Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 19:24:14 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: Christina fmlyhntr@sunset.net Title: Planefall Author: Julie Evans Contact:season7_5@yahoo.com Series: VS7.5 story 39 Codes: others Rating: PG Part: 4/9 Date Posted: 2/9/04 "Hey." Angelo dropped a light kiss on her lips. "I love you, you know." "I do," Celes whispered, and pressed her cheek to his shoulder, hugging him affectionately. They were both silent for several moments, until Angelo spoke again, his breath ruffling her hair. "Why don't you take a break for a few minutes?" She pulled away and looked up at him, her eyes narrowing with suspicion at his unexpected solicitude. "Angelo, we're not even sure yet." "I feel pretty sure." She did too, though she didn't want to get her heart set, just in case. She would know for sure in another day or two. She frowned severely at him. "Are you going to be one of those types, Angelo? Nervous and overprotective the whole time?" Angelo grinned. "It's my prerogative, isn't it? Besides, didn't you promise Billy a letter as soon as we got here?" She had. Hmpfh. "Fine, I'll take a short break. But don't think I'm going to sit on a chair eating *presa* wafers and reading holonovels for the next seven months just to keep you happy." "Yes, dear. I mean, no, dear." Angelo pecked her on the lips again, his expression smug. She rolled her eyes as she watched him stride away, his beloved tool kit swinging at his side. She couldn't help the blissful wave of emotion that swept through her. Her heart had already seemed full with her love for her husband, but now she knew it could be filled even more. She'd started to suspect her condition several days ago, but she wanted the first confirmation to be privately shared between her and Angelo. Securing a test kit from Pioneer's busy Sickbay would have likely sent gossip throughout the ship, so she'd opted to wait a few more days, until the colony's pharmaceutical supplies were available for use. Until then she was trying to focus on other things, like settling in and sending word of her and Angelo's safe arrival. She sat gingerly on one of the plastic crates, testing it for stability, and pulled out her PADD. Now was as good a time as any to drop a line to her dearest friend. *Dear Billy, *We're here! New Earth--finally! We had to remain in orbit for almost a week, which was pretty unbearable for some, including me. But we all managed to hold out until Captain Janeway gave us the go ahead to beam down. It was well worth the wait! *Remember that first time we saw New Earth from orbit? We thought it looked pretty nice then. I told you I thought we should all abandon Voyager and stay with Captain Janeway and Commander Chakotay. You freaked out about the virus and told me I was crazy, but it seemed safer to me than going on without them. Not that anyone cared about our opinions, of course, and in the end it didn't matter since we went back and got the captain and Chakotay. I guess that was another indication that life works out the way it's meant to, huh? *Anyway, it turns out it's more beautiful here than it looked from orbit. We've actually settled on the other side of the planet from where Captain Janeway and Chakotay were marooned. The climate here has only mild variations from summer to winter, which is fine with me. I never liked the cold much. (As I'm sure you recall, since you used to complain about the temperature setting in my quarters on Voyager!) The soil is very fertile, and suitable for a wide variety of crops. We're settled on a (fairly) level plain by the sea, though there are lots of hills surrounding us, and some mountains in the distance. There is a good-sized river and associated streams that flow from those mountains--a perfect source of clear, fresh water to drink! (Though we'll also have a desalination pump if the summers get too dry.) *Does it sound anything like New Tuscany? Every time I look around, I think of the things you used to tell me about your home! Not only that, but there is a plan to grow grapes here and eventually produce some local wine! One of these days I might be able to return the favor and send you a case of New Earth Cabernet vintage, say, 2381! Angelo and I brought our last bottle of your cabernet with us, and we're saving it for a special occasion. (Yes, our anniversary just passed, but we decided to save it for the next one, for several reasons.) *Anyway, speaking of anniversaries makes me think of weddings. I wish we could have been at yours, Billy! Amelia sounds like a lovely person, but I'm still trying to imagine you, married! I'm happy for you though! It sounds like you two have melded perfectly into your family. I'm still amazed how you slipped right back into your old life without so much as a bump. You're one of the few, but I'm glad someone could do it. *That's not self-pity, by the way. Yeah, I do wish my family had been more welcoming. But I don't regret anything that's happened, especially coming here. Sheron keeps me updated on everything at home, and she says the family will thaw someday. Maybe distance will make their hearts grow fonder, or at least more forgiving. Whatever. All I know is that Angelo and I are where we're meant to be, and with whom were meant to be. *I do miss you though! The transwarp project