02-15-2010, 10:48 PM
If anyone wants to read it, here's what I've got so far for my assignment:
Once upon a time, in a sector far, far away…
“BORING!!!” Malara Gallagher shouted. Others looked. Malara was stuck taking sensor sweep after sensor sweep, coming up with nothing each time. The UES Eneru had just finished getting back to somewhat normal after the latest confrontation with the Dlarconian Empire’s fleet. This was so much more exciting during the battle, Malara thought. Then regretted the idea—the last time she wished something exciting would happen, they ended up nearly getting blown into oblivion!
So here she was, a bored-out-of-her-mind human/dark elf hybrid Midshipman, hoping to get the tactical officer position on the flagship—the UES Osiris. But instead, here she was, on a backside-of-nowhere ship, on a diplomatic mission, of all things! How she was going to get back to the academy in time for her graduation, she had no idea.
Finally, the delta shift came to relieve the gamma shift. Thank you! Malara inwardly gasped. At long last, she could get a shower and some sleep! Idly fidgeting with her pointed ear, Malara walked down the corridor. Once she was back at the academy, in her own dorm room, she would have the privilege of sleeping as long as she liked, while the rest of the Mids had to get up at 0530 reveille. Yet another one of the advantages of getting her field training done early.
“Did you hear about Ambassador Hades’ son?” One of the girls from a previous duty shift—beta, most likely—was asking her friend. “I hear he’s one yummy piece of work!”
“Shut up,” A redhead retorted. “He’s blue and has wings. What’s so new about that?”
“Says the girl with a dragon for a boyfriend,” A third girl, Erika, said. She was the tactical officer. “I’ve met Velos, only with his father present, though.”
“You have?” The first girl asked. “Lucky.”
Erika spotted Malara. “I’ll talk to you girls later,” she said, striding over to Malara. “So, how did gamma watch go?”
The doors to the mess hall swooshed open. “Duller than listening to pixies tell stories.” Malara replied. “You try taking sensor sweep after sensor sweep of nothing but empty space!” She keyed her order into the replicator, and it materialized moments later. “Gods, I can’t wait until we’re back to Earth. What I’d give for some real food!”
“I hear you,” Erika said. The human woman was seven years older than Malara, and had graduated the Academy with the honorary rank of lieutenant. She had been assigned to be the tactical officer for the Eneru, and had been there ever since. “The replicated crud is okay, but it’s got a weird tang to it that the real thing doesn’t have. Aw, c’mon!” Her order for Tamaranian pizza had gotten mixed up, and she ended up with Tzkian pork instead. “Yet another reason to get your food from an actual kitchen instead of a replicator…” she grumbled, taking the food she had ended up with.
“Who the heck is this Velos anyway?” Malara asked, starting in on her Eridian salad. “I know he’s the Tauran ambassador’s son, but how does that make him special? He’s just an ordinary guy from another planet…”
Erika sighed and pointed with her fork. “He’s over there. Blue guy with dragon wings.” She said. “He’s not with his dad for once. Usually, he’s stuck to his dad’s side almost 24/7.”
Malara turned. And her eyes went wide: Velos was just over six feet tall and slender, with light blue skin, dark blue and indigo wings that resembled those of a dragon’s protruding from his jacket, jet black hair that fell down into his face, and sharp golden eyes. He wore what appeared to be some kind of jeans, an emerald green tunic, and long black jacket with gold diplomatic insignias on the sleeves. All in all, Malara could see that he wasn’t as average as she thought—in fact, he looked more like a Japanese rock star…except for the fact that he was an alien.
“Impressive,” Malara muttered. She was typical to the dark elves’ reputation; hard to please. “Still, what are the chances that he isn’t a total jerk?”
At that moment, Velos looked her way. Their eyes locked, and the next instant looked away. It was almost as if he knew she was there, and wanted to see who was staring him down. Well, now he knew; a crabby, overworked, overstressed human/elf mix. Nothing really special, except for the fact that she happened to have pointy ears.
Malara turned back to her dinner. She had a distinct feeling that she was turning bright red, not helped by the fact that she could feel her ears getting warm. Resting her cheek on her hand, she took a few gulps of her soda. “And, I ask again, what are the chances that he’s not a complete a-hole?”
