Subj: Guilt is Forever
Date: 1/23/00 9:13:45 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Alley Quan
To: Angel Swan, DrKrisMLyn, R F Bashir, Amatuli
To: Caelin R, Beacus, CaptAlexis, Capt speed
To: Capt Raven, Aron Wago, Cpt TZyr, Cmdr TVect
To: CmdrQShell, DMacCullum, Jol tLiss, KelCaraidX
To: Love Robin, LtjCMoriah, Lt SilverI, Moondnce
To: Trochilus, Vzardag
BCC: VAdm Quan
<<Author's Note: This takes place before the entry Angel
sent and leads up to their meeting on TFL station. If you wish to
be removed from this string please say so. Feel free to forward
to others. The complete Homecoming saga and others can be found
here: ST:TFL E-mail RP, Homecoming, Swan Descends, Raven
Descends, More >>
Time seemed to slow down during moments like this. The individual sounds of energy discharge could easily be heard as each pulse was emitted. Muzzle flash that accompanied those very same pulses highlighted her facial features as she charged down the lengthy corridor. Even when running it seemed like she was moving in slow motion. At least that's how it felt to her.
Maybe it was because her mind was so clearly focused on the events of now. Or perhaps it was because her mind worked faster during times like this, creating the illusion of slow motion. Being shot at from all directions didn't detract from that perception either.
Those in front who had fired at her lay on the ground unconscious. The woman cursed softly. "Crap."
Up ahead, the door she needed to pass through began to close. Disruptor bolts impacted with the deck and walls as they were fired from behind. If that weren't bad enough, the console she needed to disable was only a few meters away. There wasn't enough time to deal with everything separately.
She quickly set one of her phaser pistols to maximum overload and tossed it onto the console, all while running towards the door. Her body barely had enough space to slide beneath the closing door. Energy conduits ruptured by the overloaded pistol caused the deck to shake. "Weapons array status?" Queried the woman as she willed herself to stand.
A voice only she could hear responded. "Main and backup weapon systems are offline."
"Any word from my father?"
"I'm afraid not."
The spent power cell of the pistol made a distinct *clank* sound as it impacted with the metal plating of the deck. The woman expertly inserted a new cell into the pistol's grip and gave it a good whack to make sure it was locked in place. She peered around the corner she was using for cover, phaser held at the ready. The docking bay was only a few dozen meters away. She would encounter little, if any, opposition from this point on.
She made it down the corridor quickly, finally coming to a stop before the heavily shielded door of the docking bay. "This is too easy." The woman muttered under her breath. Indeed it was. She expected to find all her security clearances revoked. After all, that was the thing to do during a mutiny. Those that were involved in the revolt were denied access to systems. But that wasn't the case here. The computer looked like it was going to accept her authorization code to open the door.But something didn't feel quite right. Rather than enter the open command to the door she decided to get a little dirty.
---------------
They knew she was on the other side of the door. As soon as it opened they'd open fire and poof, no more traitor. Pity, though, to waste such a good looking girl. Too bad they couldn't keep her for themselves. Or could they?
With their eyes still glued to the door before them they debated who would be the first to have her once she was caught. They never heard the quiet noise of the maintenance panel as it was opened from inside the crawlspace. They never heard the soft sound of two feet hitting the ground behind them as someone slipped down from the open maintenance panel nor did they hear the near silent whisper of a metal blade as it sliced through the air. They may have been able to hear it but it wouldn't have made much difference. The blade would still have gone through their necks and they'd still be dead. After all, Allison Okabayashi-Quan wasn't the kind of person you'd want your back turned to, especially if you were her enemy.
Alley relaxed a little as her eyes caught sight of the Tarim. The young Quan quickly stepped over the bodies of her slain enemies and boarded the runabout. The door closed behind her as soon as she walked through it. She could hear the engines as they began to power up. "Dad must've made it." She thought to herself. But when she entered the command cabin no one was there. "What the hell? What's going on, HANAH?"
"I have explicit instructions to depart immediately once
you're aboard." HANAH replied.
"On who's authority?!"
"Your father's."
"Like hell." Alley retorted as she dropped into the navigators chair. "We have to wait for Dad." Access to the runabout's systems was denied to her. "This isn't funny, HANAH."
"I know. I don't like it either but I have my instructions."
