Lighting the Fire Part 3 - Revision history

Taimdala at 05:24, 17 April 2009

2009-04-17T05:24:51Z

Taimdala at 05:07, 17 April 2009

2009-04-17T05:07:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:07, 17 April 2009
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	Her pilot thus dismissed, Kramer called their co-pilot to the bridge. She turned to Chen next, and started pulling up the alternate IDs Carter has brought along with their fake pinger. There should be one in the half-dozen or so they could use…		Her pilot thus dismissed, Kramer called their co-pilot to the bridge. She turned to Chen next, and started pulling up the alternate IDs Carter has brought along with their fake pinger. There should be one in the half-dozen or so they could use…
	<br><br>		<br><br>
	Nika left the bridge and saw that her hands were still bloody. Dried threads of the red stuff clung to her knuckles and nails. She grabbed a water bottle on the way back to the airlock and dampened her bandana with it, scrubbing her hands clean again. Or cleaner anyway, she reckoned, inspecting her hands front and back. She capped the bottle, shoved her bandana back into her hip pocket and checked the airlock. ~~Frasier~~ was still in there, carefully pulling Li’s trousers over the bandage across the man’s hip. Li was still handcuffed and chained, making Frasier’s job tougher and conscience prompted Nika to do something about it. She grabbed the requisite keys from the nearby arms locker, retrieved the water bottle from where she’d left it on the deck, and entered the airlock.<br>		Nika left the bridge and saw that her hands were still bloody. Dried threads of the red stuff clung to her knuckles and nails. She grabbed a water bottle on the way back to the airlock and dampened her bandana with it, scrubbing her hands clean again. Or cleaner anyway, she reckoned, inspecting her hands front and back. She capped the bottle, shoved her bandana back into her hip pocket and checked the airlock. Fraiser was still in there, carefully pulling Li’s trousers over the bandage across the man’s hip. Li was still handcuffed and chained, making Frasier’s job tougher and conscience prompted Nika to do something about it. She grabbed the requisite keys from the nearby arms locker, retrieved the water bottle from where she’d left it on the deck, and entered the airlock.<br>
	Li glared daggers at her but said nothing. He only winced as Frasier got to work on the rough field dressing Nika had improvised on his arm.<br>		Li glared daggers at her but said nothing. He only winced as Frasier got to work on the rough field dressing Nika had improvised on his arm.<br>
	“How’re you doin’, Li? Frasier doin’ right by you?” Nika asked, maintaining an easy stride as if she hadn’t noticed Li’s expression.<br>		“How’re you doin’, Li? Frasier doin’ right by you?” Nika asked, maintaining an easy stride as if she hadn’t noticed Li’s expression.<br>

