by TC Blane and Zanh Liis
81209.14
Concurrent with Never Again
-=USS Vanguard=-
81209.14
Concurrent with Never Again
-=USS Vanguard=-
TC watched as impatiently for the long range sensors to give him the information that he wanted. Tapping his finger on the small tactical console, he sighed.
According to TI information they were headed for the last position of the Sera, but that might not be correct. He hoped that they were right in their assumption.
As of now he still did not know how or why TI became involved in this ordeal and he found himself wishing they hadn’t. Nothing good ever came out of it.
Suddenly his console beeped. He quickly turned to the Captain, seated just behind him, and half smiled.
“We have the Sera on long range scanners.” He turned back to the screen and the half smile faded. “Damn.”
Zanh, seeing the change stood and walked over to stand over to him. Her jaw dropped as the damage assessment information flashed on the cut-a-way of the Sera that was displayed on the screen
Liis felt as though a knife was twisting in her stomach at the sight and she groaned, audibly. "People have got to stop blowing holes in my ship."
"I'd like a chance to blow a few in theirs." TC grumbled back. His usually unflappable no matter the circumstance demeanor was currently showing signs of strain, and Liis watched him glance over towards Will several times intermittently as he continued scrolling through the screens of data on the display.
As if feeling the chill of Blane's icy stare, Lindsay shifted uncomfortably in the pilot's seat. Dismissing the sensation, Will looked up with irritation, once again addressing the hovering Ferengi who had been unable to prevent himself from curiously studying the helm of this unfamiliar, intriguing starship.
"I told ya, Mr. Hok, I have to ask you to quit doin' that. This technology is something that isn't meant for your eyes. At least, not yet. Why don'tcha get yerself somethin' to eat? You must be hungry."
"Sorry." Hok shuffled to the back of the cabin toward the replicator. Quarters were cramped aboard the tiny ship, and that fact wasn't doing anything to help improve anyone's mood.
Liis observed Rada Dengar, sitting still as a statue in the seat beside the one she'd been in before. She thought about approaching him, but given his expression, decided to leave him to his thoughts awhile longer before she did.
He deserved commendation for his role in saving Lair's life, but she had a feeling he was currently in no mood to receive it.
"Thomas," she spoke up again at last, unsure who needed the chance for a few minutes of uninterrupted conversation more; Blane, or herself. "Let's get a cup of coffee and drink it in the back."
"Captain, I really ought to be studying these reports-"
"Five minutes." Zanh clasped a hand onto his tense, solid-as-brick shoulder. "C'mon."
“Aye sir.” He took one more long glance at the reading before extricating himself from the chair and following the captain to the back.
He walked to the replicator and grabbed two coffees, one for himself and one for the captain.
Handing her a cup, he then took a sip of his own. “Hull damage is pretty severe, but from I could read it looks like they are in the process of patching her up. Warp drive seemed to be alright but weapons and shields are in sad shape. We are still too far away for anything definitive.”
"Exactly." Liis gestured for him to follow her into the nearest, closet-sized room of crew quarters so they could speak more privately. She paused just outside the doorway, glancing into the next room where Dabin Reece still sat, unmoving and unmovable, at Lair Kellyn's side. "We are too far away to do anything to help them yet. You've had a hell of a day. Take a few minutes to center yourself, Thomas, since I know it's pointless to ask you to try to sleep."
"And just how many hours have you been awake, Captain?"
"Don't ask."
She inquired with a gesture if he'd hold her coffee for a moment, and once he took it she hopped up onto the top of the two bunks in the room. She slid over, making room for him to sit beside her, then took both cups and held them fast as TC took his place.
She swung her legs to and fro, staring down at the rings on her left hand without knowing she was doing it.
TC glanced at her sideways after taking another sip from his drink. “O’Sullivan?” he asked with concern.
Liis paled. She started to speak, then stopped, then finally was able to find her voice. "He's. They said that he." She stopped, abruptly changing tack. "You don't like Will Lindsay, do you?"
"I don't like his employers." Blane replied, "I have no problem with the guy personally. Unless I should have one," Ice blue eyes locked onto Liis, inspecting her features for any indication that he should.
She shook her head. "He's a good man, Thomas. He has done all he could to get me here, to help the crew, so we can get back to our ship."
"See what you just did?" Blane scratched his chin, now covered with a heavy five o'clock shadow, thoughtfully. "You changed the subject. You do it so seamlessly when you don't like a given topic of conversation that most people don't notice until it's too late to go back."
"You are not most people." Zanh muttered, knowing she was busted. She avoided his gaze, peering over the edge of the bunk at the deck below.
"No. I am not."
Liis downed her coffee in three quick gulps, and her earring jingled softly as she shook her head again. "I just don't know, Thomas."
"Don't know what?"
"If. After we deal with the woman responsible for all of this, and get Lair Arie back," her eyes narrowed with singular determination, "...and we will get Lair Arie back,"
"You don't know what?" Blane repeated, having no intention of letting her off the hook this time. The man she'd married only days before, a Starfleet Captain by experience and Security Liaison to the Sera by title, was not at her side in her time of need. He had better have a damned good reason for his absence.
"Will told me that due to the whole mess with the paradox, a room full of brains got together at TI decided that when this is over, that, well. Keiran and I. We." She was stammering, something that Blane had only very rarely seen her do before. "That only of us might still be alive when it's over. I worked for TI for a long time, Thomas. I know what that really means." Again, she glanced down at her wedding rings.
"It really means that if the timeline self-corrects, there may be nothing we can do to stop the one of us who was meant to die in this time from dying again." She looked up again into Blane's eyes, the pain in hers evident as she finally confessed the truth.
TC shook his head. “I’ve said this before. Time and history are always in motion. The only things that are set in stone is what has already happened, unless TI or someone else steps back and changes it.” He sighed. “Whatever is in front of us remains to be written so anyone who says that they know what should happen, or will happen, is full of it. We determine our fate as we live.”
Zanh visibly shivered, hearing his words. It was plain to see that she hoped he was right. Just as plainly, instinct told him that she was afraid to allow herself to entertain the hope that she may still get out of this with her future, and her dreams for what it could be, intact.
"In any case, they didn't want us in the same location with the Romulans involved. Will and Keiran had...words over this before we left."
"I bet they did." Blane knew Keiran well enough to know that he would need serious convincing to let Zanh go under any such circumstances.
"He wanted to come in my place, but the Sera is my ship. You're my crew. It's my honor and my duty to," she stopped. "So, here I am."
"Where does that leave the errant Irishman?"
Liis set her empty cup aside and began twisting her wedding rings absently. "If I had to hazard a guess? I'd bet he's only one step behind."
TC nodded and offered a rare smile. “There are several things in this universe that I doubt, Captain, but that statement certainly is not one of them.”
-------------
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=-Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
NRPG: 700 posts in 375 days...and every single one is something to be proud of. Thank you, Serendipity crew. What an incredible year. I'm amazed by you all. ~ZL
Commander TC Blane
Second Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
-=/\=-Zanh Liis
Commanding Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
NRPG: 700 posts in 375 days...and every single one is something to be proud of. Thank you, Serendipity crew. What an incredible year. I'm amazed by you all. ~ZL