Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 19:29:27 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: Christina fmlyhntr@sunset.net Title: Planetfall Author: Julie Evans Contact:season7_5@yahoo.com Series: VS7.5 story 39 Codes: others Rating: PG Part: 8/9 Date Posted: 2/9/04 ^*^*^*^*^ Tornak muttered several Romulan curses as he attempted to engage the engines. The low hum of phaser fire could be heard coming from outside. Tornak ignored it, but Luis listened intently. So intently he heard another, fainter sound, like metal scraping against metal. It was coming from somewhere behind him, and Luis started to turn slowly and look, but Tornak leapt up first. The metal sound grew slightly louder for a moment, and Tornak cursed. He aimed his phaser at Luis, waving it warningly. Luis tensed, not with fear but with caution. He met Tornak's intimidating gaze but remained completely still. Satisfied, Tornak moved aft, muttering curses as he went. Luis rose as quietly as possible, keeping his attention on Tornak, but the Romulan's attention was focused elsewhere. He took a careful step, looking around for a weapon. Tornak let out a triumphant shout, and Luis used the moment to grab a metal spanner that lay abandoned under the pilot's seat. He moved quickly and spun around, expecting Tornak to have heard and turned on him. Instead Tornak was aiming his phaser at the deck, behind the partition that separated the storage area from the main cabin. There was an access panel in the storage deckplate somewhere-- "Rokh'tal!" Whatever that word meant, Tornak was about to fire at someone trying to get into the storage area. Luis shouted and ran toward Tornak. The centurion turned toward Luis, bringing his phaser up, but his reaction was too slow. Luis barreled into him, swinging the spanner. It caught Tornak on the temple, and he fell backward, his phaser flying across the deck. Luis fell to his knees next to the crumpled figure. He raised the spanner again, ready to hit Tornak if he moved, ready to protect the rest of the prisoners, to keep them from being tortured just for sadistic pleasure-- "Luis." Luis blinked, and looked at Jim, who had pulled himself up halfway through the hatch. Jim's hard stare was intent, almost mesmerizing. Luis slowly lowered the spanner and looked down at the unconscious Romulan. "Let's call in the cavalry," Jim said as he pulled himself all the way onto the deck. "Tornak disabled the comm system," Luis said, setting the spanner on the floor, a good distance from Tornak's unconscious body, just in case. "No problem." Jim strode to the front console and with a couple of taps deactivated the force field. "I think that will get the message across. Let's get out of here, and leave Tornak to the doctors." Luis nodded and joined Jim at the main door. Jim pressed the door release, then pushed Luis behind him as the door opened, walking out first. From behind Jim, Luis could see the array of phasers aimed in their direction, though they were all lowered almost immediately. "Luis and I are fine," Jim said. "Tornak is inside, unconscious." Two security officers passed by them, jumping into the runabout. Luis paid no attention to them, because following right behind was his father. He felt a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, and glanced at Jim. Jim smiled, then stepped away. "Luis. Are you okay?" Luis nodded. His throat felt tight, not from fear, but from relief, and regret at his father's anxious expression. He had a sudden urge to hug his father, to hold on as tight as he could, and he suppressed it with effort. He wasn't a little kid anymore. "I'm fine, Dad." His father crossed the small distance between them before Luis could even blink, and engulfed him in a bear hug. Luis hugged him back, forgetting for a moment anything except that his father was here, holding him as if he would never let go, and it felt as if it had always been that way. Maybe hugging was okay, even if you weren't a little kid. After his dad let him go, Lieutenant Harriman hugged him before she went into the runabout. While Captain Merves and Doctor T'Pren beamed to Pioneer to deal with Tornak--who would be fine, Doctor T'Pren told the captain, which suited Luis though he hadn't liked Tornak even before he'd become sick and crazy--Kajee came running with Raul and Lajen. They all hugged him. When they walked back to their shelter soon after, Angelo and Celes were there, and they both hugged him. Then Doctor Tanaka and several others from the Sciences staff stopped by, and most of them hugged him. Later, several kids from his classes stopped by to see him, two or three at a time, and they wanted to know all about his adventure. Even K'Lerg, the surly Klingon boy from his geometry class, was impressed by the details. And several of the girls hugged him, including Isobel MacKenzie, maybe the smartest and prettiest girl on New Earth. No, *definitely* the smartest and prettiest girl on New Earth. Luis felt like he was in a fog for quite awhile after they left, but it was a pleasant, dreamy one. Yep, Luis thought as he drifted off to sleep later that night, hugging was actually pretty okay. ^*^*^*^*^ Day Four, Pioneer, midday: Michael Ayala walked onto the bridge of Pioneer. After four days on New Earth the ship already felt alien to him, as if it didn't belong to him--or he to it--anymore. He was just a visitor here now, which suited him. Commander Rees sat in the command chair, and she acknowledged his presence with a smile and a wave of her hand toward the