| Star Trek: Eclipse | home |
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| part three |
Mentally, Arik screamed. This ditzy, self absorbed Eve was really getting on his nerves.
“Arik,” she said, in an overly cutesy voice. “Which dress do you like, the red one, or the white one?” Eve was holding up two dresses, identical, save the color.
“Uh...” he commented. “The red one I guess.”
She swung her hair back over her shoulder. “Was that, like, suppose to mean something? Since when do you hate me in white? Is this a new thing or have you always thought I look bad in white?”
“Uh...” Arik said again. “I meant that you look really good in red, and you look really good in white. You always look good.”
“No, you meant it! You think I’m ugly.” her lower lip started to tremble.
He sighed, and walked over, putting his arms around her. “No, I think you’re very beautiful. I love you, Eve.”
She smiled. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
**
Tom grabbed Eve, pulling her back from Arik. “Okay, time to calm down.”
Eve struggled to get away. “Let me hit him.” she said through gritted teeth. “Just once, I promise.”
Tom managed to push Eve back down into her chair. “Breath. “
Arik, on the other hand, was very calm and collected. He grinned at Kamii and Zeke, who, in response shook their heads sadly. Arik often upset people, and its was just embarrassing. Zeke was positive that they now looked like idiots in addition to intruders.
“Eve,” Janeway said firmly. “Arik, will I have to separate you, or can we get on with the meeting?”
Eve shrugged. “Sorry.” she said sulkily.
Arik smiled. “Of course. Continue.”
Janeway raised an eyebrow. “Good. Now, we know where you’re from, but how do we get you three back?”
***
“Hey! Talon!” Chandler yelled, jogging down the hall to greet his friend. Behind him were Kamii, Zeke, and Zenon.
“Hi.” Kamii greeted him, suddenly missing her boyfriend all over again.
Zenon smiled at Talon, and he smiled back shyly. “Hey Talon, how are you doing?”
“Good.” he said softly.
“Are we still on for tonight?” she asked. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
He nodded. “Youlookreallypretty.” Talon muttered.
“Thanks.” she blushed a bit and hugged him. “You should give nice lessons to a couple of the guys around
here.”
Zeke and Kamii exchanged a look. This Talon was certainly different. “Hey, so where are you two off to?” Zeke asked.
“Dinner, dancing...” Zenon smiled. “And why do I have to check in with you whenever I go on a date?”
“Because,” he began, putting his arm around her shoulder. “I am your brother. It is my job to protect you, and beat up anyone who gives you a bad time.”
She laughed. “Pretty hard to beat up yourself.”
He grinned. “That was just mean.”
Talon said something to Zenon, and she nodded. “We should get going.”
“Okay, see you later.” Zeke waved at the two as they headed down the hall.
“I should be going too. See ya!” Chris said, heading off to most likely find some mischief to get into.
“So, since when do you have a twin?” Kamii asked.
“She died, when I was little.” Zeke replied, and then brightened slightly. “Think we can take her with us?”
“Zeke... I do not know. It would have to be a miracle.”
***
“Alright. Let’s run over this again. Using the device created by Lt. Torres, we should be able to recreate the rip that brought you here.” Janeway explained.
“And this is safe?” Kamii asked.
“We hope it is.” Tom said, grinning, and B’Elanna hit him lightly.
“Yes, with the test runs on the holodeck it should be very safe.” B’Elanna answered.
“Okay.” Kamii nodded.
“The away team will consist of the Captain, myself, B’Elanna, and the Doctor.” Chakotay added. “Any
questions? Comments?”
“Are you sure this will get us home?” Arik asked. “Because, my Eve will be pretty pissed if I don’t come back.”
“Are you sure about that?” Eve said under her breath.
Chakotay gave her a look.
“Sorry.”
“Pretty sure.” B’Elanna answered. “But I guess we’ll see.”
Arik nodded.
“If that’s it, you are all dismissed.” Janeway announced.
Eve stayed seated as the room began to empty. “Kathryn?”
“Yes, Eve?”
Eve bit her bottom lip. “Bring my Arik home.” She said, her voice shaking. “Please.”
Janeway nodded. “I’ll do everything I can.”
**
“So, if we do this…” Zeke began as his fingers flew over the control panel. An alarm went off. “Cool!”
“No, not cool.” Zenon rolled her eyes. “Computer, freeze program.” She glared at him. “You know how to do this, why aren’t you doing it right? Do you want me to fail or what?”
“No, of course not! Nothing’s wrong. I promise!”
**
The Union was getting ready for it’s first strike against the Federation. As the time grew closer, the ships neared Earth- and the Academy.
**
“This is where you were found.” B’Elanna said, approaching the large hole in the ground.
Arik looked down into the crevasse. “Ouch.”
“Yeah, ouch.” Zeke confirmed. “Uh, you’re not going to throw us down there, are you?”
“Oh, not you, just Arik.” B’Elanna smiled. “No, we’re not. But you have to be down there when this,” she held up the small ‘bomb’. “goes off.”
Kamii smiled at Zeke. “It will not be bad. We will be home.”
**
“So, Arik…” Kamii began. “Notice anything, odd lately?”
“Uh-huh. I mean, yes.” Arik replied. He leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Any idea how we-“
A siren cut him off, as the room shook, and the lights flickered. The group of friends looked around at each other cautiously.
Before anyone could speak, the room shook again, this time harder than before. Several light fixtures fell from the ceiling.
