| "We were supposed to be on our way to meet some people, remember?"
B'Elanna says sharply, annoyed.
Eric Jones, after holstering his pistol again after Avon had
tried to gun down Arlen (would have shot the gun out of Avon's hand before
letting the downed Security Officer be killed). His neural link to his
gun allowed the change of setting to make this trick safe (could mentally
shift it from settings suitable for stopping a man to something capable
of penetrating 20th century tank armor). He might still be very angry with
Arlen for having interrupted him with that foolishness. He had no time
to be playing games with her. He had no desire or need to be a hostage!
He barely had enough time to be what he'd set out to be! He had joined
the Military to become, eventually, a spaceship mechanic! He survived Boot
Camp and now was working his way up from Engineering Assistant to his goal.
"Excuse me, Ma'am." Jones says politely to Inquirer, "Got to get back
to the job. Thanks for assisting with that berk, but now the landing gear
needs to be looked at on the Old Man's ship."
And so he walked off, putting the logic probe back in his utility belt
as he went.
Ragan and Betty note that the boy's accent has a faint hint of "Aussie"
in it. That and a bit something else. Something like the unlikely trace
of Japanese influence, also?
Anyway, the retirement ceremony for the Admiral was today. He'd have
been here earlier for Probe's wedding, but scuttlebutt had it that the
ship had been diverted for some reason....and a delay had occurred. Guy
was a busy man and would stay so even in retirement), so Probe and
his new wife understood perfectly.
Jones and the others part company. Inquirer looked back a second and
wondered about the young man. Something in her gut told her that they'd
meet again sometime...and the youngster would be going far here. Had a
pretty stable head on his shoulders, what little the female Golem had seen
of him....
A bit later....at the Retirement Ceremony....
The elves, after getting a brief, belated briefing by Ragan and Betty
about the B7 gang, go about the job to keeping eyes on them to....make
sure problems don't crop up (another bout of culture class like the last
episode would just kill Blake's hopes of retiree aid). Elves being elves,
they have a way of blending into the background. This way we'll be there
to help without making them nervous (and look like we don't trust them).
Several of Blake's group break up into small groups and spread out, figuring that the best bet would be to cover the most area in the least amount of time. The elves, still blended into the background, follow. Elrondir
Ragan and Betty almost sigh in relief out loud as Blake is able to calm
some of those who still might want to make issue of recent events. Inquirer
still looks a bit....er....miffed at Avon, but for the moment things are
still viable.
We are able to more or less herd them all to our next destination which has something very much to do with the current object of our quest, as it were. Or as Betty has a habit of saying.... "The situation is firm.",
I say to my wife and the others of my group, mentally.
Ragan gives off a small laugh before she can catch herself, but those
of Blake's group are more interested in this particular gathering
than the last (and don't notice). It's a gathering of retired and still
active Military folk Point in fact, Blake and Avon actually are looking
forward to hobnobbing with some of the guests here (well, Tarrant, of all
people, goes along with Avon out for this hobnobbing....since Tarrant has
the people skills and Avon...er....). Probe and Evis (Mom and Dad....boy
I like that sound....especially after that business the had with that SOB.....Seeker....my
treacherous and now defunct analog "brother") are lending support. They
are able to give support so that the others can actually believe what Blake
is pitching.
That and ironing out any snafues Avon throws in. Probe alone manages
to stop offended Military retirees from invoking the "Rule of Three" (i.e.
the Military practice of giving an offensive person three warning before
being in the right, by regulation and custom, of getting into a fight).
Man couldn't be polite to others if his life depended on it,
Inquirer mentally muttered to the others, still annoyed with the man who's
name bears a rather unfortunate relation to a cosmetics company, But
something tells me that the guy's less of a bastard than he'd like those
around him to believe.
That's very true, Betty sighed, looking out at various of Blake's
gang as they look about themselves. Ragan and I fear the B7 characters
were not making a very good impression back there.....
You can say that again, the Doctor put in....a bit put off himself
at the displays so far despite himself.
Avon had that effect on people. Even with Time Lords, apparently.
But they have had a really bad day, Ragan concluded, sighing.
The B7 gang had been shot at, betrayed by Arlen, apparently betrayed
by Blake (only to find out after the truth apparently too late), found
themselves alive again, Blake back amongst the living despite Avon, and....
Yes, a very bad day.
Anyway, the Admiral turned over the reigns to his successor. People
clapped and it was actually a tearful affair. Though....some of those of
Blake's group looked at each other as if to ask how such a small, old (the
admiral was well over a hundred by a bit by now) man could garner such....devotion.
I don't have time or the patience to explain. Besides which, they aren't
asking so I don't have to bother!
......
"Aye, be kind Elrondir," I scold myself, "They're from another realm
and allowances made, alas. That and they did have a Hell of a day up until
now....."
Anyway, Avon's somewhat behaving himself (miracle) while Blake's talking
to yet another set of retirees....
How is keeping eye on the others I ask, hoping for the
best....
Haven't heard any fights. Good sign, that.....
E'eysha
Right now Tarrant and Joan are getting along rather well, I chuckle,
Soolin
is having an animated discussion with several of the Astras. As for Dayna,
after meeting up with the Alicias and found they have a common interest
in weapons design, despite the differences in technology.