Erika raised a quizzical eyebrow. “From the looks of your face, I’d say that you’re itching to find out, Malara.” She said. “Look; there’s going to a bit of a victory party—okay, more like a ‘we survived the battle without getting blown up’ party—tomorrow evening, and the captain has managed to convince Ambassador Hades to be the guest of honor. Chances are, he might have Velos tag along, and you could meet him then.” She got up to return her plate and leftovers to the replicator for recycling. “Who knows; you may even manage to score a boyfriend this time.”
Before Malara could protest about her friend’s constant attempts to get her hooked up with a guy, Erika had already deposited the remnants of her meal and left the mess hall. Malara slumped back in her seat, feeling even more dejected than before. At times, I wish that this ship allowed us to have real alcohol instead of synthehol. She thought, taking another sip of her cola.
“Why did I agree to this?” Malara asked herself as she stood in front of the full-body mirror in her quarters. “The last thing I need is a boyfriend…” she was making sure her uniform was perfect. For the millionth time, she checked the placement of her rank insignia and replaced it. Finally, she had deemed herself fit for presenting and left for the mess.
Why did I let Erika convince me to do this? Malara thought as she walked the corridors. Ugh, what I’d give for an invisibility charm at times like this. She knows I don’t like this stuff! Once again, she readjusted her neck tab. True, she was already on her way to the mess, and the action was pointless anyway, but when nerves take over…well, people tend to do random things.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Malara arrived at the mess hall. The doors swished open, and Malara was bombarded with the sounds of an executive party. The kind low-ranking Midshipmen like her never got invited to—unless they happened to be the kid of an admiral. Naturally, since Malara was just some kid from the middle of nowhere, she had never been to one; and had never expected to be to one in her entire Navy career. Until now.
“So, you actually came!” Erika said. “One of Velos’s attendants has been asking for you. Seems he’s noticed you, and wants to know who the girl staring at him with goo-goo eyes.”
“Shut up!” Malara snapped. “I wasn’t goo-goo eyed!”
“Excuse me, Mrs. Gallagher?” A man behind Malara asked. Turning even redder, she faced him. “Mr. Velos Damalar would like to speak with you.”
Malara blinked; she had not idea what was going on. “Uh, of course.” She said. “Where is he?” And why does he want to see a small-town hic like me? She asked silently.
“This way, if you will.” The attendant said. Giving Erika a nervous glance—and receiving a big smile in return—she followed.
Velos was waiting in the observation lounge, staring out the window at empty space. He was even more beautiful in person: his finely chiseled features mirrored those of the light elves of Earth, and Malara couldn’t help it when her eyes idly strayed to his backside. His tight, well-toned backside. She blushed…again.
“Miss Gallagher?” Velos asked the blushing woman. “So, you’re of the elves of Earth. I thought as much.” Malara looked up to see him smiling. His English wasn’t entirely perfect; she could hear a lilting accent as he spoke, and the awkwardness of speaking her unfamiliar name.
“Uh, half dark elf.” Malara stuttered. “And yes, I’m Malara Gallagher—just, call me Malara, though.” My nerves are getting so out of control! She thought. Waaaah! I’m so going to kill Erika for this!
“Why are you blushing?” Velos asked. “Is it normal for Terrans to turn bright red when they first meet someone?”
Malara turned even redder. “Um, no…it’s just…well…” she couldn’t get the words out. And this is why I don’t want—or even need—a boyfriend. She thought. All the good ones are either jerks or think I’m crazy!
“You’re embarrassed,” Velos said with a chuckle. “Don’t feel bad—I’ve been going through the same thing with my father.” He sighed. “Right now, he doesn’t even know I’m here meeting you.”
“Why did you want to meet with me?” Malara asked. “There are plenty of single women on this ship; most of them are probably way better looking than I am.”
Velos cocked at eyebrow at her. “Yes, but they’re not the woman whom I thought was the best-looking.” He replied. “You’ve got a crazy personality; you rarely agree with authority, you aren’t afraid to question your orders, nor are you hesitant about saying what’s on your mind. In all honesty, I—” Velos couldn’t finish, because the red alert sounded.
“What in the—?” Velos began, but Malara finished for him.
“Agh! Red alert!” she growled. “We’ll have to meet another time—I’ve got to get to my duty station. Darn it, who’s attacking us now?!” She dashed off, heading straight for engineering.
“What’s going on?” She asked once she got there. A crowd was forming around the hyper drive engine core. “What the—Sir, what happened?”