Taimdala at 21:43, 29 March 2009

2009-03-29T21:43:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:43, 29 March 2009
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	[[Lighting the Fire Part 2\|Back to Part 2]]<br><br>		[[Lighting the Fire Part 2\|Back to Part 2]]<br><br>
	“''He’s what?''” Kramer couldn’t believe her ears. She’d heard a lot of things in her time in the Alliance Navy. ''But this?'' “''Shi!'' When did they start doin’ this? This was ''not'' happening when we left!”<br>		“''He’s what?''” Kramer couldn’t believe her ears. She’d heard a lot of things in her time in the Alliance Navy. ''But this?'' “''Shi!'' When did they start doin’ this? This was ''not'' happening when we left!”<br>
	She glanced around the bridge at her crew. ~~Connolly~~ looked as shocked as she, but the man was thinking past it.<br>		She glanced around the bridge at her crew. Connelly looked as shocked as she, but the man was thinking past it.<br>
	“We should get ourselves checked out, just in case,” he said.<br>		“We should get ourselves checked out, just in case,” he said.<br>
	''That’s my XO, still thinking while his shit-brained Captain’s still picking up the pieces.'' That’s ''why he’s my XO.''<br>		''That’s my XO, still thinking while his shit-brained Captain’s still picking up the pieces.'' That’s ''why he’s my XO.''<br>
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	“Sometimes a conspiracy theory isn’t so farfetched,” he said, looking at her. ''Not likely'', his look said. Then he shook his head and turned to the kid. “No, Chen. I don’t think that’s the case. The Captain’s right—they’d have already shot us down or taken captive more of the people we’ve had contact with if that was true. But we’ll check ourselves out. Better safe than sorry.”<br>		“Sometimes a conspiracy theory isn’t so farfetched,” he said, looking at her. ''Not likely'', his look said. Then he shook his head and turned to the kid. “No, Chen. I don’t think that’s the case. The Captain’s right—they’d have already shot us down or taken captive more of the people we’ve had contact with if that was true. But we’ll check ourselves out. Better safe than sorry.”<br>
	“You heard the man,” Kramer said, collected and able to think again. She grabbed the comm and put it on ship-wide. “All ex-military members of the crew need to report to medical ASAP.” She cradled the handset and jerked her head at Connolly. “Brief the doc on what he’s looking for. Chen, get to work scrambling our signal and getting us under an alternate ID. We need to ditch our tail, the bastards.”<br>		“You heard the man,” Kramer said, collected and able to think again. She grabbed the comm and put it on ship-wide. “All ex-military members of the crew need to report to medical ASAP.” She cradled the handset and jerked her head at Connolly. “Brief the doc on what he’s looking for. Chen, get to work scrambling our signal and getting us under an alternate ID. We need to ditch our tail, the bastards.”<br>
	With Chen gainfully occupied and ~~Connolly~~ likewise off the bridge, she turned to her remaining crewmember.<br>		With Chen gainfully occupied and Connelly likewise off the bridge, she turned to her remaining crewmember.<br>
	“Earhart. You got any more good news for me?”<br>		“Earhart. You got any more good news for me?”<br>
	“Our contact, Carter? He’s been on his feet for a couple of weeks from what I can gather. Breaking Li has pushed his timetable up, so he’ll be able to hit the rack shortly. Permission to give him access to the crew shower as well?” Nika gave her Captain a wan grin. “Poor guy looks like he could use a hot shower, a hot meal, and a warm bed. Not necessarily in that order.”<br>		“Our contact, Carter? He’s been on his feet for a couple of weeks from what I can gather. Breaking Li has pushed his timetable up, so he’ll be able to hit the rack shortly. Permission to give him access to the crew shower as well?” Nika gave her Captain a wan grin. “Poor guy looks like he could use a hot shower, a hot meal, and a warm bed. Not necessarily in that order.”<br>

Taimdala at 20:32, 2 February 2009

2009-02-02T20:32:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:32, 2 February 2009
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	Nika smiled gently and closed her eyes. They stood there for a moment with her forehead against his lips. “No,” she replied softly, pulling away to look at him. “Thank ''you.'' This wasn’t what I meant when I said you needed downtime. But sometimes a moment’s respite is all we get to renew the spirit.” Her education showed through her vocabulary, despite her effort to hide it, and she saw something shift behind his eyes when he caught it.<br>		Nika smiled gently and closed her eyes. They stood there for a moment with her forehead against his lips. “No,” she replied softly, pulling away to look at him. “Thank ''you.'' This wasn’t what I meant when I said you needed downtime. But sometimes a moment’s respite is all we get to renew the spirit.” Her education showed through her vocabulary, despite her effort to hide it, and she saw something shift behind his eyes when he caught it.<br>
	“''Si Deus volo, cherie.''” He tilted her chin upward for one last kiss and stepped back. “You're right. It is.”<br>		“''Si Deus volo, cherie.''” He tilted her chin upward for one last kiss and stepped back. “You're right. It is.”<br>
	Mike quit the shower and dried off briskly, donning his clothing and strapping his emotional armor back in place. “Respite,” she’d said. It was an apt word, and it never meant ‘forever.’ He didn’t waste Nika’s time with whispered trifles or promises both knew he couldn’t keep. Mike had learned long ago that war was a brutal business and had little room in it for sentiment. He simply checked to see if the coast was clear and left her the luxury of the shower and a quick exit, but her words stayed with him, lightening the burden of duty when he took it up again.~~<br>~~		Mike quit the shower and dried off briskly, donning his clothing and strapping his emotional armor back in place. “Respite,” she’d said. It was an apt word, and it never meant ‘forever.’ He didn’t waste Nika’s time with whispered trifles or promises both knew he couldn’t keep. Mike had learned long ago that war was a brutal business and had little room in it for sentiment. He simply checked to see if the coast was clear and left her the luxury of the shower and a quick exit, but her words stayed with him, lightening the burden of duty when he took it up again.
	<br><br>		<br><br>
	“The package is on schedule. Should get to you as planned,” Mike said, back in his cubby and winding up his report via secured ’wave to Winfield.<br>		“The package is on schedule. Should get to you as planned,” Mike said, back in his cubby and winding up his report via secured ’wave to Winfield.<br>

