Sleepy, sleepy
Nov. 6th, 2004 02:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrOnce again, I apologize for the sloppiness. Shall go back and fix typos and stuff when A) It's not 2:11 in the morning and B) I'm caught up on the number of chapters I *should* have by now (that being six or seven).
P.S. I think this chapter probably needs a bit more added to it at the end, but the brain has ceased to function for now. The scene just kind of stopped. I'm sure the rest will come to me in the morning.
Chapter Four
Planet 1185911-3554 (moon of kreska), private settlement
Sean couldn't sleep. Sighing in defeat he threw back the blankets and climbed carefully out of bed.
He immediately felt cold, and for a moment almost went back to bed - and Mendel, who murmured in his sleep a moment before settling back down. But Sean wasn't tired, and he knew if he stayed his restlessness would wake his lover. So pulling on a sweater he wrapped the blankets back up around Mendel, kissed him softly, then went in search of something hot to drink.
A cup of tea in hand, he made his way to the office, clicking on his computer to do some more reading. Every sound invisible by day suddenly seemed overloud, and for a moment he worried Mendel would wake - then rolled his eyes and set to reading.
When the light for incoming calls flashed, he unthinkingly hit the button to take it, rather than letting the caller leave a message. He wasn't sure who was more startled - him or her. "Jundel."
"Sean," the green draconis from the meeting a few days ago smiled at him. "I wasn't expecting anyone to be up at this hour."
He smiled, "I wasn't expecting to be up. Is there a problem?"
"Only the usual," Jundel said tiredly. "There is some good news, in that I might have swayed a few more Coni to our side." She shrugged, "It's hard, when the race that created you sees you only as a tool. I'll be honest and say that sometimes I wonder if we'll ever succeed." Her smile returned, "But I know we will; and seeing how hard you and Mennie work always renews my determination."
"Mendel is certainly to be admired; but I've barely been doing this a Turn. It's a wonder everyone trusts me as much as they do."
"Not really. Ignoring the fact that matches have every reason to see the Draconis are well treated; anyone that sees the two of you together for more than five minutes knows you'd never do anything to hurt Mennie. And he's has been devoted to our cause so long I can hardly remember when he wasn't."
Sean flushed, discomfited by her words.
Jundel laughed. "For all that I hate what led to it, I am happy he finally found you - and I don't just mean his match."
"I know," Sean said softly. "I'm glad he found me too."
Jundel sighed softly, "If his father had cared half as much for the two of us…"
"I wish he had, Jun."
"That makes three of us, I'm sure." She replied. 'Mennie always tried so hard to get along with his father, but it just never worked. His father was too selfish and too foolish - and fool me for not realizing it sooner than I did." She smiled self-deprecatingly. "Perhaps if I had things would not have turned out as they did."
"And you wouldn't have had Mendel."
"That is very true. Is he all right? He would not tell me if he was doing poorly, but I know how upset he must still be…" she looked sad. "I don't think he knows how to handle the fact that he killed him."
Sean shook his head, "He never talks about it. I've tried a few times, but he either gets angry or gets depressed and it never goes anywhere. And I don't feel like I quite have the right to pry anyway." He grinned briefly, "We didn't exactly get together under the most normal circumstances, and all this espionage and hiding from authorities doesn't make for the best of dates."
"All things considered, Sean, I would say you're both doing splendidly. Don't fret about it too much - things will manage to work themselves out in their own time."
"Hopefully."
"They will," Jundel said firmly.
Sean shook his head, "I have my doubts, even if I try to ignore them. No matter what we do Jun, we can't change the fact that Mendel is wanted for murder. That he commited murder. Even if - when - we save the Draconis, I can't undo that fact."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Jundel remained firm, though her eyes had dimmed with her own private worries. "It helps none of us to dwell on it. So try harder to ignore your doubts until you can do something about them. There's no use in fretting over what can't be changed."
"You're right," Sean managed a wan smile. "I'll try."
Unspoken went the worries of his own fate. If they were ever caught, they were both going to wind up in a lab - or a grave.
"So what did you call for, Jundel? Certainly not to listen to me fret and whine."
