies tension growing in his face and body. "I can guarantee at least the Captain survived though. If not the Klothos would be pounding the shit out of us right now. They wanted the Captain on planet for a reason. My guess is that this is some political kidnapping. They will wait until Kirk at least is on the Klothos before attacking."
Hendorff's reasoning is sound to Spock. Spock nods for Samantha O'Neill to continue. "Okay for this to work we need the signal to not degrade so our guys can actually find the homing beacon. If we encase the homing beacon in an active magnetic resonance stabilizer," Sam goes back to the PADD to visually draw what she is proposing. "That may be enough to boost the signal for several miles. We just have to assume they will be that close to the original landing site." Sam bites her lip. This is the only indication she is not as sure about her plan as she is pretending she is.
"I can code the signal to use Huttese. Uhura has been giving us basic lessons on Huttese. We know as much as the dog right now," Hawkins admits getting chuckles from the table. "But if we use the basic commands, come, stay, heel, I would hope they would understand it," Hawkins suggests. "At least the adults would know those commands. I mean knowing Kate; she has taught the kids the entire language by now. We could give them a five minute conversation and they could respond back in Huttese."
Spock takes a meditating breath before beginning. The people around the table are not going to like the next part of the discussion. "We will stay as long as the IKS Klothos remains in orbit around the planet. If the Klothos breaks orbit we will pursue. It is only logical that they will only break orbit if their mission was accomplished or if it has failed. In either scenario, the Klothos will be our best chance for finding the Captain if he indeed has left the planet." Spock waits for the bitching to begin as it typically does in Alpha crew meetings but the room is strangely silent. "If we leave orbit, we will dispense all five shuttles to the planet surface to stay and continue the search and rescue efforts until our return." The members of Beta crew shift uncomfortably in their seats but say nothing. "For now we will remain on Red Alert and monitor the situation. Dismissed."
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JIM AND BONES IN THE WOODS DAY 1
"I think I am going to reassess the physical fitness requirements of the crew when we get back. Jack has turned the kids into a damn pack of gazelles running laps," Bones grumbles fighting his way through a tangle of knee high branches. "How the hell did they get through this without leaping like a damn jack rabbit?" Bones pauses surveying the landscape. "Why have we not found them yet?"
Jim knows what Bones is getting at. After two hours of searching they should have found some trace of the kids. They did not get that large of a head start. "This terrain is going to make tracking them difficult for everyone. At least it will slow up the Klingons as well," Jim tries to be as reassuring as possible.
Bones pulls a flask from his shirt pocket downing a large swallow. "Place reminds me of that damn geocaching phase you were into at the academy," Bones looks at Jim sourly. "I didn't like it then and hate it now. At least there the damn target wasn't moving."
Jim motions for the flask which Bones hands over. "Yeah but you and Isabelle Kelly seemed to have a good time. In fact we lost the finals because the two of you," Jim air quotes the rest, "needed a breather." Jim throws back a shot grimacing as the burning liquid slides down his throat. "I tell ya Bones I have heard it called many things. The horizontal hula, threading the needle, taking a midnight jockey ride, but I have never heard it called taking a breather," Jim teases. "In fact I may not be a doctor but it sounded like she was hyperventilating from our position."
"She was a nice girl," Bones cries indignantly.
"That entire intermural you both were winding the clock, makin' bacon, the old lust and thrust," Jim tries not to laugh all the bizarre euphemisms for sex. In his experience using any of these with women only resulted in a stinging slap to the face. Lauren was the only one who ever seemed to find them funny but it was different with her. Jim loved her and even when it was crude, fast, and heady, he still made sure she felt safe and secure with him during sex.
"We had a good thing going until she heard you call it "sexercising" in the woods," Bones replies. "No wonder she left." Jim laughs at the memory of a highly pissed off Cadet Kelly reading Bones the riot act from their dorm room followed by a resounding slap.
"Parking the Plymouth into the garage of love," Jim finished the list garnering a scowl from his best friend. "You're better off without her. She was going to come between us. She didn't like me much," Jim jokes.
"I wonder why," Bones tries not to smile. The echo of a dog barking pulls the two men from memory lane. "Rogue," they both say and head off in the direction of the sound.