Taimdala at 20:32, 2 February 2009

2009-02-02T20:32:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:32, 2 February 2009
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	“Gimme the keys,” he said, thrusting out a hand for them. He caught them neatly when she tossed them and got busy with the cuffs. A click, a clatter, a crash of the chain, and Li stood rubbing his wrists, finally freed of his bonds. Frasier tossed the keys back and Nika shoved them into her pocket.<br>		“Gimme the keys,” he said, thrusting out a hand for them. He caught them neatly when she tossed them and got busy with the cuffs. A click, a clatter, a crash of the chain, and Li stood rubbing his wrists, finally freed of his bonds. Frasier tossed the keys back and Nika shoved them into her pocket.<br>
	“Hard-nosed bitch,” Frasier groused, continuing his work on Li’s arm. “Get a chair for him or something, willya?”<br>		“Hard-nosed bitch,” Frasier groused, continuing his work on Li’s arm. “Get a chair for him or something, willya?”<br>
	“I brought water,” she held up the bottle and shook it. Li looked up sharply at the sloshing sound. “Will that do?”<br>		“I brought water,” she held up the bottle and shook it. Li looked up sharply at the sloshing sound. “Will that do?”<br>
	“Sure. It shouldn’t hurt him. Drink it slow, you’ll sick it up otherwise,” Frasier added to his patient as he threaded another suture onto his needle.<br>		“Sure. It shouldn’t hurt him. Drink it slow, you’ll sick it up otherwise,” Frasier added to his patient as he threaded another suture onto his needle.<br>
	Nika unscrewed the cap and held out the water bottle.<br>		Nika unscrewed the cap and held out the water bottle.<br>
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	“Yes, sir.”<br>		“Yes, sir.”<br>
	“Disappear for a while. Get back to me in seven. I’ll put you to work then.”<br>		“Disappear for a while. Get back to me in seven. I’ll put you to work then.”<br>
	The screen went black.<br>		The screen went black.<br>
	A minute later, Mike was dead asleep in his chair, with his legs crossed and propped on the console. He didn’t wake when one of the crew threw a blanket over him, and he slept on til the ''Harbinger'' made the rendezvous six hours later.		A minute later, Mike was dead asleep in his chair, with his legs crossed and propped on the console. He didn’t wake when one of the crew threw a blanket over him, and he slept on til the ''Harbinger'' made the rendezvous six hours later.
	<br><br><br>		<br><br><br>

Taimdala at 20:17, 2 February 2009

2009-02-02T20:17:55Z

Show changes

Taimdala at 05:28, 31 January 2009

2009-01-31T05:28:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:28, 31 January 2009
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	[[Lighting the Fire Part 1\|Part 1]] \| [[Lighting the Fire Part 2\|Part 2]] \| [[Credits\| Credits]]<br>		[[Lighting the Fire Part 1\|Part 1]] \| [[Lighting the Fire Part 2\|Part 2]] \| [[Lighting the Fire Credits\| Credits]]<br>
	Back to [[EPISODES]]		Back to [[EPISODES]]