Jundel laughed softly, "Perhaps I did, though I thought I was calling merely to report the limited success of the latest conference - as I mentioned earlier."
"Mmm...all the information we gave you and so little effect was had?" Sean leaned back in his seat, rubbing his forehead. "I guess we just have to keep trying. Are you sure you're okay? I would hate to put you in danger."
"Out of all of us, I am the in the least amount of danger," Jundel regarded him with stern, dark green eyes. "And the risk is worth what we're working toward. At least I am not stuck in a lab somewhere in space with little chance of getting out. I have nothing but respect for Lorraine, for willingly undertaking that task."
"You and me both. I hope we find her soon."
"We will."
"So what problems are you having?"
Jundel shrugged her thin shoulders, the shimmery fabric of her morning gown catching the sunlight peeking through unseen windows. "Only the usual - everyone wants to know my sources, and believe me to be making stuff up because I will not reveal them. Of course they suspect I am commincating with my son, but so far no one has been able to prove it." She smirked, "Benefits of being matched the way I am."
"Be careful."
"Aren't I always?"
"I wonder."
Jundel laughed softly. "You should get back to bed, Sean."
"I agree. I think maybe now I might actually be able to sleep."
"Pleasant dreams, and give my son a kiss for me."
"Gladly. Have a good day, Jundel."
"Farewell for now," Jundel signed off.
Sean returned his empty tea cup to their small kitchen, then made his way back to bed.
Mendel murmured noiselessly as he slid back under the blankets and almost immediately moved to cling to him. Sean clung back, eagerly absorbing the heat offered by the sleeping Draconis. He opened his mouth to yawn, and was asleep before he finished.
"You look like you did not sleep at all last night."
"I slept for a bit," Sean managed around the toast he was eating. "Eventually."
"Have trouble sleeping again?" Mendel asked. "You should have woken me up."
Sean snorted, "So we could both be tired today, lover? Besides, you're mom called with a report and I chatted with her a bit."
"Oh?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sean grinned. "Yes, we talked about you. But it was all nice stuff and no, I'm not telling you."
Mendel ignored him and went back to his computer screens.
"Oh, I'm getting ignored now."
"You are not," Mendel replied without looking up.
"Yes I am. Should I come over there and force you to pay attention to me?"
"No, you should not." Mendel finally glanced at him. "I'm not ignorig you - I just don't want to hear about whatever you two were discussing. I'm sure you were fretting needlessly."
"Never needless, lover."
"Hmph. I'm fine."
"None of us are fine."
Mendel grimaced and went back to work, ignoring Sean's sighs and mutters. Silence fell for a few minutes as Mendel worked and Sean finished his breakfast.
"...Sean..."
"Hmmm?"
"Your friend, back home. His name is Cyan, right?"
Sean blinked. "Yeah..."
"What's his last name?"
"McCracken."
Mendel looked up at him, "This news report from the second quadrant says that a few days ago pirates raided an intergalactic shuttle and took a man hostage to guarantee their escape. Says they wound up kidnapping a Rehab Guard on vacation - Cyan McCracken."
Sean choked on his toast, and spent the next minute or two struggling to regain his breath before he finaly spoke. "He's been kidnapped? How? What the hell?"
Shrugging, Mendel punched a few keys to transfer the report to Sean's computer. "It just says that at the end of their raid - during which they focused mostly on money, jewelry, the usual really - they took Cyan hostage. So far no word has been recieved by anyone as to the hostage. It's like they took him and ran.
"That's rather odd." Sean bit his lip, reading and rereading the short report. "What do they want with him? What was the ship? Any clues as to which pirate band did it?"
Mendel was silent for a few minutes while he searched for the answers to Sean's questions, "No one saw the ship itself, which is fairly standard. But pirate ships seen in that area before include the Sylvius, the Gloom, and the Dragonfly. No gaurantees, but it's possible he's on any one of those three ships.
"Right...and there's been no sign that they've released him?" Sean spoke in a voice that fell just short of panic. "Do you suppose..."
Mendel didn't reply immediately, instead moving to embrace him. "Don't get upset before you have a reason to be. He's probably fine - murder is a charge most pirates don't want to add to their lists. It's just too messy. Is there any other reason they might be holding him?"