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JACK AND SULU IN THE WOODS DAY 1
"I mean even after fifteen years of marriage Sam still doesn't get that guys have four topics of conversation. Work, sports, jokes and women," Jack says in a mildly annoyed tone. "I mean what else is there? Does she really think I walk up to Jim and say 'How are you feeling today? You look down. Is there anything that I can do to cheer you up?' Let's go this way," Jack indicates the best route for them to take. "Hell no instead, we say what the fuck is wrong with you? If the answer we get back is lame, my go to response is nut up or shut up and that is if I really like you. If I don't like you the conversation ends with maybe a nod if that."
Sulu looks like he has just been saved by the cavalry in a losing battle. "Thank you. Rachel read me the riot act one day in the turbo when I said that to Chekov. I tried to explain to her that men don't share. We tell you directly what is bothering us and move on. She shot back with what if the response is not lame," Sulu replies. Jack tries to hide his shock that Ensign Rachel Owens and Sulu apparently have or had something going on. "I told her we say 'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that your aunt died or whatever the issue is and then change the subject." Sulu draws out his sword and uses it like a machete to clear a path. "I finally asked her what she thought guys talk about. She said well family, kids, stuff like that. I told her yeah I talk to you and the others about the kids in general but we don't go into specifics. You pose the question and unless the kid is currently on fire, the answer is always "Fine". Doesn't matter if it is or isn't. The answer is always fine," Sulu gives his perspective on how he feels about sharing the intimate details of his family.
Jack wishes he had a machete of his own right now. "Amen brother," Jack actually lets out a chuckle before speaking again. "You should have seen the look on Sam's face when I told her guys could spend an entire afternoon watching football and only bitching about plays and telling dirty jokes. I am not sure I have ever seen her more stunned."
"I don't think they realize how hard it is to date them. I mean all the mindless talking and pretending to care about the inane drivel pouring from their mouths. Talk to me about your thoughts on Star Fleet's new direction. Talk to me about your favorite movie. Talk to me about work but make it real work like engineering issues or new designs. I can handle that but not who is or isn't showing up on time for their shift. I could give a shit less about that kind of stuff."
"That is why the first caveman said the other caveman, "let's create girls night out. It was so he didn't have to kill her early on when there was no telepresentor to drown out delightful feminine conversational topics. Sam loves her moral dilemmas, the kids, body image, problems among friends, global issues that in no way, shape, or form impact my immediate family," Jack complains. "I mean if it is real issues about the boys bring it on." Jack pushes his way past a tangle of branches. "But look for me to solve it. Don't expect me to share my ideas of how or why it happened. Just give me the problem and I will find an answer." Jack waits for Sulu to get through the tangle of branches. "I think it is genetic. My nieces by age three sounded like Sam but the boys…hell I don't think I had a real conversation with them until they were like five."
"And money," Sulu adds. "In one way shape or form they always want to know about money."
"Exactly," Jack states beginning to descend the small hill. "I could care less what she spends it on. I make it every day. I don't care which drapes we should buy. Hell hang a sheet over the windows just don't get pissy when I am not interested in the pattern or color."
"Yeah but buy a new telepresentor and they are all up our ass about the cost, size, and where the money came from," Sulu's tone indicates annoyance with someone in the past over this topic. Jack briefly wonders if it was with Erika's mother or not. A sharp bark reverberates through the canyon. Neither men say a word but begin heading in that direction as fast as they can.
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GIRLS IN THE WOODS DAY 1
Kate, listening to Erika but especially Jo, complain for the past hour is making her crazy. "So let's talk about something productive like finding shelter and dinner. Any ideas?"
"Um let's talk about how they boys left us here. I mean what good is it being with survivalist O'Neill if I am starving?" Erika asks the group.
"Don't talk about food. I am dying here," Joanna whines. "Let's talk about something else. Hey I got an idea. Everyone says the three compliments and three digs on the guys. To keep it friendly we only do our own boyfriends. Erika you go first," Joanna orders huffing short of breath. Kate knows they will have to break again but she needs to keep them moving.
"Okay the three words that describe Ronin Dex O'Neill are creative, athletic, and caring," Erika lists for her friends.
"Okay I get the whole athletic thing but creative? I gotta tell you I don't see that one," Kate says. "I mean unless you are talking about taking down an opponent during sparring. He is creative there. He has pulled some pretty crazy ass things on me."
Erika gets a big smile on her face. "No like real art stuff. He writes poetry and likes drawing. I mean he enjoys sketching especially in pencil. He told me once he started drawing because he didn't have a picture of his mom. He kept seeing this face in his dreams," Erika shares hoping Ronin doesn't get upset with her. "So he started to sketch it. At first he was really bad but he got better. He showed me the picture one time of her. It was really good."