Taimdala at 05:28, 31 January 2009

2009-01-31T05:28:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:28, 31 January 2009
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	[[Lighting the Fire Part 1\|Part 1]] \| [[Lighting the Fire Part 2\|Part 2]]<br>		[[Lighting the Fire Part 1\|Part 1]] \| [[Lighting the Fire Part 2\|Part 2]] \| [[Credits\| Credits]]<br>
	Back to [[EPISODES]]		Back to [[EPISODES]]

Taimdala at 04:25, 30 January 2009

2009-01-30T04:25:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:25, 30 January 2009
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	“''‘Use’?'' Not quite the word I’d’a chosen,” he said, flicking a glance at her as he shut everything down. He stood and eyed the corridor they were in. “The hallway’s not what I’d’a chosen, neither. You got a twenty in mind, ''cherie?''”<br>		“''‘Use’?'' Not quite the word I’d’a chosen,” he said, flicking a glance at her as he shut everything down. He stood and eyed the corridor they were in. “The hallway’s not what I’d’a chosen, neither. You got a twenty in mind, ''cherie?''”<br>
	His words warmed her and Nika offered him a slow, somehow sweet, smile. “Thanks,” she said softly. “Seems like most would find it pretty damn appropriate. C’mon.” She jerked her head sideways, toward the far end of the corridor.<br>		His words warmed her and Nika offered him a slow, somehow sweet, smile. “Thanks,” she said softly. “Seems like most would find it pretty damn appropriate. C’mon.” She jerked her head sideways, toward the far end of the corridor.<br>
	Mike studied her from behind as she led the way. He’d noticed earlier that she was an attractive woman—slender, willowy, a bit taller than average. What ~~that~~ had caught his attention most, however, was that braid hanging down her back. Doubled up under itself, it still hung halfway to her waist and now that he had time to contemplate it, he was looking forward to running his hands through that mass of blond hair . . . Long hair on a woman was a huge turn-on, and so few women kept it that way in the Resistance. ''Not practical at all. Nope.''<br>		Mike studied her from behind as she led the way. He’d noticed earlier that she was an attractive woman—slender, willowy, a bit taller than average. What had caught his attention most, however, was that braid hanging down her back. Doubled up under itself, it still hung halfway to her waist and now that he had time to contemplate it, he was looking forward to running his hands through that mass of blond hair . . . Long hair on a woman was a huge turn-on, and so few women kept it that way in the Resistance. ''Not practical at all. Nope.''<br>
	Nika gestured for him to precede her into the room, glancing down the corridor to be sure it was clear. There was no one around, thank God. Shyla frowned on this behavior on board. She followed him into the small space, closing the door tightly behind her and leaning on it. “Got you permission to use the crew shower. Thought the hot water’d be a good way to relax. But it seems like you got something better in mind,” she said with that faint half-smile again.<br>		Nika gestured for him to precede her into the room, glancing down the corridor to be sure it was clear. There was no one around, thank God. Shyla frowned on this behavior on board. She followed him into the small space, closing the door tightly behind her and leaning on it. “Got you permission to use the crew shower. Thought the hot water’d be a good way to relax. But it seems like you got something better in mind,” she said with that faint half-smile again.<br>
	It was tight in the crew head. Carter bracketed her with a hand on either side and leaned in. She could feel the heat rising off him and her skin started to prickle deliciously. His eyes were steady on hers as he murmured, “Last chance to back out.”<br>		It was tight in the crew head. Carter bracketed her with a hand on either side and leaned in. She could feel the heat rising off him and her skin started to prickle deliciously. His eyes were steady on hers as he murmured, “Last chance to back out.”<br>

