<USS Avalon> "Out of Place" Cmdr Skyler & Ensign Cate

"Out of Place"
written by:
Cmdr Skyler & Ensign Cate

         Skyler and Cate were now in a more comfortable setting. It had to be 
better than sitting on a cold floor, that's for sure. Skyler still wasn't 
sure how to get through to this woman, who acted as it she had no feelings one 
way or another.

         Skyler went over to the replicator and replicated two glasses of 
water. Walking back to her prisoner, she decided to leave one hand free and 
secure the other to a very heavy piece of furniture.

         "Here drink this. You must be thirsty by now? I know I am and the 
least I can do is show some compassion. Mind you, I will still have this phaser 
aimed at you so don't even think of trying anything."

         She handed Cate the water who tried not to appear to be to grateful 
or greedy as she drank it down. But there was no mistaking it, she was glad to 
finally have something to drink. Skyler took her own drink and sat on a chair 
in front of Cate and just watched and waited.

     Lyryn nodded a silent 'thanks' to Skyler and handed her the glass back.  
"I find it amusing that you still think that I will "try" anything.  
Commander, if I had wanted to, I could have gotten free on the way here.  In 
fact, I 
probably could've disarmed you as soon as you unbound my feet.  However, I 
opted to attempt to talk some sense to you, as we have invaded your ship and 
all."  She smiled at Skyler with a bit of twinkle in her eye.

    "Your best bet is to just send me back to my ship and get the hell out of 
here.  I'm not sure what is going on just yet, but my crew had orders to 
seize control of the ship.  I think that they wanted to study it and your 
crew.  I 
suppose you could use that to your advantage somehow.  They are going to be 
hesitant to kill and destroy - for now.  It may be a different story once they 
find out I'm prisoner.  I don't know."  The Lt. looked up and paused as if 
figuring out how to continue.

     "I hope I haven't made anything worse.  I really just tried to help,"  
Lyryn asked with her eyes for Skyler to believe her.  "My crew is highly 
efficient, so I would guess that at least the deck we beamed aboard on is 
probably 
controlled by my people.  They also had orders to secure sickbay and the 
bridge.  That is probably their next target.  I can't help you anymore than 
that.  I 
have jeopardized my crew enough as is.  Most of them are good people who are 
just following orders.  Please remember that."  Lyryn then closed her eyes 
once more, indicating she was finished talking.

     Skyler looked at Lt. Cate and realized that what she was saying was in 
all actuality the truth. However, be that as it may, she couldn't very well 
just let the woman loose. That was her problem. She fully understood the 
ramifications of her actions as well as those of Cate's. Neither of them were 
where 
they wanted to be. But due to a giant cosmic error- there they were. Two people 
completely out of place.

     "I am sure your people are doing as they were told, just as the crew of 
the Avalon are doing the same. As for my reason for not killing you, it's 
actually very simple. I don't think you deserve to die, any more than I or the 
rest of this crew does. Yours included.  I am very sure that you could have 
gotten away and killed me anytime you wanted. Yet you didn't. To me that shows 
integrity, which is something I honor. It also tells me you are a person of 
your 
word. There again is something I value in a person. So you see, I have no 
reason to kill you. That would just be out right murder and that I do not value 
or 
agree with."

     This time Skyler was the one to "wink" at the prisoner.

     Lyryn nodded, smiling, at Skyler.  "I know," was all she said.
     
     Skyler looked at Lyryn quite puzzled.  "What do you mean, 'I know'?  I 
could've easily killed you when you were unconscious"
     "Commander, really," Lyryn began with a mischievous grin, "Do you think 
that I would've taken the chance of being captured and consequently 
killed without knowing you at least a little bit?  How you would react for 
instance?   I 
studied you.   All the records that were left spoke of your integrity and 
kindness.   I think it was fairly safe of me to assume that you would let me 
live, especially if I showed mercy to you first.   And I tried.   Truly, I 
apologize for Brin's...indescretion.  I was not there to stop him."  
     After a moment's pause of Skyler staring at her, she added, "Now, I 
believe you are wasting precious time on this social call with me."  Lyryn was 
tiring of this banter.  She was a person of action or inaction by choice.  She 
truly disliked being a prisoner.  All the things she had told Skyler were 
indeed 
true, but it didn't mean that she liked being chained to a piece of furniture 
with a phaser pointed directly at her chest.  'What have I done?' she began 
to question herself.


