by Dane Cristiane and Keiran O'Sullivan
90129.21
…continued from part one…
-=/\=-
90129.21
…continued from part one…
-=/\=-
Dane began to materialize, and O’Sullivan watched Steele even more closely.
Reports written during his absence from the Serendipity and comments from the Captain indicated that the two young Ensigns had fought like cats and dogs, or rather, like Zanh and Ledbetter when working together before,
He knew full well that as much as being deeply attached to someone emotionally could ignite a memory in a resequenced TI agent so, too, could meeting up again with someone that you'd had as strong an aversion to.
Dane did something completely unexpected the moment that he set eyes on O'Sullivan, taking Keiran by surprise.
He smiled.
"Captain O'Sullivan!" Dane lowered his eyes respectfully. "This is a pleasure, Sir,"
"See? He still calls you Captain too." Landry whispered, garnering a sideways glance from the Irishman.
"That'll do, Ensign." Keiran admonished softly.
Landry fell quiet and watched as O'Sullivan held out his hand to Cristiane, offering a gesture of greeting.
Dane clasped hold, his hand completely disappearing into O'Sullivan's as he shook it.
He realized suddenly that if O'Sullivan was on the ship, something must've gone terribly wrong.
He knew that the Sera had been beaten up in some sort of battle, but the details had not been disclosed to the Alchemy crew as they made their way back from Bajor. His expression became one of concern. "Sir, I thought that you were supposed to be on your-"
"Plans changed, Ensign. We'll discuss it later." Keiran interrupted, as he shifted his eyes to Steele, then back toward Cristiane. For the first time, Dane realized who exactly was standing there beside his towering mentor.
He blinked at O'Sullivan, and O'Sullivan nodded slowly.
Dane finally extended his hand to the woman. "Dane Cristiane, Communications." Before Landry could respond, Keiran interrupted again.
"About that. I would be the person that they sent to tell'ya that Ensign Steele has been given your post at Communications."
Dane's jaw clenched, as he immediately gave in to the long-ingrained habit of expecting the worst. "What? Sir, have I done something to-"
"Dane," Keiran's voice cautioned him to keep his cool. "We'll discuss it later." Cristiane had no idea that the testing, and trial, of his character had already begun.
O'Sullivan turned to Steele again. "Ensign, why don'cha wait for Mister Cristiane in the lounge? I'll send him to fetch ya shortly and take you on a grand tour of the ship."
"Whatever you say, Sir! Nice to meet you, Ensign." She exited, and O'Sullivan and Dane each nodded to Parrish before they left as well.
Keiran pulled Dane aside in the empty corridor and lowered his voice.
"Is very important to remember, Dane, as far as Landry is concerned, you just met her for the very first time. Got it?"
"I understand."
"Good. Now, listen. The reason that she's takin' yer post at the comm station is because as of now, you belong to me. I'll be trainin' you, and sendin' you through rotations with all of the departments on the ship to get you ready for the next step."
"The next step?" Dane's heart began to race.
"Yeah." Keiran answered slowly, worried for the young man's future. He could only hope that Dane was really up to the challenges, and the hardship, of the job. "Your first Jump."
Dane's eyes flew open as he stared at O'Sullivan. "You mean...my application was,"
"Approved, with conditions. You will work with me intensely from this second up until the very moment that I decide you're ready to be handed over to the agency full time. If ya do not ask how high I wan'cha ta jump while you're on the way up, I guarantee you that you will no' last a day at Temporal Investigations."
"On the way up. Understood, Sir. Captain,"
"Dane, rank's Commander now,"
"It'll always be Captain to me, Sir," Dane said, uttering the words with more respect than he'd ever offered anyone in his life. "Before the rest of the crew, yeah, I understand, it has to be Commander. But when it's just you and I, Sir, I." Dane stopped. Part of him still couldn't believe, given the Paradox, that O'Sullivan was alive and well and standing before him now.
Keiran could only shake his head, amazed at the changes that had taken place in the young man before him.
"I know I've made monumental mistakes in the past." Dane continued. "This chance means...a lot to me."
"I know, boy. I know." Keiran pressed a hand down on Cristiane's shoulder. "That's why you're not gonna repeat those mistakes. Ever again."
"Got that right." Dane knew exactly where his loyalties lay now.
"Grand. Stop by my office tomorrow morning first thing for details of your startin' rotation. I wan'cha to spend some time with February Grace talkin' about pilotin'. Then I wan'cha to spend some time with her husband talkin' about science."
Keiran began to walk, heading toward the lounge where Steele waited for Cristiane.