Taimdala at 17:10, 29 January 2009

2009-01-29T17:10:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:10, 29 January 2009
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	“You’re welcome.” Mike smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead—an oddly chaste gesture after the carnal action they’d engaged in. “And thank you.”<br>		“You’re welcome.” Mike smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead—an oddly chaste gesture after the carnal action they’d engaged in. “And thank you.”<br>
	Nika smiled gently and closed her eyes. They stood there for a moment with her forehead against his lips. “No,” she replied softly, pulling away to look at him. “Thank ''you.'' This wasn’t what I meant when I said you needed downtime. But sometimes a moment’s respite is all we get to renew the spirit.” Her education showed through her vocabulary, despite her effort to hide it, and she saw something shift behind his eyes when he caught it.<br>		Nika smiled gently and closed her eyes. They stood there for a moment with her forehead against his lips. “No,” she replied softly, pulling away to look at him. “Thank ''you.'' This wasn’t what I meant when I said you needed downtime. But sometimes a moment’s respite is all we get to renew the spirit.” Her education showed through her vocabulary, despite her effort to hide it, and she saw something shift behind his eyes when he caught it.<br>
	“''Si Deus volo, cherie.''” He tilted her chin upward for one last kiss and stepped back. “You right. It is.”<br>		“''Si Deus volo, cherie.''” He tilted her chin upward for one last kiss and stepped back. “You're right. It is.”<br>
	Mike quit the shower and dried off briskly, donning his clothing and strapping his emotional armor back in place. “Respite,” she’d said. It was an apt word, and it never meant ‘forever.’ He didn’t waste Nika’s time with whispered trifles or promises both knew he couldn’t keep. Mike had learned long ago that war was a brutal business and had little room in it for sentiment. He simply checked to see if the coast was clear and left her the luxury of the shower and a quick exit, but her words stayed with him, lightening the burden of duty when he took it up again.<br>		Mike quit the shower and dried off briskly, donning his clothing and strapping his emotional armor back in place. “Respite,” she’d said. It was an apt word, and it never meant ‘forever.’ He didn’t waste Nika’s time with whispered trifles or promises both knew he couldn’t keep. Mike had learned long ago that war was a brutal business and had little room in it for sentiment. He simply checked to see if the coast was clear and left her the luxury of the shower and a quick exit, but her words stayed with him, lightening the burden of duty when he took it up again.<br>
	<br><br>		<br><br>

