Post by Flynt on Jul 25, 2016 0:11:17 GMT
Risa Resort
Stardate 92558.7
1630 hours local time
From a distance, anyone could recognize the look of a parent struggling to get her kids somewhere on time with the least amount of hassle. At least, that's what Nusore Huxley told herself as she tried to keep the pace on her 5 and 4 year old children. They'll recognize and sympathize, yeah.
"Momma, how come the trees all have green leaves?"
"Because the all contain chlorophyll, a chemical that makes food for the trees using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide."
"So what's carpet diceontheside?"
"Carbon di-ox-ide, Willy. It's a odorless, colorless gas that exists in the atmosphere of many worlds, and many life forms create it and add to it."
"Whoa. Do I create carmen isonmyside, Momma?
Nusore chuckled. She began her answer, "Yes, you do," when her daughter piped in.
"That's right, William. Your cells make it and then it gets taken to your lungs where you breathe it out."
"Momma, do stupid know-it-all androids like Mara make carbon dioxide?"
"William, don't call your sister names."
"Oh kay. Sorry Mara."
"Apology accepted. Momma, what are we going down to see?"
"I thought we'd take a shuttle tour to the volcano. They have a holosimulation of it being active."
"Okay. Is the guy in black behind us coming too? He seems in a hurry."
Nusore paused in her steps and looked around quickly. For a moment, she spotted a man in black duck into the shadows. She sighed and turned around. "I don't know honey. No more dilly-dallying now, or we'll miss the trip."
The children answered almost in unison, "Okay Momma." Not that they really changed what they were doing.
...
The shuttle ride, so far, was uneventful. Mara and Will, Jr. each sat in their front row seats intently watching the holographic overlay showing the growth of the island from burnishing outcropping to active volcano.
She sat back in her seat in the gallery, one eye on the show, one eye on the kids, and both eyes half closed as she attempted the parents' form of meditiation.
"They sure are inquisitive at that age, eh Captain?" came a gravelly voice from behind.
She closed her eyes at the voice, frustrated that someone would interrupt her multitasking, and coldly responded, "Yes, yes they are." In her mind, she felt the voice was somehow familiar.
"You really have a good way with them, at least from what I could see at a distance."
She sighed and decided she would confront this voice eye to eye. "You know, even Risa has rules against stalk-ing." Her voice tailed off as she turned her head, coming to view a middle-aged human with sandy blonde hair and a scarred face.
"No." came her instant response.
"I haven't asked anything."
"Keep it that way, Drake."
"You know you may be overreacting to what could be a social visit."
"You people don't do social visits... unless they need an alibi for something."
"Is that an offer?"
"Sure, I'll be happy to file a police report. Sound good to you, Frank?"
"Sounds charming. I'll just note that you're not available at this time. By the way, how's your husband doing?"
Nusore ground her teeth for a moment before relaxing enough to whisper, "He's recovering. I'd have thought you knew that, since you don't usually ask a question without knowing the answer."
"Ah, yes. I do that, don't I. Well maybe I'll check in on him, see if he's available."
"Sure, why not screw up his second chance at life since you screwed up the first chance."
The shuttle rocked a bit as it hit an updraft, causing everyone to reach for something solid. Nusore instinctively looked back to her children to see that they were safe. Will was clapping with the surprise, but Mara looked green.
She decided to check on them directly, if only to get away from Drake, though when she paused to glance back, the chair was empty.
Well he's true to form, she thought, and did her best to put the encounter out of her mind.
...
A few hours later, Nusore walked back to her bedroom. After all, four chapters of The Hobbit should be enough for anyone, let alone small children. She smiled and walked to her bed, where she pivoted on a heel, then fell back into the soft mattress.
"Lights off," she called and the room darkened. At that moment, she noticed the PADD on the dresser, notification light flashing.
She grumbled to her feet, "That son-of-a-bluegill..." She made the five steps to the dresser and snatched the PADD, just as tempted to whip it out the window as to read it.
Nusore pressed the message delete button and placed it back on the chest. She shook her head all the way back into the bed, where she pulled the covers and pillows over her head. Even through the layers of cloth, she was able to hear the transporter beam remove the PADD from the room, as if it hadn't been there.
"Son-of-a-bluegill..."
Stardate 92558.7
1630 hours local time
From a distance, anyone could recognize the look of a parent struggling to get her kids somewhere on time with the least amount of hassle. At least, that's what Nusore Huxley told herself as she tried to keep the pace on her 5 and 4 year old children. They'll recognize and sympathize, yeah.