“Some kind of engine malfunction.” The Scottish engineer said as he poured over the records. “I can’t find any kind of…oh, gods. That cinna be good.”
“Wait, what’s not good?” Malara asked. Something was telling her that there was foul play at work, and usually her ‘gut feelings’ weren’t wrong.
“This, lassie.” The Scot—Eldar McAllister—said. “According to this, Ambassador Hades’ son is the culprit.”
“Wait, there’s no way.” Malara said, checking the readings for herself. “I was just with Velos in the observation lounge.”
Eldar crossed his arms. “Then who coulda done this?” he asked. “No one has been allowed in the engine room except the delta shift crewmen; it cinna been anybody but them. Not unless it was someone with even higher authority…”
“Sabotage?” The captain asked. He had called the entire command staff to his ready room, determined to find out what was wrong. “Sir, there’s no way that’s possible.”
“Really, captain Neil?” Admiral Shreen asked. “On the contrary, there has been evidence found that implicates Ambassador Hades’ son as the criminal.” He rested his chin on his hands. “From what I understand, the Taurans are long-time allies of the Dlarconians.”
“An alliance when they have long since dissolved, Admiral.” Neil said. “They want to form an alliance with Earth and its territories; there’s no way one of them would commit this kind of crime; not so close to the alliance officially forming.”
“Not from what I’ve seen here.” Shreen countered. “Apparently, the ambassador and his son are intent on making sure this alliance doesn’t happen.” He fixed his gaze directly on Captain Neil. “Are you so sure those two can be trusted?”
Richard Neil had no clue what to think; from his point of view, there was no way the admiral was wrong. But his gut was telling him otherwise.
Why did this have to happen now? He thought as the officers exited the ready room.
“What?!” Malara gasped in the rec hall. Several sets of eyes turned to stare at her—she ignored them. “What do you mean; Velos has been framed for sabotage?”
“That’s what was said in the staff meeting at oh-dark-thirty.” Erika replied. “What’s worse is I’ve got to agree with them…”
“Well, I’ve got reasons not to.” Malara interjected. “At the time McAllister said the sabotage had to have taken place, Velos was with me in the observation lounge.”
Erika thought about that. “Then, if he was with you, than who could have…?” she asked. This wasn’t starting to sound good at all.
“I have no clue.” Malara said. “But there’s no way it could have been him. Is there anyone else on this ship that is against this alliance?”
Erika shook her head. “Not any that I can think of right off the top of my head.” She answered. “The only person who even comes close to suspect is Admiral Shreen—”
“Who has way too much pride to pull off something like that.” McAllister interrupted, sitting down at their Risk game. “And all the evidence points to that Velos laddie.” He leaned forward on his elbows. “But from what I overheard from you two lassies, he cinna have pulled it off—even if he does have the technical knowledge.”
“But according to the Captain, Shreen really likes to brag about his being a tech-head computer genius.” Erika said. “Didn’t you say that the only people who could’ve pulled that off are the engineering crewmen or someone with super-high clearance, like—?”
“An ambassador or diplomat.” Malara interrupted this time. “Or an Admiral. If Shreen’s bragging is right, and he is a tech genius, then he’s the best culprit. But does he even have the prowess to make it look like someone else?”
“I cinna say that, lassie.” McAllister replied. “But what I can say is that someone had to have pulled that stunt to make it look like young Velos used his father’s codes to sabotage the system.”
“So now all we’ve got to do is get a good enough computer nut to hack into the system. Someone who knows all this ship’s systems by heart…” Malara said, looking pointedly at McAllister.
He caught on. “WH-what?” the young engineer asked. “Ye cinna be serious! Nay, I’m not doing it! I don’t want to get myself a court-martial!”
“Aw, where’s that crazy troublemaker I remember from the academy?” Erika asked, leaning towards McAllister. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little trouble!”
After a moment McAllister sighed in defeat. “Aye, I’ll do it.” He said. “Just don’t blame me if we all end up in the brig!”
“This is going well.” Admiral Shreen said as he monitored the ship’s systems. The little bug he’d planted had done its job perfectly; make the ship’s systems go crazy, then erase itself almost completely, leaving behind just enough evidence to incriminate the Tauran brat. If all went well, then relations with the Taurans would be severed completely. They were, after all, allies with the Dlarconian Empire. That was all the excuse Shreen needed to do what he was. The best part of it was, he would never get caught. There were even people on this ship who agreed with him.