ready room. She was one of only three officers on the bridge, which seemed as cavernously empty as the rest of the ship. Michael mouthed a quick "thanks" to Rees and she went back to studying the data on her console while he strode to the ready room door. At the captain's invitation he entered, and found Captain Merves with coffee cup in hand and a dozen printouts spread across his desk. "Here is my report on the security incident yesterday," Michael said, though "incident" seemed a pale word to his mind. Merves accepted the proffered PADD, and waved toward a chair. "Have a seat." Michael sat, while Merves glanced at the report. "Captain, I owe you an apology for yesterday--" "You have nothing to apologize for, Michael," Merves interrupted. "You couldn't have foreseen what happened." "Maybe not, sir, but if I'd located Tornak more quickly, his actions would have been curtailed." "Unfortunately, putting locator collars on the Romulans wasn't an option," Merves said dryly. "Nor could we force them to wear their combadges. They're free citizens, after all." "Yes, but--" "Michael." Merves held up a hand. "In retrospect, there were several things we could have done differently, and certainly more effectively, had we been aware of Tornak's unstable condition. The only real error was the initial one that set all this in motion. And that appears to have been a case of mis-delivery to the wrong file in the computer database. It may be a cliché, but what matters is that all's well that ends well. Want something to drink?" It took Michael a second to react to Merves' nonsequitir. "Uh, no, thanks." Merves nodded and took a sip of his coffee. "Speaking of well, Doctor T'Pren will be releasing Tornak this afternoon. He's fully recovered." "That's good," Michael said. Though he knew Tornak hadn't been responsible for his actions, he still couldn't find it in his heart to care much about the Romulan centurion's well being. But he was glad for Luis's sake. "That means he will be returning to New Earth?" "Actually, no. Leral has been ordered to return the runabout to Pioneer's shuttlebay, where she and Tornak are to await Commander Prolak's return. It seems he was quite displeased when he learned about the incident." "That the Federation ultimately caused," Michael said. He wasn't sorry Tornak would remain on Pioneer, but it seemed an odd response. Though perhaps not for Romulans. "The Romulans are a different breed," Merves said, mirroring Michael's thoughts. "He was more put out by Tornak's inability to conquer the virus's effect, and Leral's 'ineffective' leadership, than by the vaccination oversight on our part. Apparently the concept of weakness, or of an inability to overcome an affliction without Federation assistance, is anathema to the Romulans. Or, to Prolak, anyway. "By the way, Prolak also told Captain Janeway that they would be leaving immediately upon his return to pursue their original mission. They'll leave their embassy office unstaffed but available for future use, though I'm betting they won't ever take up actual residence." Whatever the Romulans original plan, Prolak must had gotten enough insight into the Federation's intentions here by tagging along on Voyager, Michael supposed. "I have to admit I'm glad they won't be back on the surface," he said. And that his son wouldn't see Tornak again, even though Luis was acting surprisingly sanguine about the whole thing. "So, how is Luis?" Merves asked. "He's fine," Michael said. "Better than fine, actually." He shook his head, still amazed by Luis's reaction. He'd been a little shaky right after, but an hour later it was as if nothing had happened. "I'd have done anything to prevent this, yet Luis seems to have come out of it more...confident in himself." Merves nodded. "He faced down his fear. He's realized it can't destroy him unless he lets it. Most people are a lot older when they figure that out, if they ever do. The price has been high, but what Luis has learned about himself may serve him well." Though Michael would always regret that Luis had been robbed of the secure childhood he'd deserved, he recognized the truth in Merves's words. And he'd seen the truth in his son's eyes last night. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and the real Luis, the happy, confident boy he'd left behind, had returned, now in the form of a young man. "I guess Morrow deserves part of the credit, since his presence was probably the impetus for Luis to act," Merves said. "Though if he were under my command, he'd still be cooling his heels in the brig right now for pulling that stunt." Michael's mouth quirked. "I'll tell him that." Merves smiled. "I doubt he'll care. Just as well he's no longer in Starfleet. He's got the independent-minded nature suited to colony life, if he takes his opportunity on New Earth seriously." "I think he just might," Michael said. Jim had been genuinely content last night, and not just because of Luis's safe return, either. It was the most comfortable he'd seen Jim even among friends, as if he really wanted to be where he was, and who he was. "That's good to hear," Merves said. He set the PADD on his desk. "Right now I have several reports to finish before Captain Janeway's arrival. I'm eager to know more about her meetings with the Vidiians, and I know she'll also be eager to see what's been accomplished on New Earth so far." "I'll be happy to show her around," Michael said. He knew Captain Janeway, Chakotay, Tom and B'Elanna, Neelix, and the half-dozen others from the original Voyager