In Mendel's arms, Sean suddenly went still. "Oh shit...what if they found out?" he stared up, eyes wide.
Mendel was confused, "Found out what?"
"Do you know the name Alexander? Rufus Alexander?"
"Yes…" Mendel said slowly. "It's rather hard not to know the name of the assassinated High Chancellor."
"He and his wife had two sons. Jade was the elder…Cyan the younger."
"Oh. That could be a problem."
Sean gave him a look, "You think?" He bit his lip, fretting. "I wonder what they'll do - did they kidnap him on purpose, or was it by pure chance? And what the hell was he doing on a star hopper anyway? Fuck."
"I…" Mendel looked oddly lost. "Should we send someone to investigate?"
"I don't know," Sean looked up at him. "I can't use our resources for personal measure. But I can't - what if -" he dropped into his seat with a strange sort of strangled moan.
Mendel held him close, stroking his hair as he thought. He frowned at his computers, debating options. Murmuring reassures he left Sean to return to his own desk, punching in a long string of numbers.
A screen flashed into view in the space above his desk. He waited in tense silence for several long minutes, until finally the screen activated on the other end, and a familiar pale face and white-blonde hair appeared. "Winter."
"Is something wrong?"
"Well…it doesn't pertain to the mission exactly."
Winter frowned, puzzled. "Just explain."
"The recent kidnapping by pirates."
"You mean the ones that took Jade's brother hostage."
"Yes."
"He's a close friend of Sean's."
Winter nodded, suddenly comprehending. "Of course. I'll see what I can do. I actually just received word of it myself - I was on my way to inform Lord Alexander now. I'll let you know what else we learn, and send what information we have your way."
"Thank you, Winter."
"No thanks are necessary. I'll do what I can, little though it may be, to see that he's returned safely," the screen went dark before Mendel had a chance to reply.
"Thank you, Mendel."
"Are you feeling better?"
Sean nodded, "I guess I really wasn't at my best, was I? But I don't like it…how in the hell did Cyan manage to get taken hostage? He taught me how to fight - I've never seen anyone beat him, armed or unarmed. Unless they somehow managed to force his hand - hard to do in a ship that size - they never could have done it. There are better hostages to take than Cyan." His brow furrowed, as he continued his train of thought. "Pirates typically take women, or older children. People that aren't as likely to be capable of fighting back. Not men like Cyan."
Mendel shrugged, "I guess we will see. Perhaps he tried to interfere?"
"It's certainly possible," Sean said. "I wish I could do something. I don't like just sitting here hiding all the time."
"We won't be here forever," Mendel said reassuringly. "One way or another, I get the feeling we'll eventually be on the move again. Let us hope it's for positive reasons."
"Right," Sean took a deep breath, and his usual calm focus descended. "I guess we'd better get back to working toward those positive reasons. Keep me posted on Cy."
"Of course."
Sean smiled at him, "Thanks, lover."
P.S. I think this chapter probably needs a bit more added to it at the end, but the brain has ceased to function for now. The scene just kind of stopped. I'm sure the rest will come to me in the morning.
Chapter Four
Planet 1185911-3554 (moon of kreska), private settlement
Sean couldn't sleep. Sighing in defeat he threw back the blankets and climbed carefully out of bed.
He immediately felt cold, and for a moment almost went back to bed - and Mendel, who murmured in his sleep a moment before settling back down. But Sean wasn't tired, and he knew if he stayed his restlessness would wake his lover. So pulling on a sweater he wrapped the blankets back up around Mendel, kissed him softly, then went in search of something hot to drink.
A cup of tea in hand, he made his way to the office, clicking on his computer to do some more reading. Every sound invisible by day suddenly seemed overloud, and for a moment he worried Mendel would wake - then rolled his eyes and set to reading.
When the light for incoming calls flashed, he unthinkingly hit the button to take it, rather than letting the caller leave a message. He wasn't sure who was more startled - him or her. "Jundel."
"Sean," the green draconis from the meeting a few days ago smiled at him. "I wasn't expecting anyone to be up at this hour."