         Skyler watched Lt.Cate and wondered what she was thinking. Skyler 
could tell that she was getting a tad bit bored with conversation or lack 
thereof, and truth be told, so was Skyler. It was apparent to both that 
everything 
that was going to be said had been said. Just as Skyler was getting ready to 
say something her communicator went off. It was the Captain.

                
         "Skyler, bring your captive to Main Engineering, we will find 
someplace here to put them.   I think it would be good to be updated on the 
status 
of what it going on.   Once you get clear of the lower decks, put up the 
forcefields."
 
         "Understood, Captain, we are on our way.  Skyler out."

         "Well Lt., it looks as if we are going on a little trip through the 
ship. I am trusting that you won't do anything or, as you say, you would have 
done it already."

         Skyler reached down and undid the bonds that were that were securing 
Lt. Cate to the furniture. Skyler undid those and just had the Lt.'s hands 
secured in front of her. She followed behind with a phaser pointed at her 
prisoner's back. They left Skyler's quarters and started toward main 
engineering.

        Lyryn followed along meekly with whatever Skyler ordered.  She was 
liking the commander more and more, though this situation was becoming 
increasingly uncomfortable.  Lt. Cate was really beginning to question her 
duplicitness 
to her own crew.  The Avalon seemed to be composed of good people.  But so 
was the Tempest.  Why should she feel so much kinship with the people of the 
Avalon?  Especially enough to betray her own crew, in a sense.  'Maybe 
because they are from a simpler time,' she thought.  'Not so much bloodshed.  
If only I 
could go back with them...'



     Skyler was walking with, not so much behind Lt. Cate, as they made their 
way through the ship to main engineering. Being part Betazoid, Skyler 
couldn't help but notice that the Lt. was having mixed feelings about her 
mission. In 
fact, Skyler sensed that perhaps her prisoner might be interested in staying 
on the Avalon as a crew member. The more they talked, the more Skyler felt 
like they were becoming friends and not prisoner or captor.

     The kept walking in silence both wondering what  to say. Finally, Skyler 
spoke up.

     " I am getting the impression that you would rather stay with us than 
return to the Tempest, am I correct? Don't try lying because I will be able to 
tell. If you are interested, I am sure I can arrange it with the Captain. I 
know that with your skills you would make a great addition to security. I would 
also vouch for you as well. Just let me know before we reach our destination."

     The two women kept walking and Skyler waited for an answer....
     Lyryn was completely conflicted.  It sounded like such an easy solution, 
but it could never be, she knew.  It was best not to think on it and just 
hope that her career was not over.  After a while she spoke, knowing that 
Skyler 
was waiting for an answer.
     "We both know that it's impossible," Lyryn said in a whisper with no 
small amount of regret.
 

         Skyler looked at the Lt. and thought for a moment. "Nothing is 
impossible if you really want it bad enough. No one ever said you had to go 
back to 
your old life. I am offering you the chance at a new life. A chance to start 
over and begin again. All you would have to do is help us get back home. I am 
sure your captain on the Tempest would find out soon enough, so that shouldn't 
be holding you back. As I said earlier, you would be a great addition to the 
crew. By the time the Temporal Police got done you wouldn't even remember your 
past life, much in the way we won't remember even being here again. So in the 
long run there is nothing holding you back except for your own stubborn 
pride."

         They entered the lift and as the doors closed behind them Skyler 
said, "Main Engineering" Now all they had to do was wait for the lift to take 
them there. She didn't say another word as she waited for Lt. Cate to say 
something. She only hoped she was getting through somehow. 

         Suddenly, Lyryn spoke, "Commander Skyler, stop the lift.  We need to 
talk..."

     "Computer stop lift"

     The lift came to a halt and Skyler looked at Lt Cate and wondered what 
was going on.

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