crew were eager to see the colony. And he could show them what they would be missing galavanting around on a starship, even if they'd be coming back to New Earth from time to time. "I do know you'll make the most of your opportunity on New Earth, Michael," Merves said. "But if you ever want your old job back, it will be here. Though I might have to fight Captain Janeway, in that case." "I appreciate the accolade," Michael said. "But I'm not ever going to be away from my family again. I'm afraid I'm a planetbound man now, sir." Captain Merves nodded, his gaze understanding. "I'd say you're a lucky man, Mister Ayala." "Yes, I am," Michael agreed. "Yes, I am." Day Four, New Earth, evening: "Fetch, Dobby!" The black lab puppy gamboled across the grass as he chased the stick Raul had thrown. When he reached it, he pounced at it with all his puppy might, and rolled right past it, a black ball of fur and gangly legs sticking out everywhere. He quickly righted himself and turned back to the stick, yapping victoriously as he grabbed it with his sharp teeth. Then he settled down in the grass and began chewing. "Dobby, when I say 'fetch' you're supposed to bring it back to me!" Jim patted Raul's shoulder. "He's young. He'll learn." "I guess he can just play with it right now," Raul said, while Dobby gnawed at the stick as if it was a steak bone. "Jim, you don't think his name is silly, do you?" "Nah. He looks like a Dobby to me." "It's a very good name, I think." Raul smiled broadly at his father, pleased by the praise. Kajee sat beside Michael on one side of the firepit, settled on a soft blanket Kajee had brought with her, while Celes and Angelo sat across from them. It was dusk on a warm summer evening, where, on any planet in the galaxy, the best place to be was outside. The air was redolent of meadow grass, sea salt, and a myriad of foods recently cooked on barbecues and in open firepits. The breeze carried a welcome hint of coolness, and the argon glowlamps spaced throughout the colony site began to blink on, their warm yellow light spilling over the shelters and illuminating the first permanent structures around the common square. Jim shared the edge of Celes and Angelo's blanket. He was pleasantly full from the Bajoran meal Kajee had prepared for everyone. For now they were taking turns preparing the group meal. Once permanent housing was erected, many would make their meals in their homes, with both fresh and replicated ingredients, but Jim figured on enjoying the communal atmosphere for awhile. Perhaps even through the summer. "I think I'll get a beer," Angelo said. "Anyone else want anything?" "You can bring me some hot tea," Celes said, and Angelo smiled at her as if he'd bring her not only tea but anything else she might ever ask for. "I'm fine," Michael said, as Kajee also shook her head. "I'll take a coke," Jim said. "Just coke?" Angelo asked, surprised. "Something wrong with that?" Angelo shook his head. "Can't stand that old drink myself, but if that's what you want." Angelo walked toward his shelter, giving Jim a searching look, then a brief smile. Jim sensed the others watching him and kept his gaze on Raul and Dobby. He didn't see any reason to voice what they were thinking. So he was giving up synthehol for a while. He just didn't have a taste for it right now. "Mom! I'm back!" Lajen was running, which was her regular mode of locomotion, with someone trailing further behind her. "Tamil's dad made shish-ka-bobs for dinner. They were great! Tamil's coming over tomorrow night for dinner, if that's okay? Where's Angelo?" "I'm glad you had fun. That's fine. And Angelo is...hi, Neusha. Please join us." Jim had been watching Kajee's remarkably facile response to her daughter's random conversation, but he turned to see that Neusha Patel was the person lagging behind Lajen. "Neusha!" "Hi, Angelo." Neusha smiled at him as he rejoined the group, handing Jim his coke. "I just brought the blueprints for the meeting hall foundation, so you can check it before we start tomorrow morning." Angelo took the blueprints with his free hand, and set them on the ground as he settled down again next to Celes. "Thanks. Sit down and join us. I was telling Michael a bit earlier about the community pool." "Which is a fine idea," Michael said. "But I think we need a good sport field first." Kajee patted the blanket beside her, and Neusha sat down, looking around the group with a quick smile of greeting. Her eyes met Jim's last, and her was glance cursory at best before she returned her attention to Michael. "We already have enough recruits to make up half a dozen soccer teams, and I've been hearing a lot of interest in baseball, too." "Baseball's a tired old game," Angelo said. "Soccer's okay, but we need some water polo teams." Michael shook his head. "I just never got the attraction of water polo. All that boring swimming back and forth." "Boring?" Angelo looked at Michael askance. "It's a fast, action-packed game. It's baseball where you spend ninety percent of your time standing around. Talk about boring." "Baseball is a classic sport," Michael said. "It's all about grace and finesse, not brute strength, like water polo." "I have to disagree with you, Michael," Neusha put in. "Water polo certainly takes strength and stamina, but there's a lot of grace involved too. I got through Mehran University on a water polo scholarship. We won the Pan-Asia regional three times." 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 ???@??? 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