He silently ticked off the passing seconds in his head, waiting to see how long it would take Dane to object.
Surely he wanted the man to learn his place and mind it, but he didn't want Dane to turn into a yes-man or a pushover, either. If he did, he'd never be able to make the decisions that he'd need to as a Jumper.
Twenty-three seconds later, the sound of rapid footfalls met Keiran's ear and he stifled a grin as Dane caught up to him.
"But, Captain O'Sullivan, Sir...why do I have to complete a science rotation? I understand that my piloting skills can stand some improvement and Security is a no-brainer..."
"Two reasons," Keiran replied evenly as Dane struggled to keep pace with his impossibly long strides. "Temporal anomalies and explosives."
"Two good reasons, Sir." Dane replied contritely, feeling like an idiot.
"But why can't I work with Samson? Why does it have to be Reece?"
"Why did I have to work with Ledbetter all that time?" Keiran asked rhetorically.
"You're still working with him now, Sir, if the updated roster I saw was correct..." Dane had, Keiran observed, certainly done his homework before returning to the ship.
"My point precisely. We usually don't get to choose our crew mates, Dane. Workin' with Reece won't just hone your science skills. Is meant to test your patience."
Dane had absolutely no doubt that it would do both, if he could keep himself from shaking the spots right off of Reece in frustration. "Yes, Sir."
"Now. Go on, off with ya. Give Landry that tour. When you're finished with that, there's somebody else I want you to show around the ship. They'll be waitin' for ya in transporter room two at twelve-thirty hours, and so will I to introduce ya. "
*I wonder if all TI agents start out as tourguides...* Dane grumbled internally.
Noticing that the younger man was only half listening, Keiran repeated himself. "Cristiane! Quit yer daydreamin'. Twelve-thirty hours, mind? Don' be late."
"Aye, Sir."
-=Twelve-thirty hours=-
Dane now had a pounding headache.
Landry Steele may have forgotten who he was during her resequencing, but she certainly had not forgotten who she was and the woman was as damned annoying as ever.
He rubbed his temples for a moment before moving through the doors of the transporter room, where Keiran was waiting, leaning casually against the wall with arms folded and the toe of one massive boot crossed over the other.
"Four more seconds and you'd’a been late, boy. Watch the clock."
"Aye, Sir." Dane answered pathetically.
"Now, let's bring our new crew mate aboard, shall we? Would'ya like ta do the honors? Sent the trans-op on a coffee break."
"Yes, Sir." Dane stepped to the controls and initiated the transport. "Energizing."
Keiran watched him carefully as the form of a woman took shape before them.
If any test was going to be the one that broke Dane's resolve to join the agency, it was going to come in the form of the person who would soon stand before him.
"Welcome aboard, Ensign." Keiran said, stepping forward and offering his hand to the young woman.
"Thank you, Sir, it's...awfully good to see..." she stopped, and Dane's head jerked upward, recognizing her voice instantly before even catching sight of her. His heart nearly stopped.
Keiran allowed Gira to give him a hug, and he placed a gentle, fatherly kiss on the crown of her head before turning to Dane with a look that conveyed an unspoken warning.
"Ensign Cristiane, this is our new flight controller, Ensign Gira Lassiter." He went through the formalities though he knew damn well they were not needed. "Miss Lassiter, Dane Cristiane. He'll be givin' ya the official tour."
Dane locked down the transporter controls and stepped forward, nodding to Gira and bowing slightly. "Ensign."
She offered him a small smile, and Keiran nodded toward the door.
"You'd best get started. Gira, I'll be talkin' to ya soon as you get settled."
She moved forward, then turned back toward Keiran with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Sir." Three simple words, that spoke a volume of gratitude.
Keiran lowered his eyes, saying nothing. He then watched the two leave and the door close behind them, and sighed, mumbling to himself.
"Right. Well. That's that, then. He'd better conduct himself as the gentleman I expect him to be. Otherwise, goin' to hav'ta kill 'im."
Dane reached out, gently offering to take Gira's duffel bag. She resisted, but he insisted and she finally handed it over.
"I can't believe you're here," Dane said, a million questions as to why she was here, now, racing through his mind.
"I owed you a letter," Gira replied softly. Nervously. "Thought maybe I'd deliver it in person."
-------------------------------
Ensign Dane Cristiane
Temporal Investigations Intern
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Commander Keiran O’Sullivan
Security Liaison
The Alchemy Project
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Ensign Dane Cristiane
Temporal Investigations Intern
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
and
Commander Keiran O’Sullivan
Security Liaison
The Alchemy Project
USS Serendipity NCC-2012