is still going strong, and maybe one of these days they'll find a way to get ships between here and the Alpha Quadrant in a matter of weeks, or even days. Then we could visit each other, and I can meet Amelia. I know I'll like her! *In the meantime, I'll keep sending letters, and you better reply--and not three weeks after the fact! No excuses about being too busy with the grape presses or whatever. You've got a zillion people in your family, and it's not like you have to press them with your feet! *I'll write you again in a few days, and tell you more about our new home. I may also have some other interesting news to tell you. Say hello to Amelia for me, and to all your brothers and sisters. I can't remember all their names (don't tell them!), even though you introduced us when Angelo and I were there last March. Say hi to the kids too! (Oh, and congratulations on being an uncle for the twenty-seventh time!) *Oh, and one more thing. Those sniffles you mentioned, the incubation period for Vegan Choriomeningitis is fifteen days, so if you're reading this, you've passed that time already. It was just a measly cold, wasn't it? Aha, I was right again! *Hugs and love, *Celes* ^*^*^*^*^ "Mom!" Kajee Narel started at her daughter's voice. She been indulging in a few moments of quiet contemplation and enjoying the feeling of the sun on her face, something she'd acutely missed on Pioneer. She'd kept from Michael how difficult the last few weeks had been, feeling as if the bulkheads were closing in on her. While she admired those who could do it, she'd learned quickly that shipboard life wasn't for her. "Mom, Tamil and Juanita want to know if I can come with them to the beach. Tamil's dad is going to check the water salin...something. Can I go with them? Please, please!" Kajee nodded at her breathless daughter who was bobbing up and down on her feet. "Yes. As long as you listen to Tamil's father and do whatever he tells you to do!" She finished at a shout because at the word "yes" her daughter had started running back toward her friends. "Have fun!" "Thanks, Mom!" Lajen shouted back as she and her two young friends ran off together. Kajee shook her head, amused. She was sure she'd been just as energetic at that age, but now just watching the children exhausted her. Professor Letreaux, the school director, had declared summer recess to commence with the beamdown from Pioneer, to coincide with the current season here, and to allow time for the school to be built and furnished. Until studies resumed in another six weeks or so, the children of the fledgling colony--all seven hundred fifty-four of them--were free to bide their time as they chose. Most were helping their parents unpack and organize their belongings for at least part of the day, as Lajen and the boys had assisted her this morning. But once they were free to indulge in their newfound freedom and wide-open space, they made the most of it. It seemed that there were children running everywhere within the boundaries of the colony. Kajee watched her daughter disappear behind the adjacent group of shelters to the south. She waved to Prebb and the Bolian waved back before resuming his attempts to unwrap a large roll of fabric. Beyond the Bolians, there were more groups of shelters stretching toward the south and southwest. Just past the final group a bluff overlooked the sea, which was visible as a narrow line of water stretching across the horizon. Kajee pulled her gaze from the pleasant vista and rummaged in the crate she'd opened a few minutes earlier, pulling out several dishes, including the glazed bluestone serving bowl that had been her grandmother's and then her mother's. She missed her parents, and her brother, but this was where she wanted to be right now. Her family had supported her decision, even though watching her leave had been hard on them. She'd suffered more than her share of painful losses, as had Michael. This was their chance to move on, to rebuild their lives, not only for themselves, but also for Luis, Raul and Lajen. "Need any help?" Kajee looked up at Jim, shading her eyes from the sun. "Thanks, but right now I'm just going through boxes, trying to figure out why we brought some of this stuff." "Hmm." Jim smiled wryly. "I guess there's something to be said for packing light." Kajee knew he'd boarded Pioneer with nothing more than a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, and that look of determined bravado he wore as a shield. She liked Jim, and she'd always seen through his bluster to the wounded man inside. He still didn't believe in his own worth, or his right to self-forgiveness. "You're right," she said. "When I get to the heavier stuff, I'll call you. Or Luis, if he's nearby." Jim looked toward the shelters of several Betazoid families some two hundred meters away, and Kajee followed his gaze. Just beyond them was a small tributary creek. It was little more that a trickle of water and would soon dry up completely until the winter rains, but it was visible by the tall trees that lined its flat banks. The trees reminded her of Bilang trees back home, and Michael likened them to eucalytpus trees on Earth. Her eyesight was good enough to spot the small figure reclined under one of the trees. He was still there, reading a PADD. "Luis seems to be settling in comfortably