"So he has a picture of his real mom," Joanna says breathlessly. "That is so cool. Does Ronin look like her?"
"It was a picture of Sam. See he was only like two and a half when they adopted him and she was the first face he remembered. I guess Sam had dark hair once and then went back to blonde. Ronin remembered her dark hair and always thought it was someone else. I almost cried when he showed me and said 'yeah this is my real mom'. Sam had the picture framed and it sits by his bed," Erika huffs climbing up the large hill. "His poetry is not too bad but sometimes I have to try not to laugh."
"So what sucks about him," Kate asks bluntly. She is glad the girls seem more relaxed when talking but wishes they were moving faster.
"He is also brutish, rude, and short-tempered," Erika says getting annoyed. "I mean those O'Neill's can take the whole honesty thing too far dontcha think Kate?" Kate nods in agreement not really paying attention but planning their next direction. "Honesty is one thing but Ronin needs a filter sometimes. If he doesn't like something or someone you know it. He doesn't pull punches which can be embarrassing at times. I wish he would just go with the flow like John and Cameron do. You know tell me how much you hate it later but smile and deal like we have to all the time."
"Guys should take a course in manners," Joanna says. "Hey maybe we can have a coming out party. A boy's debutante ball so to speak." The idea of the boys being presented to society like Joanna's family does to girls makes them laugh hysterically. "Okay Jo your up. What three words describe what you like and then don't like about Cameron," Erika turns the hot seat onto her friend.
"Cameron is supportive, charming, and fun," Joanna says quickly. "Cameron is usually just plain fun to be around. We spend more time laughing that actually talking I think. Oh and he loves Disney and chick flicks. He can be so sweet when I get all teary eyed and sappy during those movies however;" Joanna confides, "He can be a real dick head sometimes." Kate is surprised at how quickly Jo finds his faults. "He is impatient, a control freak, and can't take a damn thing serious. Life is one big joke to him most of the time. Whenever things get hard he reverts to humor to hide his feelings. I just wish he would let me in sometimes and not pretend everything is always great. I know things are hard for him. Losing his mom during the Nero attack devastated him but he just falls back on it was meant to be. People say that but don't mean it. It is a cop-out mechanism nothing more. I don't know if his ability to not be serious or his impatience makes me more nuts. I hate asking him for help with homework. He is so smart that when I don't get it on the first round it make him crazy. That is the only time we really fight. The worst was the time he asked me how someone so smart could be so dumb." This stops Kate in her tracks. She looks at Joanna bewildered. "Oh yeah," Joanna confirms, "but as soon as I started crying he changed his tune. He even brought me daisies and carnations as a make-up gift." Joanna looks wistfully down the hill that she crested. "Can't we find a flat path for a while Kate?" Joanna begs watching Kate go down the hill.
"Next hill I promise," Kate placates her just to keep the group moving. If the girls are talking they are actually moving faster so Kate takes her turn boyfriend bashing. "Okay my three nice words are honest, intelligent, and efficient," Kate says trying to make it down the side of the hill without falling. "And my three annoying words to describe John are do-gooder, paternalistic, and passive."
"Efficient?" Erika says. "Efficient isn't a compliment it is a washing machine or replicator. Find a new one." She slides down the last three feet losing her footing on the slippery terrain.
"Hey I didn't critique your word choice but how about conformist," Kate's new word gets a scowl from Joanna as she and Erika wait for Jo to get to the bottom of the hill. "Doesn't make waves?" Kate tries again producing a similar result from Erika. "Okay, okay but that is who he is. John is a great guy. The best but he just fits in anywhere because he thinks it is expected of him. John is so set on his goals that he acts like he is in Star Fleet now. He would find a way to keep a boat steady in a hurricane. He has this idea of what is expected and then does it come hell or high water. He excels at everything he touches and treats life like a series of steps on a checklist. Good grades check. Listen to every adult check. Never cause a problem check. Oh I am old enough to like girls so get a girlfriend check. Sometimes I wonder if we aren't together simply because you two are with Cameron and Ronin." Kate sees Joanna ready to protest but cuts her off. "Let me finish. John wouldn't date me to just have a girlfriend but we don't have the relationship you guys do and I don't think it is a time thing. We are polar opposites. Yes I want someone to be my rock but I also want someone to surprise me. I want to be an equal partner but also someone to keep my shit in line." Kate stops to face her friends. "The time I was the most attracted to him ever was when I came home with Rogue. I mean he just took charge. I was wrong and not thinking then but John fixed it. Now I am not looking for someone to run my life but I wouldn't mind some guidance. I know it bothers him we don't hold hands or show any affection but he doesn't make an attempt either right. I mean if Cameron wants to hold your hand he does. Maybe I would like John to make me do it. You know be my rock by holding my hand and saying I don't care who knows. We are together and I am proud of you. Sometimes I feel like I am the dirty little secret that has to stay hidden. I so far in my life I had to stay a secret from the Jedi. I had to keep my mom's identity a secret. I find out I have a secret father. No sooner do I find Kirk then I have to hide my mom's identity and mine again with some lame backstory about a fire. Oh and let's not forget that as amazing and as cool as being a Jedi is, it's the biggest secret of all here. I am just tired of the secrets. How can I ever tell John or anyone the truth? John says he wants the truth but he'd just get pissed off if he got it. Trust me the truth hurts and not like a good hurt. It is a bad and painful hurt and that is why we lie. Root," Kate points out before the girls trip on it like she almost did.