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:24, 17 April 2009
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	Her pilot thus dismissed, Kramer called their co-pilot to the bridge. She turned to Chen next, and started pulling up the alternate IDs Carter has brought along with their fake pinger. There should be one in the half-dozen or so they could use…		Her pilot thus dismissed, Kramer called their co-pilot to the bridge. She turned to Chen next, and started pulling up the alternate IDs Carter has brought along with their fake pinger. There should be one in the half-dozen or so they could use…
	<br><br>		<br><br>
	Nika left the bridge and saw that her hands were still bloody. Dried threads of the red stuff clung to her knuckles and nails. She grabbed a water bottle on the way back to the airlock and dampened her bandana with it, scrubbing her hands clean again. Or cleaner anyway, she reckoned, inspecting her hands front and back. She capped the bottle, shoved her bandana back into her hip pocket and checked the airlock. Fraiser was still in there, carefully pulling Li’s trousers over the bandage across the man’s hip. Li was still handcuffed and chained, making ~~Frasier’s~~ job tougher and conscience prompted Nika to do something about it. She grabbed the requisite keys from the nearby arms locker, retrieved the water bottle from where she’d left it on the deck, and entered the airlock.<br>		Nika left the bridge and saw that her hands were still bloody. Dried threads of the red stuff clung to her knuckles and nails. She grabbed a water bottle on the way back to the airlock and dampened her bandana with it, scrubbing her hands clean again. Or cleaner anyway, she reckoned, inspecting her hands front and back. She capped the bottle, shoved her bandana back into her hip pocket and checked the airlock. Fraiser was still in there, carefully pulling Li’s trousers over the bandage across the man’s hip. Li was still handcuffed and chained, making Fraiser’s job tougher and conscience prompted Nika to do something about it. She grabbed the requisite keys from the nearby arms locker, retrieved the water bottle from where she’d left it on the deck, and entered the airlock.<br>
	Li glared daggers at her but said nothing. He only winced as ~~Frasier~~ got to work on the rough field dressing Nika had improvised on his arm.<br>		Li glared daggers at her but said nothing. He only winced as Fraiser got to work on the rough field dressing Nika had improvised on his arm.<br>
	“How’re you doin’, Li? ~~Frasier~~ doin’ right by you?” Nika asked, maintaining an easy stride as if she hadn’t noticed Li’s expression.<br>		“How’re you doin’, Li? Fraiser doin’ right by you?” Nika asked, maintaining an easy stride as if she hadn’t noticed Li’s expression.<br>
	“''Christ'', Nika, you carved him up like a turkey. Hadda put sixteen stitches in that hip of his. And his arm ain’t lookin’ like it’s gonna avoid getting’ any, either. What the hell were you thinkin’?”<br>		“''Christ'', Nika, you carved him up like a turkey. Hadda put sixteen stitches in that hip of his. And his arm ain’t lookin’ like it’s gonna avoid getting’ any, either. What the hell were you thinkin’?”<br>
	“I’m thinkin’ of getting Li out of those cuffs, if you’d just step aside a blessed minute and let me do it,” Nika snorted. ~~Frasier~~ might be a callow kid compared to her, but he was a pro when it came to his patients.<br>		“I’m thinkin’ of getting Li out of those cuffs, if you’d just step aside a blessed minute and let me do it,” Nika snorted. Fraiser might be a callow kid compared to her, but he was a pro when it came to his patients.<br>
	“Gimme the keys,” he said, thrusting out a hand for them. He caught them neatly when she tossed them and got busy with the cuffs. A click, a clatter, a crash of the chain, and Li stood rubbing his wrists, finally freed of his bonds. ~~Frasier~~ tossed the keys back and Nika shoved them into her pocket.<br>		“Gimme the keys,” he said, thrusting out a hand for them. He caught them neatly when she tossed them and got busy with the cuffs. A click, a clatter, a crash of the chain, and Li stood rubbing his wrists, finally freed of his bonds. Fraiser tossed the keys back and Nika shoved them into her pocket.<br>
	“Hard-nosed bitch,” ~~Frasier~~ groused, continuing his work on Li’s arm. “Get a chair for him or something, willya?”<br>		“Hard-nosed bitch,” Fraiser groused, continuing his work on Li’s arm. “Get a chair for him or something, willya?”<br>
	“I brought water,” she held up the bottle and shook it. Li looked up sharply at the sloshing sound. “Will that do?”<br>		“I brought water,” she held up the bottle and shook it. Li looked up sharply at the sloshing sound. “Will that do?”<br>
	“Sure. It shouldn’t hurt him. Drink it slow, you’ll sick it up otherwise,” ~~Frasier~~ added to his patient as he threaded another suture onto his needle.<br>		“Sure. It shouldn’t hurt him. Drink it slow, you’ll sick it up otherwise,” Fraiser added to his patient as he threaded another suture onto his needle.<br>