“Time to start the next problem,” he said. Tapping the keys on the screen, he hacked his way into the life-support systems. The ambassadors aboard the Eneru for the council at Riclas IV—with the exception of Ambassador Hades—were all in the briefing room on deck seven. That made his job that much easier; once the life-support ‘failed,’ they were all as good as dead. And all he had to do was make sure that the blame fell on the ambassador’s son, just like before.
Shreen tapped out an access code, and cut off power to life-support on deck seven. Of course, everyone on that deck would die as well, but it was a small price to pay if he wanted this alliance to fail. The more the better to break inter-species trust…
“I can’t believe I let myself be convinced to do this,” McAllister grumbled as he manipulated the controls on the panel. “Ye know that you’re a couple of evil, cold-hearted lassies, right?”
“Sure, whatever.” Erika said. “As long as we figure out who the real culprit is.” She placed her hand on McAllister’s shoulder. “Work your magic, Eldar.”
“Oi, you’re both demons,” McAllister said with his typical Scottish brogue. “A couple of evil little demons with the faces of angels.” He tapped out his access codes to get into the main system. “Okay, I’ll start by running a diagnostic. Then we should know where the problem is this time—” he was cut off from his explanation by the alarms; another red alert was being called!
Erika shot to the lift immediately, as she was on the command staff and was needed on the bridge. “McAllister, what’s happening down there?” the captain’s voice said over the intercom. “We’re getting readings from deck seven that say that life-support has failed!”
“Aye, ye are right there.” McAllister said. “According to this—oh, crap. That’s not good,” he manhandled the control panel some more, attempting to get life-support restored. “I can’t get life-support working up there! At this rate, everyone on those decks will be dead in three minuets.”
“Fix it, McAllister.” The captain ordered. “Most of the alien ambassadors are down there—we don’t want them to end up dead on this ship!”
“Aye, captain. McAllister out.” McAllister said as he struggled to get the system back up. “Agh! It’s not responding! Whoever did this did a darn good job; the more I try to get the life-support systems up, the more it resists!”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Malara asked, getting over to another console in the area. “I’m no slouch when it comes to computers, either.”
“Great; help me get this system working again. Those poor souls down there only have a minute and a half left before they run out of air.” McAllister said as he tried another approach. “Gah! It still isn’t responding! It’s as if someone is fighting me every time I try and get the system working!”
Malara started in on the system as McAllister fought with whoever was manipulating the controls on the other end. “I’m in! I’ll try rerouting power to the live-support systems on deck seven; that could buy us enough time to let those people get out.”
“No use,” McAllister said. “I can’t get the power restored to that entire deck. They’ve only got thirty seconds left, if that.” He wiped his brow. “And they way things are going; the entire deck is going to be as desolate as Pluto pretty soon.”
“Y’lana!” Malara shouted. “I can’t get through here either!” She punched the console, only hurting he own hand.
“It’s too late anyway.” McAllister said as he activated the comm. “Engineering to bridge; captain, all life-support systems on deck seven have failed. They way I see it down here, everyone there is already dead.”
“Acknowledged,” the captain said. “We’re getting the same readings up here, Eldar. You did all you could to save them, I know. Bridge out.” The connection was cut, but the regret could be clearly heard in the captain’s voice.
“Looks like there’s nothing wrong now,” Malara said as she went over the readings. “We should be able to get the systems back up. McAllister, what’s wrong?” She noticed the look on McAllister’s face; complete regret.
“It’s the same as in that battle,” McAllister said. “The old chief engineer was trapped in the radiation chamber, and I couldn’t do anything to get him out, no matter what I tried.” He took a deep breath. “My best still wasn’t good enough to save all those people.”
Malara placed a comforting hand on his arm. McAllister had taken command of engineering when his predecessor had died of radiation exposure in the battle against the Dlarconian Empire. Even though he tried to hide it, Malara could tell that McAllister was still feeling guilty about that.
Not knowing what to say, she left to help get life-support back online. Now that red alert was over, they would have to get the bodies off the deck. But even as she worked the controls with the rest of the engineers, she couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong; and her gut feelings had a tendency to be right.
The next week passed without incident, and with no other evidence to prove otherwise, Velos had been confined to quarters. Once they got to the star base, he was going to be put to trial; and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
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Evil Fairie Hangout (Love Edition)