The Tarim lifted clear of the deck and moved towards the open bay door. Clearly visible on the other side were dozens of fleeing starships along with escape pods. In a matter of seconds the runabout cleared the Millennium's outer perimeter and was on it's way.
By this time Allison had had enough of HANAH's stubbornness and took it upon herself to regain control of the craft's systems. Try as she might she was unsuccessful. All she could do was sit by and watch the image of the Millennium as it shrank on the monitors.
"Preparing to engage warp jump." HANAH informed. A distinctive ding sounded from one of the active consoles, an indication that the Tarim's warp foils had been deployed. The console sounded an alarm as a problem was detected in the formation of the runabouts extended subspace field matrix.
It was a side effect of the Tembler module. Subspace, normal space, and everything in-between, was beginning to distort. Forming a stable warp field was impossible. There was no running away, not this time. To make matters worse, the primary shockwave caused by the Tembler distortion's conception was spreading, albeit at sublight velocity. It was still fast enough to overtake any vessel trying to escape on impulse drives.
Alley knew what was happening. "Damn it, release the controls to me, HANAH. At least let me try to save our asses."
HANAH was aware of her limitations and relinquished command. "You'd better hurry. The wavefront will overtake us in twenty seconds."
"Can't outrun it. Can't stop it." Allison muttered to herself.
"Fifteen seconds."
"Maybe we can ride it." She worked quickly to adjust the Tarim's subspace signature. "If this doesn't work I guess I'll finally be getting away from it all."
The brunt of the wave was severe and enveloped the small starship. Allison was blinded by light that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere. Noise from exploding consoles, alarms, and even the wave itself was too much to handle. Sensory overload. It was chaos in purest form.
Allison screamed and bolted upright, perspiration dotted her forehead. As her eyes adjusted and refocused she began to recognize the things around her, a painting on the wall, her computer terminal. Even the streaking of starlight through a viewport behind her bed. She was in her quarters. It had only been a dream. A dream she hadn't had in heavens knows how many years. It must've been brought on by guilt. Guilt that had resurfaced after all these years, because of the newly found signal. *His* newly discovered signal.
The early thirty-something year old Alley slipped out from under her sweat soaked covers and crossed over to the bathroom sink. She let the cold water run over her hands, as if the act itself was an affirmation of reality. Splashing the cold liquid on her face helped refocus her senses. They were focused enough to here the patter of little feet behind her.
"Mommy, are you ok?" A small voice asked.
"Everything's fine, Sweet Heart." Allison said. "Mommy had a bad dream, that's all." She knelt down and gave the owner of the little voice, a girl about five or six years old, a reassuring hug.
"Your face is all wet."
"That's because I splashed water on it." She lifted the little girl up and carried her back to her bedroom. "Go back to sleep." Alley said as she tucked her daughter into bed. "You have a big day tomorrow."
"So do you, Mommy."
Allison smiled softly. "That's why I'm going back to bed, too."
"Ok. G'night."
"Good night, Rachael." She leaned over and gave the girl a kiss on the cheek then started back for her bed.
"Mommy?"
Allison stopped and turned around. "Hmm?"
"If we don't find Grandpa do you think he's with the angels?"
Alley's eyes became moist at the thought. "I don't know, Honey. But if he's not, I know of one who may be able to help find him."
Nothing was ever certain and this situation was no different. There were too many variables to consider. But one thing was for sure, Allison Quan was not about to let this opportunity slip away from her. She was going to enlist someone's help whether she liked it or not. All she needed to do now was track her down.
To be continued...
|
Subj: Guilt is Forever - Supplemental
Date: 4/30/00 2:56:44 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: Alley Quan
To: Angel Swan, DrKrisMLyn, Amatuli, Caelin R
To: CaptAlexis, Capt Raven, Aron Wago, Cpt TZyr
To: Cmdr TVect, CmdrQShell, DMacCullum, Jol tLiss
To: KelCaraidX, Love Robin, LtjCMoriah, Lt SilverI
To: Moondnce, Trochilus, Vzardag
BCC: VAdm Quan
<<Sorry this took so long. I know I've been dragging my
feet with this storyline and I apologize. Sometimes other things
get in the way. At anyrate, this is only a supplemental and more
will follow, hopefully, shortly. Please note that this takes
place at least ten years before the events in the original Guilt
is Forever story entry. To narrow it down even further the events
in this supplement take place a little over six months after The
Admiral's untimely demise in the last chapter of the Homecoming
saga. Feel free to forward to others. Yes, that's right folks.