Blake and Joan? Ragan seems to blink, Does he he.....know
about what and who she'd been....before?
Ragan was already familiar with the nature of matrixes and such. How
a person personality can somewhat change to reflect their new race (with
touches of the old to add flavor to the mix). How that also applies somewhat
also with changes in gender. Given time, preferences would slowly shift....not
all at once but.....gradually. However, with Joan it had been something
like instantaneous because she'd been turned into a stone statue almost
right after the changes to her matrix, letting them "stew" over months
until the spell on her wore off. Madness would have resulted were it not
for a bit of....er....adjustments made by a unicorn to her personality
to ease her over the rough parts. That meant that there was still a bit
of "Freddiness" to Joan, it was now expressed in a feminine way. Such is
the way of matrixes....
It was rather interesting to watch when Blake learned of that,
I send to Betty and Ragan, The way it worked out.....answered that one
question about him you brought up about him.
Betty and Ragan wait a beat or three for E'eysha to elaborate. Depending
on how this....meeting between Joan and Blake had gone would answer one
burning question on many fans of Blake's 7.
Uh....could you tell us?...... Betty finally tries to prod the
red haired elf.
One way would mean he was. Another would mean he wasn't.
A tittering laugh is the only thing they get back. Betty and Ragan look
at each other, promising silently to tackle that elf later on and make
her spill the beans! While both Betty and Ragan were too polite to just
ask,
this was....different....
B'Elanna
Several of the others with Military background (Inquirer and Elrondir)
listening in also laughed despite this issue. Either way they weren't uncomfortable
about this issue with Blake. Wasn't like the Military in the early days
of the war was going to turn people away over issue like that! Wasn't
like old prejudices were going to be an issue. Every man and woman was
needed back then. Grew to be that such....no longer mattered. In that way,
things in the Military of modern day was more.....liberal than military
forces of the time before the Enemy/Alliance War. That aside, the frustration
that they felt from Betty and Ragan was just delicious! Indeed, it was
just the need to know for the two young woman (and not a need to make a
value judgment over.....certain issues surrounding Blake) that was going
on here. That was what made this so....funny.
I also don't have a problem with it, but I know that some in Star Fleet
aren't so blasé about that. But let's just get back to business.
I better keep my eyes on.....
A small procession of sorts then...makes the scene and I'm....surprised.
And right now the whole gang is here as well! I finally manage to say. She'd expected them all at the wedding (Probe was an old family friend
after all). She hadn't expected them all to stay after for this
retirement ceremony. Some had nations to run, after all!
Betty and the others are treated to a quick view of these visitors through
my eyes after I make an effort to send them this vision, mentally.
A view of all of the people now here....
(Author's note: most of this list (that had been created by JH) is from episode 11213). Queen Astra La Post
Note: the bios and pictures of those in italics and others can be found here: http://www.chattown.com/home/gen/gryphon/characters.htm
They also brought along the children, E'eysha adds fondly, looking
at one particular elfin child named Ti'mma (the child of Kethiani and Feir-dalan),
Think
I'll go over and say hello to her.
The other elves smile a small smile at that. Fact was, Ti'mma's genetic
makeup was a combination of that of her parents. Fact was that both her
parents were identical twins of Gilmuriel and E'eysha. Those being the
facts, Ti'mma was the kind of child that both Gilmuriel and E'eysha could
produce (if and when they chose to have children).
That would be the time for them to leave the TARDIS to start a family,
going into something of a retirement (the TARDIS wasn't actually a place
to raise a family.....they felt). It wouldn't happen prematurely, this
child. See, that part of biology was under conscious control. Conception
wouldn't happen without both....er....sides consent. Oh, they could be....with
each other all they want in.....er...... Well, without both sides consent
it wouldn't lead to children, now.
Note: as an aside, the Elven Nation has a large baby boom on it's
way due to them accidently having a ceremony, a "Night of Joining", to
maximize their chances of conceiving a child. It was basically putting
this stuff on overdrive to counteract a draining effect on the....vigor
which had lead to dwindling elven numbers. While the source if this drain
had finally been destroyed by Ke'lan (re: 7483), nobody had told the rest
of the elves until too late! Being that elves have grown to revere any
and all children they'd been able to get in the past.....nothing was going
to cull the upcoming population boom)!
That all goes through various elfin minds as I go over to see this beautiful
babe.....and that fact also plays a part a chaotic situation that happens
next!
All of us elves were smiling because of that when it happened.
Gilmuriel
Still smiling, I turn back to my....query and see he's over at the bar.
"Oh shit," I whisper, seeing that Vila has gotten over to and swiped
a special beverage that he shouldn't!
He sniffs at it, seeing it is wine....but not what kind of wine
it is. See, we elves (new or not) have a much higher tolerance to certain
chemicals than human beings. The two most intoxicating drinks known on
Terra Prime are Dwarven Ale and Elven Wine. Higher alcohol content than
even that one human drink, Everclear.
Of the three, Elfin Wine tastes the best, but.....that's besides the
point.....
Vila, still in a slight alcoholic haze, shrugs with a make do gesture
and swallows it down in one gulp as if a shot of whiskey before I can stop
him!
It seems to hit him a second later as I rush over to him, for his eyes are crossed and he's dropped the wineglass in surprise. "Wow." he says in a small voice as he staggers to the right.
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