He smiled, "I wasn't expecting to be up. Is there a problem?"
"Only the usual," Jundel said tiredly. "There is some good news, in that I might have swayed a few more Coni to our side." She shrugged, "It's hard, when the race that created you sees you only as a tool. I'll be honest and say that sometimes I wonder if we'll ever succeed." Her smile returned, "But I know we will; and seeing how hard you and Mennie work always renews my determination."
"Mendel is certainly to be admired; but I've barely been doing this a Turn. It's a wonder everyone trusts me as much as they do."
"Not really. Ignoring the fact that matches have every reason to see the Draconis are well treated; anyone that sees the two of you together for more than five minutes knows you'd never do anything to hurt Mennie. And he's has been devoted to our cause so long I can hardly remember when he wasn't."
Sean flushed, discomfited by her words.
Jundel laughed. "For all that I hate what led to it, I am happy he finally found you - and I don't just mean his match."
"I know," Sean said softly. "I'm glad he found me too."
Jundel sighed softly, "If his father had cared half as much for the two of us…"
"I wish he had, Jun."
"That makes three of us, I'm sure." She replied. 'Mennie always tried so hard to get along with his father, but it just never worked. His father was too selfish and too foolish - and fool me for not realizing it sooner than I did." She smiled self-deprecatingly. "Perhaps if I had things would not have turned out as they did."
"And you wouldn't have had Mendel."
"That is very true. Is he all right? He would not tell me if he was doing poorly, but I know how upset he must still be…" she looked sad. "I don't think he knows how to handle the fact that he killed him."
Sean shook his head, "He never talks about it. I've tried a few times, but he either gets angry or gets depressed and it never goes anywhere. And I don't feel like I quite have the right to pry anyway." He grinned briefly, "We didn't exactly get together under the most normal circumstances, and all this espionage and hiding from authorities doesn't make for the best of dates."
"All things considered, Sean, I would say you're both doing splendidly. Don't fret about it too much - things will manage to work themselves out in their own time."
"Hopefully."
"They will," Jundel said firmly.
Sean shook his head, "I have my doubts, even if I try to ignore them. No matter what we do Jun, we can't change the fact that Mendel is wanted for murder. That he commited murder. Even if - when - we save the Draconis, I can't undo that fact."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Jundel remained firm, though her eyes had dimmed with her own private worries. "It helps none of us to dwell on it. So try harder to ignore your doubts until you can do something about them. There's no use in fretting over what can't be changed."
"You're right," Sean managed a wan smile. "I'll try."
Unspoken went the worries of his own fate. If they were ever caught, they were both going to wind up in a lab - or a grave.
"So what did you call for, Jundel? Certainly not to listen to me fret and whine."
Jundel laughed softly, "Perhaps I did, though I thought I was calling merely to report the limited success of the latest conference - as I mentioned earlier."
"Mmm...all the information we gave you and so little effect was had?" Sean leaned back in his seat, rubbing his forehead. "I guess we just have to keep trying. Are you sure you're okay? I would hate to put you in danger."
"Out of all of us, I am the in the least amount of danger," Jundel regarded him with stern, dark green eyes. "And the risk is worth what we're working toward. At least I am not stuck in a lab somewhere in space with little chance of getting out. I have nothing but respect for Lorraine, for willingly undertaking that task."
"You and me both. I hope we find her soon."
"We will."
"So what problems are you having?"
Jundel shrugged her thin shoulders, the shimmery fabric of her morning gown catching the sunlight peeking through unseen windows. "Only the usual - everyone wants to know my sources, and believe me to be making stuff up because I will not reveal them. Of course they suspect I am commincating with my son, but so far no one has been able to prove it." She smirked, "Benefits of being matched the way I am."
"Be careful."
"Aren't I always?"
"I wonder."
Jundel laughed softly. "You should get back to bed, Sean."
"I agree. I think maybe now I might actually be able to sleep."
"Pleasant dreams, and give my son a kiss for me."
"Gladly. Have a good day, Jundel."
"Farewell for now," Jundel signed off.
Sean returned his empty tea cup to their small kitchen, then made his way back to bed.