Erika and Joanna exchange WTF looks. They know Kate is a talker but she is not a sharer. She talks their ear off but never about anything important. This is an entirely new perspective on her.
"I also want him to be more," Kate bites her lip, "forward. I mean I get that they don't want to push us into anything but I have to push him every step of the way. I have to do all the work while he just sits there. It is exhausting. Maybe just once I want to be totally freaking out with him and not like hmmm what are we going to do after dinner. John is awesome but he is as predictable as a sunrise. Maybe every once in a while I think I want a tornado like Paul Raynor." Kate gets a faint smile thinking about him.
"Paul Raynor," Joanna repeats stunned. "Paul is like sixteen."
Kate nods flashing them a devilish grin. Erika grabs Kate arm for an explanation. Kate exhales loudly sitting down on the ground. This is as good a place as any for a break. "Okay on Deneva he thought I was his age so he took me on the balcony and kissed me. I mean kissed me right out in the open. My heart was coming out of my chest." Kate points to her right like they are actually there as she tells the story. "And my dad," she begins to blush, "caught us lip locked in the dark."
"Oh my god," Joanna's mouth hangs open.
"Get out," Erika finally manages. "And your dad is not in jail?"
"No Captain Raynor was there so we all survived," Kate laughs turning red. Kate feels the hair stand up on the back of her neck and shoves Erika out of the way as a disruptor singes the ground where she once stood. "Move. Down the hill," Kate orders standing up. Rogue stands her ground with Kate barking savagely. Kate sees three Klingons on the crest of the hill they just descended. Kate closes her eyes and directs a Force push at the three men. They fly from their feet disappearing backwards. Kate hopes they are sliding uncontrollably down the other side. She needs some time to put distance between the Klingons and the girls. Kate begins a half run but most falling slide down the base of the hill. She slips several times scratching her legs but righting herself before falling into an uncontrolled tumble. The ground at the base of the hill is flatter. It even has a worn strip of dirt that is the closest thing to a path that they have seen. It is definitely not man made but probably some sort of migratory route for the native animals. Kate sees a large tree in front of her. She finds a large rock and begins to gouge into the soft bark of the tree.
"We have to go," Joanna says pleadingly pulling at Kate's arm. "Those Klingon's saw us and whatever you did won't stop them for long."
"Then help me. Get a rock and carve another star into this tree," Kate commands shifting slightly to her right. Erika comes back seconds later handing one to Joanna. "Erika make a huge straight line. Jo make the best star you can," Kate grunts pressing hard into the wood of the tree. The girls follow her direction and fifteen seconds later Kate steps back to look at their work. "Let's go," Kate says dropping her stone and running to her right.
"Why did we do that? We wasted so much time," Erika pants trying to keep up with Kate's running pace.
"We can't just keep running around here blindly. My dad and yours will be looking for us. Since they can't just beam us up they are going to have to do it the hard way. We need to leave clues as to what direction we are going. They need to be obvious to anyone looking but undecipherable to the Klingons. I would use Huttese but no one can read it," Kate explains panting heavily. She slows her pace some. If she is tiring then Jo and Erika must be exhausted.
"Um what was the code Kate?" Joanna asks falling to a fast walk from her jog.
"Second star to the right," Kate says indicating the path they took.
"Wow I am not sure anyone is going to understand that Kate," Erika says concerning spreading on her face. "Maybe we should have at least written Peter Pan above it so they had a shot in hell of getting it."