	Nika unscrewed the cap and held out the water bottle.<br>		Nika unscrewed the cap and held out the water bottle.<br>
	“''Bitch''.” Li took the bottle from her and threw it back in her face before she could duck. “I was cooperating with you! I didn’t lie. I told you the truth. I’d told the Feds nothing. I had the intel on everything and I was ready to give it up! You didn’t have to ''fuckin’ cut me to get me to talk!''”<br>		“''Bitch''.” Li took the bottle from her and threw it back in her face before she could duck. “I was cooperating with you! I didn’t lie. I told you the truth. I’d told the Feds nothing. I had the intel on everything and I was ready to give it up! You didn’t have to ''fuckin’ cut me to get me to talk!''”<br>
	Nika rescued the bottle from the deck and capped it, dripping from her dousing. She straightened, calmly gave the bottle to ~~Frasier~~, and exited the airlock without a word. Carter was leaning against the bulkhead outside, examining his booted toes.<br>		Nika rescued the bottle from the deck and capped it, dripping from her dousing. She straightened, calmly gave the bottle to Fraiser, and exited the airlock without a word. Carter was leaning against the bulkhead outside, examining his booted toes.<br>
	''Shit. How much of that did he see?''<br>		''Shit. How much of that did he see?''<br>
	“Can I go in?” Carter tilted his head toward the airlock. If he noticed the water dripping off her onto the deck, he gave no sign of it and Nika was grateful for it.<br>		“Can I go in?” Carter tilted his head toward the airlock. If he noticed the water dripping off her onto the deck, he gave no sign of it and Nika was grateful for it.<br>
	“Knock yourself out. ~~Frasier’s~~ got a bark on him, but he doesn’t bite. He shouldn’t get in your way. What are you going to do?”<br>		“Knock yourself out. Fraiser’s got a bark on him, but he doesn’t bite. He shouldn’t get in your way. What are you going to do?”<br>
	Carter quirked a humorless grin at her and held up a slim data book.<br>		Carter quirked a humorless grin at her and held up a slim data book.<br>
	“Talk.”<br>		“Talk.”<br>
	He moved for the door and she stepped aside to let him pass. She got a nod from him as he went through. Regret hit her then, bone-deep and bitter, and she paused a moment against the bulkhead. The corridor was empty. She was alone. No one would see the tears prickling beneath her eyelashes or see her wipe them away. Inside the airlock was a man she’d cut up on another man’s orders, being tended by yet a third who had seen too many legitimate wounds to believe Li had come by his honestly. There would be no hiding what she’d done. At the time it had been deemed necessary, and though she could play the game with the best of them . . . Despite what Li or ~~Frasier~~ believed, she’d taken no pleasure in it. It dishonored her steel, it sullied her character, and it bit at her soul. Breathing deeply to quell her self-recrimination, Nika grit her teeth and pushed off the bulkhead. Carter would need a few things if he was going to hit the crew shower later. She reckoned she had something that didn’t smell too girly for him to use.		He moved for the door and she stepped aside to let him pass. She got a nod from him as he went through. Regret hit her then, bone-deep and bitter, and she paused a moment against the bulkhead. The corridor was empty. She was alone. No one would see the tears prickling beneath her eyelashes or see her wipe them away. Inside the airlock was a man she’d cut up on another man’s orders, being tended by yet a third who had seen too many legitimate wounds to believe Li had come by his honestly. There would be no hiding what she’d done. At the time it had been deemed necessary, and though she could play the game with the best of them . . . Despite what Li or Fraiser believed, she’d taken no pleasure in it. It dishonored her steel, it sullied her character, and it bit at her soul. Breathing deeply to quell her self-recrimination, Nika grit her teeth and pushed off the bulkhead. Carter would need a few things if he was going to hit the crew shower later. She reckoned she had something that didn’t smell too girly for him to use.
	<br><br>		<br><br>
	Two hours later, Mike shut down his recorder and closed up his data book. Li had given him solid intel all the way and as he stowed his equipment, Mike was already thinking of the possibilities Li had given the Independents. Hell, he was no intel analyst and he was brain-fried to boot. ''Let the desk spooks figure it out.'' Mike’s job here was done.<br>		Two hours later, Mike shut down his recorder and closed up his data book. Li had given him solid intel all the way and as he stowed his equipment, Mike was already thinking of the possibilities Li had given the Independents. Hell, he was no intel analyst and he was brain-fried to boot. ''Let the desk spooks figure it out.'' Mike’s job here was done.<br>