This is not a drill. A computerized voice sounded throughout the campus. Evacuate the premise immediately.
The group ran full speed from the commons, heading down the hallway to the nearest exit. A cracking sound made Zeke look up. “Shit.” The walls were beginning to crack with every shake. “Run faster!” he yelled.
They reached the door as the hallway began to collapse behind them. They looked around, and Zenon let out a cry when she noticed Talon wasn’t with them.
“I’ve got to go back in.” she announced, turning around.
“NO!” Zeke grabbed her arm. “You’ll be killed.”
“But Talon!” she wrenched her arm away, turning in time to see the entire building cave in on itself. “Oh my god…” she stood, horrified.
“Zenon we have to go, now!” Zeke pulled on her arm again. “I’m not loosing you.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay.” She said, her eyes watering.
*
*
The group sat around the small fire they had built. They sat in silence, looking at the ruins that had once been San Fransisco.
Eve had buried her face in Arik’s shoulder, and was holding him tightly.
Kamii leaned over and spoke to Zeke. “At least he wasn’t from our reality.”
“Your reality?” Zenon asked. She had overheard. “What do you mean? And that was my boyfriend!”
“Uh, maybe we better explain…” Arik said.
“Uh, yeah.” Eve said pulling away from him. “Just maybe.”
He turned to her. “You- shut up. I’ve I’m tired of your attitude.” Arik scolded her. “Now, you-“ he pointed at Chandler, Zenon, and Eve. “are from one reality. We,” he pointed to Kamii and Zeke as well as himself. “are from another. I don’t know how it happened, but we somehow got switched. So, I am Arik, but not the one you know. I’m an engineer.” He glared at Eve. “and I do have Eve as a girlfriend. But my Eve is sweet, kind, and intelligent. And she doesn’t whine. She hates most pet names. I’d hate to find out what would happen if I called her ‘babe’.”
Eve raised an eyebrow, slightly hurt by Arik’s reprimand. “Oh, I’m sure my Arik has…” she muttered.
“So everyone who died here is still alive in your reality?” Zenon asked hopefully.
Arik shook his head. “No. When we went on the mission with the Eclipse, we got thrown into the Delta Quadrant. A lot of the crew was killed.”
Eve had stood, and was walking around. She walked to Arik, and stopped. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, just stop whining!” he snapped.
She pulled back as if he had hit her, and walked off, sitting against a broken wall.
“What is going on?” Kamii asked. “Why were we attacked?”
“The Union.” Chandler sighed.
“The Union?” Arik and Zeke inquired at the same time.
“Like the Marquis. But different.”
“Different how?” Kamii said, frowning.
“Murderous intentions.”
**
Arik and Zeke looked up out of the hole.
“I love you, Kam!” Zeke yelled. “See you in a few minutes.”
“I love you too.” She said, smiling, before turning and being lead off to her assigned place.
“Well,” Arik turned to Zeke. “this is it.”
Zeke smiled. “Are you ready to see Eve again?”
“Oh yeah. It’ll be nice not to have some chick yelling at me.”
**
Kamii looked up at the dust filled sky. Everyone but herself, Arik, and Zeke were sleeping. She glanced over to her right, where Arik was sitting on a ledge, his head in his hands. She stood, and approached him.
“You miss her.” It was a statement, not a question,
He nodded. “A lot. I just want to see her again, you know? Her smile… and now I don’t know if I will.”
She smiled softly. “I know. I miss Talon the same.” She opened her mouth to say something more, and then frowned.
“What?”
“You, you are…” she narrowed her eyes in concentration. “I forget how to say it in English. Uh, like a hologram.”
He looked at his left hand. “Shimmering? Yes, so are you.”
“Yes, that’s it.” She paused. “What’s going on?”
“Hey, guys!” Zeke yelled coming around the corner. He was shimmering too.
The three sleeping cadets woke up at Zeke’s shout. “What?” Zenon asked.
“I think we’re going back.” Arik announced, sliding off the wall.
“I don’t want to be alone!” Eve protested.
“You won’t.” Zeke assured her, with at glance at Zenon. “Zenon,” he said, his eyes wide. “You’re-“
she nodded. “I guess I’m coming with you guys.”
Eve ran to Arik, and hugged him. “I’m sorry I was a brat. Tell your Eve hello for me.”
He nodded. “Bye.” Arik said, before the four disappeared completely.
**
Zenon looked up, blinking in the bright sun light. “Where are we?”
“Who are you?” Chakotay countered.
Arik sat up. “We’re back!” he looked up. “Now, how do we get out? Oh, and don’t worry Commander. We’ll explain later.”
“We’re going to beam you.” B’Elanna responded. “Everyone here?”
“Yeah.” Zeke answered with a grin. “Plus one.”
**
“Welcome to the crew.” Janeway greeted the blonde girl. “I’m Captain Kathryn Janeway. We’re happy to have you.”
Eve grinned, and kissed Arik’s cheek before turning to Zenon. “You’ll like it here. Arik’s nice.”
Talon laughed, and winked at Kamii, who shrugged a response.
Zenon smiled weakly, and sighed. “I just hope my friends are okay.”
Zeke hugged her. “I’m sure they are.” He lowered his voice so only she could hear. “I’m sorry about Talon. I really am.”
Eve sighed happily. “So, Zenon, you ready for a tour?”
“Yeah. That would be nice.”
Fin.