"Okay so maybe it wasn't the best code," Kate snaps at her friend, "but I am dry here. You both know a billion Earth references. A million ways to say something that I would never understand," Kate stops moving forward and paces back and forth. "Back home I would never be in this situation. We have clearly defined enemies. The only ones that come at you with a smile and a handshake are found in the Galactic Senate. People like the Klingon's come at you with a blaster. Back home I would have R2 or 3PO giving me coordinates or at least telling me if we were going in fucking circles," Kate screams the last two words at the top of her lungs. "I would be armed with at least a blaster and able to take the Klingons out from a safe distance. Do you know how well I can shoot? I can shoot the ears of a gundark." Kate feels the anger and anxiety building in her. "I was not helpless there. I could fight and fly. I was the cavalry and not someone who was waiting for it. I would never be the damsel in a god damned Disney movie waiting for a man to rescue me that is never going to come." Kate puts her hands on her hips. She has got to calm down. Erika and Jo are far less equipped to deal with the situation than her. She takes a deep breath and begins to walk forward on the path again. Suddenly she feels arms wrap around her neck from behind.
"No one would ever think of you as helpless Kate," Joanna says hugging her tight.
"No one would ever think of you as a Disney princess either," Erika laughs joining in the impromptu group hug. "You are so the cavalry and don't let anyone tell you different," Erika tries to build up her friend. Kate feels like she is in the twilight zone. Never has she met such hugging friends in her life. Form experience Kate has learned it is better to reciprocate than resist. She turns and hugs both girls forcing a smile.
"What do you mean I could not be a Disney princess," Kate says breaking the hug and moving the group forward. She hopes her lighter tone will hide the desperation she is feeling.
"Not many princesses can kick a prince's ass blindfolded," Erika laughs, "but maybe there is one. Jo, who is the closest Disney princess to Kate?"
"Mulan. She cross dressed as a man and joined the Chinese army," Joanna states matter of fact.
"Dude a cross dressing princess is all you got," Kate asked stunned. Rogue turns backwards and begins growling menacingly behind them. "Okay," Kate comes up with a hasty plan knowing the Klingons are close. "You two take Rogue and find someplace to hide. Find a fallen log, climb a tree, whatever just stay in sight of this path and hide," Kate instructs her friends.
"We are not separating," Jo demands angrily. "We run faster. I can keep up. Let's go."
Kate jerks her hand from her best friend. "We all know that is not going to work," Kate squares her shoulders and pretends she is Leia. "I know I was just bitching but the only one of us three that isn't defenseless is me. I will use the Force to draw them away from us and meet up with you. You take Rogue. She will help find me again later. Now go." The reality of the situation is not lost on Erika or Joanna.
"If we aren't back together by night fall we head back up the path to the tree with the code," Erika states pulling Joanna up the hill seeking cover. Kate runs farther up the road to a bend. She has to be the first thing the Klingon's see if this plan is going to work. She leans against a rock outcropping as if she is resting. The truth is Kate does need the rest. She is tired, hungry, and thirsty. Once she loses the Klingons Kate's next mission objective is to find water. If they don't the Klingons will be the least of their worries.
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BOYS IN THE WOODS DAY 1
By late afternoon the boys are beginning to become frustrated again. "How could the girls have possibly gotten this deep? I mean yeah they were being chased by Klingons but your dad is on their ass and it can still take them twenty minutes to do a mile. Just saying your dad is 10 times scarier than Klingon," Cameron tries to hide his nervousness with humor. "Do you think we missed them?"
"It's all about the motivation," Ronin informs his friend.
"Oh it's not like your dad is not motivating. Move your ass Montgomery. You waiting for shuttle Montgomery," Cameron imitates Jack causing the mood to lighten. "How about a wheelchair Montgomery? My dead grandmother is faster than you. Cameron you just bought yourself a ticket on the heel toe express and it is pulled from the station without you. Move it."
"Hey that's good just don't do it in front of my dad," John complements Cameron. "You'll be running laps forever."
"A one legged dog and a potato sack can make it around the track twice before you're halfway there Montgomery. This is not a Sunday stroll. I mean you," Cameron does his best imitation of Jack yet. John and Ronan can't help but laugh. "You know what's really freaking annoying," Cameron gets serious.
"Your running skills," John gets a high-five from his brother but a sour look from Cameron. It is not that Cameron is slow but just that John and Ronin are faster.
"That he never bitches at the girls. I mean really bitches," Cameron confides his pet peeve.
