Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 01:33:27 -0500 (EST) From: "Lynette R. F. Cowper" Subject: USS OBERON: Complications [Some time after the big battle] Keegan had dealt with the death of Anna by not dealing with it. She had first thrown herself into the defeat of the thing that had killed Anna. Now that the OBERON had arrived via D-warp around Gateway, she was throwing herself into solving the problem of how to bring Owen back. Outside of her work, she didn't see, didn't hear. She hadn't registered anything unusual in Adam Crown's appearance on the surface of the planet, Owen's being an android, Nabon's possession of Owen's body, it all went over her, through her, around her. There was only work. There was nothing else. Anything else meant remembering Anna's bloody form on the floor of her quarters. The data backup of the transporter trace of Prism had given Keegan an idea. Now, she sat in the holodeck, carefully peeling Owen Christie layer by layer. "Dougal, hand me that spreader..." "I still don't see why you just don't let the computer do the peeling," he said as he handed the tool to her. "Because that doesn't give me any feel for things. I have to handle it." "Aren't you tired? You've been at this for hours." "I'm not tired. And I need to get this done," she answered. "You can save it at this point and come back, you know." "But then I'd have to refresh my memory. It wastes time." Dougal reached out, took her chin in his hand and lifted her head to face him. "It's about her, isn't it? You don't want to face it." "Save me your psychology lessons, bubby. I only called you because I needed your help with this." "Oh, yeah? Why not use one of your engineers? You called me because you wanted to talk while you were working, so talk." "What's to talk about? A woman who used to be my lover and who dumped me to go back to the slime bucket who was cheating on her is de-- Ow! Goddammit, now look what you made me do!" Dougal pointed to himself. "Me? How'd I do anything?" "You distracted me, that's how." "You're getting off the subject. You're disturbed by how she died?" Kee shrugged. "Why should I be? I've seen pool parties before." Pool party. Nice little phrase her family used to indicate a blood bath of massive proportions whose intent was to cause as much mental anguish for the mark as possible. "Yes, but you were always on the outside of those. And, besides, since you went into the fleet--" <> "Pause program," Kee commanded. Her "brother" paused mid-sentence and she hit her commbadge. "Dacey here." "How are you coming, Kee?" "I'm learning quite a bit, but a lot of these parts are basically incomprehensible. I'd like to go down to the surface and do a scan for any components that might have been left there." <> "Thanks." She heard Lanni click off. "Continue program," she ordered the computer. "-- you've been more and more squeamish about the family business." "I've got to go for a while, Dougal. See you." "Bye." "Computer, save and exit program." Dougal disappeared, along with Owen Christie's body and all the tools she had been working with to be replaced by the familiar lines of the holodeck. Kee looked at the spot where the holographic recreation of her brother had been. She hadn't talked to her family in years. Such recreations were the best she could do. "Bye, Bubby." ****** The sparkling ended and she found herself looking in awe at the Guardian of Forever. Glancing to her side, she noted with amusement that Nivek was also staring at it with some awe. "It's really something, isn't it?" He nodded. "Okay, let's start looking. Got your tricorder set?" "Yes, sir." She turned her back and walked away from the ensign, watching the readings. Some sixth sense told her to dodge. She wasn't a Dacey for nothing. She dodged. Disruptor, her mind noted dispassionately as she sought some refuge. Nothing. She hit her commbadge. "OBERON, emergency! Lock on and beam me-- Aggh!" ****** "Keegan, can you hear me?" She hurt too much to open her eyes, but somehow managed to croak, "Nivek... 'sruptor..." before drifting back into unconsciousness. Respectfully submitted, Lynette R. F. Cowper Lt Keegan Dacey, CEO USS OBERON NRPG: Just a "little" side-plot while we're waiting for more Prism stuff to gear up. # Lynette R. F. Cowper o INWO Line Editor & Goddess # # lcowper@indy.net <>< Circle of Janus Secretary # # lcowper@io.com o Captain, USS CALYPSO # # http://www.io.com/~lcowper/ ><> Warrenlady, Telnor Warren #