"Momma, how come the trees all have green leaves?"
"Because the all contain chlorophyll, a chemical that makes food for the trees using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide."
"So what's carpet diceontheside?"
"Carbon di-ox-ide, Willy. It's a odorless, colorless gas that exists in the atmosphere of many worlds, and many life forms create it and add to it."
"Whoa. Do I create carmen isonmyside, Momma?
Nusore chuckled. She began her answer, "Yes, you do," when her daughter piped in.
"That's right, William. Your cells make it and then it gets taken to your lungs where you breathe it out."
"Momma, do stupid know-it-all androids like Mara make carbon dioxide?"
"William, don't call your sister names."
"Oh kay. Sorry Mara."
"Apology accepted. Momma, what are we going down to see?"
"I thought we'd take a shuttle tour to the volcano. They have a holosimulation of it being active."
"Okay. Is the guy in black behind us coming too? He seems in a hurry."
Nusore paused in her steps and looked around quickly. For a moment, she spotted a man in black duck into the shadows. She sighed and turned around. "I don't know honey. No more dilly-dallying now, or we'll miss the trip."
The children answered almost in unison, "Okay Momma." Not that they really changed what they were doing.
...
The shuttle ride, so far, was uneventful. Mara and Will, Jr. each sat in their front row seats intently watching the holographic overlay showing the growth of the island from burnishing outcropping to active volcano.
She sat back in her seat in the gallery, one eye on the show, one eye on the kids, and both eyes half closed as she attempted the parents' form of meditiation.
"They sure are inquisitive at that age, eh Captain?" came a gravelly voice from behind.
She closed her eyes at the voice, frustrated that someone would interrupt her multitasking, and coldly responded, "Yes, yes they are." In her mind, she felt the voice was somehow familiar.
"You really have a good way with them, at least from what I could see at a distance."
She sighed and decided she would confront this voice eye to eye. "You know, even Risa has rules against stalk-ing." Her voice tailed off as she turned her head, coming to view a middle-aged human with sandy blonde hair and a scarred face.
"No." came her instant response.
"I haven't asked anything."
"Keep it that way, Drake."
"You know you may be overreacting to what could be a social visit."
"You people don't do social visits... unless they need an alibi for something."
"Is that an offer?"
"Sure, I'll be happy to file a police report. Sound good to you, Frank?"
"Sounds charming. I'll just note that you're not available at this time. By the way, how's your husband doing?"
Nusore ground her teeth for a moment before relaxing enough to whisper, "He's recovering. I'd have thought you knew that, since you don't usually ask a question without knowing the answer."
"Ah, yes. I do that, don't I. Well maybe I'll check in on him, see if he's available."
"Sure, why not screw up his second chance at life since you screwed up the first chance."
The shuttle rocked a bit as it hit an updraft, causing everyone to reach for something solid. Nusore instinctively looked back to her children to see that they were safe. Will was clapping with the surprise, but Mara looked green.
She decided to check on them directly, if only to get away from Drake, though when she paused to glance back, the chair was empty.
Well he's true to form, she thought, and did her best to put the encounter out of her mind.
...
A few hours later, Nusore walked back to her bedroom. After all, four chapters of The Hobbit should be enough for anyone, let alone small children. She smiled and walked to her bed, where she pivoted on a heel, then fell back into the soft mattress.
"Lights off," she called and the room darkened. At that moment, she noticed the PADD on the dresser, notification light flashing.
She grumbled to her feet, "That son-of-a-bluegill..." She made the five steps to the dresser and snatched the PADD, just as tempted to whip it out the window as to read it.
Captain Huxley--
Allow me to apologize for my intrusion this afternoon. You were almost right in guessing why I came by, though the person needing an alibi was you. I'll fill you in on this more the next time I see you.
In the meantime, send my regards to your husband. That is, whenever you're actually up to seeing him again.
FD
Allow me to apologize for my intrusion this afternoon. You were almost right in guessing why I came by, though the person needing an alibi was you. I'll fill you in on this more the next time I see you.
In the meantime, send my regards to your husband. That is, whenever you're actually up to seeing him again.
FD
Nusore pressed the message delete button and placed it back on the chest. She shook her head all the way back into the bed, where she pulled the covers and pillows over her head. Even through the layers of cloth, she was able to hear the transporter beam remove the PADD from the room, as if it hadn't been there.
"Son-of-a-bluegill..."