You can collect 'em, trade 'em with your friends or use 'em as
lining in your birdcage. :) Feedback is always welcome, positive
or negative. I hope you enjoy this brief offering. - CBQ>>
:::Santa Cruz, Earth, Sector 001:::
Through the open french doors the rhythmic pounding of surf against rock could be heard. The unmistakable scent of brine mixed with the pleasant moistness of fresh rain wafted in on the wings of a gentle northwesterly breeze. Outside, droplets of rain pitter-pattered against the windows and deck. Inside, a small puddle of rain began to collect on the floor where the water entered through the open doors. A small fire burned brightly in the old brick fireplace, its radiant heat and light cozy and inviting. In the background a soft piano solo played, so soft that it was nearly drowned out by the sounds from the sea and gentle shower.
Opposite the warmth of the fireplace was a large sofa. A young woman dozed comfortably on the antique sofa, her facial features bathed in the light of the fire. The delicate lines of her face echoed a conflict that raged inside her subconscious. She was troubled, something she would eventually discover, and ultimately, come to terms with.
The signal of an incoming transmission chimed over the rooms audio system. It sounded again but was too quiet to be heard over the background noise. A voice followed after the next chime, its volume just loud enough to coax someone out of a sound sleep.
"Incoming transmission." It was a pleasant, feminine voice. The comm. system chimed again. "Allison, wake up. You have an incoming transmission."
Alley mumbled quietly as she shifted beneath the heavy quilt. Her voice was muffled. "Wha?"
"Someone's trying to comm. you."
"Who is it?" A grumble. "If it's that friggin' Bolian captain again tell him I'm still not interested."
"It's Starfleet."
Allison's head poked out from beneath the quilt. "Who?"
"Starfleet."
"Starfleet?" Alley echoed with one eye open.
The communications system chimed again. "Yes."
The young Okinawan/Cantonese woman grudgingly stood, the quilt tightly wrapped around her. "Guess I'd better take the call then." Allison grumbled as she moved to the nearest computer wall panel. After a few strokes of keys on the keypad the image of a white-haired woman came to life on the display. Alley recognized the face on the other end to be Admiral Sandy Garret. "Good evening, Admiral. Do you have another assignment for me?"
Garret smiled. "I am happy to say that I do not, nor will I in the future."
The young Quan blinked in response. "I don't understand."
"Your tenure with us is over."
"O-over?" She couldn't believe it.
"That is correct. There are a few options open to you, of course."
"What sort of options?"
"You will be released with the agreed upon rank, Lieutenant Commander, was it?"
Allison nodded.
"You have the choice of continuing service with the Fleet or you can be discharged with honors."
"I didn't expect the time to come so fast."
"It has been nearly six months since we brought you into the fold. Time does seem to fly when you are having fun, does it not?"
"Yes, something like that." Alley agreed. "I'll need some time to think about what I want to do."
"Take as much time as you need, Commander." Garret added the commander part with a wink.
"Thank you, sir."
"There is one last thing, although it is not of a bright nature."
"What is it?"
"The search for your father has been called off. He will be listed as missing in action."
"But Admiral-"
Admiral Garret interrupted the young woman with a raised hand. "I am sorry, Allison. Starfleet did everything it could to find your father. Finding him was a long shot to begin with."
"Yes, I know Admiral but surely-"
"The case is closed, Commander. Please inform me of your choice as soon as you decide. Garret out."
Allison stared at the blank display, stunned. It was all over. They had called it off, given up on him. After everything she had done for Starfleet, all of their dirty work, they had given up on him. She glanced at the large oak door that led to the front of the house. She wouldn't see him walk through that door ever again. No more mornings of waking up to the aroma of her favorite breakfast, no more heated father/daughter debates, and no more working on the shuttle or runabout together. No more of... anything.
"I'm sorry, Allison." HANAH said in her best comforting tone.
Alley wrapped the quilt tighter around herself and did her best to make it over to the sofa. She fell to her knees before getting close enough to sit. Tears slowly began to pool on the wooden floor as they fell from the young woman's cheeks. Try as she might, she couldn't stop the ensuing flood of emotion. The once gentle breeze that caressed its way into the house increased in intensity, howling its way through the open french doors, as if Mother Nature herself felt Allison's pain. It was just enough to muffle the young woman's mournful sobs.
To be continued...
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