Mendel murmured noiselessly as he slid back under the blankets and almost immediately moved to cling to him. Sean clung back, eagerly absorbing the heat offered by the sleeping Draconis. He opened his mouth to yawn, and was asleep before he finished.
*~*~*~*
"You look like you did not sleep at all last night."
"I slept for a bit," Sean managed around the toast he was eating. "Eventually."
"Have trouble sleeping again?" Mendel asked. "You should have woken me up."
Sean snorted, "So we could both be tired today, lover? Besides, you're mom called with a report and I chatted with her a bit."
"Oh?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sean grinned. "Yes, we talked about you. But it was all nice stuff and no, I'm not telling you."
Mendel ignored him and went back to his computer screens.
"Oh, I'm getting ignored now."
"You are not," Mendel replied without looking up.
"Yes I am. Should I come over there and force you to pay attention to me?"
"No, you should not." Mendel finally glanced at him. "I'm not ignorig you - I just don't want to hear about whatever you two were discussing. I'm sure you were fretting needlessly."
"Never needless, lover."
"Hmph. I'm fine."
"None of us are fine."
Mendel grimaced and went back to work, ignoring Sean's sighs and mutters. Silence fell for a few minutes as Mendel worked and Sean finished his breakfast.
"...Sean..."
"Hmmm?"
"Your friend, back home. His name is Cyan, right?"
Sean blinked. "Yeah..."
"What's his last name?"
"McCracken."
Mendel looked up at him, "This news report from the second quadrant says that a few days ago pirates raided an intergalactic shuttle and took a man hostage to guarantee their escape. Says they wound up kidnapping a Rehab Guard on vacation - Cyan McCracken."
Sean choked on his toast, and spent the next minute or two struggling to regain his breath before he finaly spoke. "He's been kidnapped? How? What the hell?"
Shrugging, Mendel punched a few keys to transfer the report to Sean's computer. "It just says that at the end of their raid - during which they focused mostly on money, jewelry, the usual really - they took Cyan hostage. So far no word has been recieved by anyone as to the hostage. It's like they took him and ran.
"That's rather odd." Sean bit his lip, reading and rereading the short report. "What do they want with him? What was the ship? Any clues as to which pirate band did it?"
Mendel was silent for a few minutes while he searched for the answers to Sean's questions, "No one saw the ship itself, which is fairly standard. But pirate ships seen in that area before include the Sylvius, the Gloom, and the Dragonfly. No gaurantees, but it's possible he's on any one of those three ships.
"Right...and there's been no sign that they've released him?" Sean spoke in a voice that fell just short of panic. "Do you suppose..."
Mendel didn't reply immediately, instead moving to embrace him. "Don't get upset before you have a reason to be. He's probably fine - murder is a charge most pirates don't want to add to their lists. It's just too messy. Is there any other reason they might be holding him?"
In Mendel's arms, Sean suddenly went still. "Oh shit...what if they found out?" he stared up, eyes wide.
Mendel was confused, "Found out what?"
"Do you know the name Alexander? Rufus Alexander?"
"Yes…" Mendel said slowly. "It's rather hard not to know the name of the assassinated High Chancellor."
"He and his wife had two sons. Jade was the elder…Cyan the younger."
"Oh. That could be a problem."
Sean gave him a look, "You think?" He bit his lip, fretting. "I wonder what they'll do - did they kidnap him on purpose, or was it by pure chance? And what the hell was he doing on a star hopper anyway? Fuck."
"I…" Mendel looked oddly lost. "Should we send someone to investigate?"
"I don't know," Sean looked up at him. "I can't use our resources for personal measure. But I can't - what if -" he dropped into his seat with a strange sort of strangled moan.
Mendel held him close, stroking his hair as he thought. He frowned at his computers, debating options. Murmuring reassures he left Sean to return to his own desk, punching in a long string of numbers.
A screen flashed into view in the space above his desk. He waited in tense silence for several long minutes, until finally the screen activated on the other end, and a familiar pale face and white-blonde hair appeared. "Winter."
"Is something wrong?"
"Well…it doesn't pertain to the mission exactly."