"He does just not as loud, Ronin defends his dad. "Now if dad put a pair of Uggs at the finish line they would kick our asses. I think I'm going to place a pair of Uggs at the finish line. See which girl wins," Ronin laughs.
"Okay so what is the most annoying thing about Erika," Cameron asks Ronin. Ronin stares at him like he is crazy. Cameron spins around walking backwards. "Come on when are we ever going to get the chance to do this."
"She talks about plants nonstop. Flowers, herbs, trees, medicinal plants, you name it she can tell you about it," Ronan says. "And she always wants roses for flowers. I like tulips better but one day I will get what she wants." Ronin sometimes wishes they were older. None of the kids are out with their little romances. The adults would probably freak if they knew.
John and Cameron try not to laugh. "Roses, huh really," Cameron says between snickers. Ronan stares at Cameron.
"Okay the fact that you know there are different tulips is crazy," John says while laughing.
"Joanna likes carnations and daisies. I've given them to her couple times but the craziest thing is Bones seems to be cool with it. I mean Jo's never said he freaked out when I've given them to her," Cameron says a little shocked.
"That's because he's waiting for you to come to sick bay Cameron," John explains firmly getting a panicked look from Cameron. "You'd survive. He made the Hippocratic oath but he does believe a little suffering is good for the soul."
"What about you John? What does Kate do to make you want to strangle her?" Cameron asks.
"Well, her one ups and when she looks away when she lies," John shares the one thing he wishes he could change about her.
"How was that annoying? That is gold," Ronin says.
"I give her the truth so I want the truth," John says in a matter-of-fact tone. "Oh and another thing is when she's right you are definitely going to know it even if you do know it. And if she loses, that sends her off freaking deep," John shares.
"You both think you have it so tough," Cameron shakes his head. "So Erica can be nerdy and Kate is bossy we all know that but Jo's manners make me want to jump out of my skin sometimes. Joanna is all about the southern manner thing. I mean she is scared to tell anyone to kiss her ass or hurt their feelings. Remember the Jedi movie thing a Christmas? Jo and I spent the entire time fighting about whether or not she should play hostess to those Jedi ass holes or not."
"I'm glad you held your ground on that one," John replies. Having Kate's family come for Christmas was about the most stressful thing that is ever happened to him.
"Yeah but I had to pay for it later. Especially when you," Cameron points to John, "got in that fight with Anakin."
"Didn't you just give her the standard I'm sorry dear, never again dear, please forgive me lines," Ronin asks.
Cameron and John make whipping sounds with their mouth. "Damn where do you hide that ring," John makes exaggerated motion of looking at his brother's hands. "You sound just like dad with mom."
"And you don't take that same approach with Kate, "Ronan demands.
"Of course I do, "John gives him a lopsided grin. "Otherwise I wouldn't be alive today."
"She also does it with you guys all the time, "Cameron says a little annoyed. "I mean she will want to watch a specific movie, but you guys show up and she's all like no yours sounds better. It wouldn't be so annoying except that I had just heard that no matter what we were going to watch what she wanted."
John is little shocked by this revelation. "So she's not honest with us, "he says a little upset.
"No it's not that she's lying it's just that she's passive, "Cameron explains. "Ever heard the saying wouldn't say shit even if you had a mouthful of it. That's my girl. She is always so worried about making someone else uncomfortable she never takes stand for herself."
"So next movie or whatever it is Jo gets it," John commands.
"Then we need to make sure our Mini-PADD's are charged because she is all in to those team romance things," Cameron makes a gagging face.
"Figures she'd like sparkling vampires," Ronan shakes his head in disbelief.
"You know Twilight would'nt have been so bad if Blade had been in it," John combines the two vampire movies. John gets a high-pitched girly voice saying, "Oh Edward no," then makes a swishing sound pretending to swing a blade. "Duck Emmett," John repeats his motion with his imaginary sword. "Run Jasper." John makes a final swooshing sound.
"And the audience goes wild. Now that is a movie I would not mind seeing," Ronin grins.
Once the laughter of the Twilight movie remake dies down Cameron get serious. "I don't know though for all her faults the one word that comes to mind when I think a Joanna is happy."
"Caring. That's what I think about with Erica," Ronan shares.
"Lost," John says softly thinking about Kate. Ronan and Cameron feel bad for him. They all know how much John and Kate like each other but somehow what they feel in their heart doesn't translate into real life. A high-pitched scream ends the conversation abruptly. The boys take off at a dead run towards the sound.