here." "He says he likes it," Kajee said. "He spends a lot of time alone though. I still think he should socialize more." "He's been doing much better at that," Jim said. "I saw him around a lot on Pioneer, especially in the biolabs." "He's got a strong interest in science, especially biology," Kajee said. She should ask Michael to encourage Luis to do another internship in association with his school studies. Or, she could always suggest it herself. She knew Luis liked her well enough, and she liked him, but he'd never made any move to take her into his confidence. That would no doubt come with time. "He likes to talk with the science staff. But I was thinking more of kids his own age." Jim patted her arm. "Don't worry so much. He'll get to that. He just has to go at his own pace. We all do." Kajee met Jim's astute gaze. "Yes, I guess we do." "You guess we do what?" Kajee turned at sound of the voice behind her and smiled at Michael. "I didn't expect you back so soon." "The orbital main defense system is installed," Michael said. "Now we just have to wait for Tarsh to finish the weather control augmentations. If Sarah Mackenzie can get the power supply grid online tomorrow, we can start testing it." Sarah Mackenzie was director of the power production project, and so far she had everything running ahead of schedule. "I expect she will. Did you decide on the limited version?" Kajee asked. She knew the subject had still been up for discussion between Michael, Sarah, and Tarsh, the Bolian who was heading weather control for the colony. "We're sticking with the limited system over this continent. We can't really justify the power expenditure to cover the entire planet. Besides, occasional plasma storms have been a natural occurrence here for millennia, so I don't guess there's a compelling reason to change that beyond protecting us and the Ocampa colonists." Kajee nodded at that logic. Michael's glance slid from her to Jim, acknowledging his presence for the first time, then back. "So, what were you two talking about?" "Luis," Kajee said. "We were just discussing his progress," Jim said. "Luis is fine." Kajee was surprised at coolness in Michael's tone, and Jim's eyebrows rose. "That's what we were saying," Jim said. Kajee didn't like the tension between the two men. They were friends, bonded by their three years together on Voyager. Michael had always been sympathetic to the plight of the Equinox crew, given his belief that some of Starfleet's training strayed, however inadvertently, into indoctrination. Michael had been as happy as anyone that Jim had decided to come along, yet lately he'd become less tolerant of Jim's presence. "I'll see you later," Jim said to Kajee when Michael remained silent. He shot a quick, sardonic look at Michael as he strode away, and Kajee shook her head. "You two shouldn't be doing this." "Doing what?" Kajee gave Michael a reproving look. "You know what I'm talking about. I know you weren't happy about that fight, but it wasn't his fault." "It never is." Kajee shook her head. "Michael, you encouraged Jim to come here so he could straighten out his life." "Because I thought he *would* straighten out and do something productive with his life. Instead he's spent all of his time sleeping to all hours, flirting with every girl on the ship, and getting into fist fights in the mess hall." "*One* fist fight. And not everyone had an official position on Pioneer," Kajee pointed out. "Or a job that was useful en route, like my teaching." "He could have found something to do. Angelo invited him to several planning sessions, but Jim never bothered to show up." Kajee thought he'd gone to at least one of them, but she didn't bother saying so. "We're not on Pioneer anymore, which means everyone has a job to do now." She knew more than a few of the colonists had wearied of the excess leisure time, and were eager to be productive again. "And Jim is starting with Angelo's crew tomorrow." "Um hmm." Michael's acknowledgment was distracted. He was staring at Jim's small shelter situated just beyond that of Celes and Angelo. They weren't there at the moment, but Jim was still outside his shelter, arms folded, looking toward the sea. "I'll be right back." "Michael--" "You're right. We shouldn't be doing this." Michael brushed her lips with his. "I just want to talk to him, Narel." Michael said her given name in that soft way during intimate moments, or when he wanted to cajole her, and Kajee was usually powerless against it. She watched him go, hoping the two would patch up their differences. They had to. There were varying degrees of family, not only the family she and Michael were making with their children, but also this small group connected to each other by their time together on the original Voyager. She didn't want Michael and Jim to strain that connection, or lose it. Out here all they had was each other. TBC -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. From ???@??? Sat Feb 14 00:52:20 2004 Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n34.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.102]) by kite (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aRSF75ot3NZFkD1 for ; Fri, 13 Feb 2004 21:48:21 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-13183-1076737584-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.