Winter frowned, puzzled. "Just explain."
"The recent kidnapping by pirates."
"You mean the ones that took Jade's brother hostage."
"Yes."
"He's a close friend of Sean's."
Winter nodded, suddenly comprehending. "Of course. I'll see what I can do. I actually just received word of it myself - I was on my way to inform Lord Alexander now. I'll let you know what else we learn, and send what information we have your way."
"Thank you, Winter."
"No thanks are necessary. I'll do what I can, little though it may be, to see that he's returned safely," the screen went dark before Mendel had a chance to reply.
"Thank you, Mendel."
"Are you feeling better?"
Sean nodded, "I guess I really wasn't at my best, was I? But I don't like it…how in the hell did Cyan manage to get taken hostage? He taught me how to fight - I've never seen anyone beat him, armed or unarmed. Unless they somehow managed to force his hand - hard to do in a ship that size - they never could have done it. There are better hostages to take than Cyan." His brow furrowed, as he continued his train of thought. "Pirates typically take women, or older children. People that aren't as likely to be capable of fighting back. Not men like Cyan."
Mendel shrugged, "I guess we will see. Perhaps he tried to interfere?"
"It's certainly possible," Sean said. "I wish I could do something. I don't like just sitting here hiding all the time."
"We won't be here forever," Mendel said reassuringly. "One way or another, I get the feeling we'll eventually be on the move again. Let us hope it's for positive reasons."
"Right," Sean took a deep breath, and his usual calm focus descended. "I guess we'd better get back to working toward those positive reasons. Keep me posted on Cy."
"Of course."
Sean smiled at him, "Thanks, lover."
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 07:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 07:46 am (UTC)Sean snorted, "So we could both be tired today, lover? Besides, you're mom called with a report and I chatted with her a bit."
Sean choked on his toast, and spent the next minute or two struggling to regain his breath before he finaly spoke. "He's been kidnapped? How? What the hell?"
Also, Sean's concern for Cyan is so cute. <3 And I love them ALL to bits. I think I prefer reading the chapters with Cyan though. o_o; I have no idea why... Maybe because politics doesn't appeal much to me, or something.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 08:56 am (UTC)I really DO love your stories... And I really don't mean to be a prick about the little things... >____>;; Sorry.)
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 04:44 pm (UTC)dude, I don't mind. beta away if you really want - the problem is that right now I finish these so late I don't edit them myself. Plus who knows what I'll be changing by the time I'm done with it all.
Yeah, the freakin' politics are hurting my head. But I can't really write the story without them, argh.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 04:53 pm (UTC)*hugs* I'll be standing in this corner waving pompoms madly? I can't actually help much, since I generally skip politics when I can. It makes me hate humans this much less.
...The avoidance, not the politics itself.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 01:09 pm (UTC)And hey, at least now Sean has a (sort of) reason to hit Cyan back. Making him worry like that when Cyan hired those people to kidnap him. ^-^
Gyah, you rock. ^-^
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 02:03 pm (UTC)Since Mendel read the article and Sean still had to explain about Cyan being Jade's brother, how is it that Winter knew that an assassinated noble's son who changed his name was working as a guard and was kidnapped?
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 02:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 04:41 pm (UTC)I may have to go back and make sure I thought things out right, but the way I've got things Winter would know - it'll make more sense when you know *who* Winter is. I think. Now you've got me worried. Hmm...
no subject
Date: 2004-11-06 05:42 pm (UTC)Back to Aidenn I go...
Grammar Nazi-ing, part le fourth
Date: 2006-10-19 06:37 pm (UTC)he's has? :)
Of course they suspect I am commincating with my son
communicating. o.o; Normally you mis-grammar-spell words, not completely misspell them. ^^; No spell-check during NaNo?
Besides, you're mom called with a report
you're = your
"I'm not ignorig you - I just don't want to hear
ignoring. >.>; I so want the master copy for this, cause I'm sure you fixed that already...
Sean choked on his toast, and spent the next minute or two struggling to regain his breath before he finaly spoke.
finaly = finally, and that I so love that line. ^.^
Murmuring reassures he left Sean to
reassurances