Short stories 219:23 Dec 27 2007
Times Read: 671
For my new Housemate, Diva, I will add more short stories that I have written.
*******
I was in band called "Wake up and Dream"
Tziki my friend founded the band.
She was intense, silent but visually hypnotic girl. She was a Betazoid. One of the few born without vocal cords.
I become lead vocals and female harmonies. Deanne Patterson, Raymond Briggs and M`Ress completed the band.
After two years of finding our niche, we hit it big.
I was about to turn nine when our band become famous for Tziki's thundering Marabi horns, punchy swing rhythms, and Ray's gumboots, pennywhistles and steel drums.
Tziki and I competed for top spot, being most famous.
My trademark was my unconventional fashion on stage. After becoming famous, our first two concerts were memorable for my fake dreadlocks and extremely long sleeves, as well as for silver-painted tears.
The five concerts after that, my basic look consisted of dyed hair often of several colours and a deepening tan. I had black and white eyeliner, false eyelashes, platform shoes, and brightly-coloured outfits. At the Mexico City concert, I added tie-dyed sarongs, a lot of bracelets, rings and necklaces to my outfit.
The last nine concerts, my headgear was topped by a very long feather, and my makeup went through several changes, including white lipstick to contract my darkening skin, pastel eye makeup, brightly-coloured contact lenses, and plastic dayglo-coloured clothing.
Tziki suddenly just left. She died a few weeks later on Betazed.
We were devastated and the band was no more. She was my closest friend. I miss her so much sometimes.
Our band released 33 songs. Two years in the spotlight .... It was fun.
*********
Eleven Years ago
Mouse, Ray, Deanne, M`Ress, Alice, Wiuen and myself have been assigned to the USS Aurora. That was 120 days ago. I am infatuated with Alice, but will a relationship work?
I am so scared to try, we are close friends, I fear that a relationship will fail and make things very awkward toward us. We have known each other for four years now. We know of each others' pains and inner demons. I like the fact that Alice and I share quarters.
This starting my cadet cruise, a lot of things has happened. I embarrassed myself to the Captain on the very first day.
9 days later, the First Officer, Ciro Ramirez severely dressed me down for nearly falling asleep during my midnight shift. Since that day, Alice and I have the afternoon shift together on the Bridge.
So this is the crazy adventures of my life, on board an old rust bucket Excelsior class training ship. I honestly wish I was assigned to an Ambassador class ship instead, those are by far my favourite of the big ships.
I am in love, but she does not know it. I do not know if I am even ready for another relationship. I wish I could talk to my sister or my parents, but we are out of communications range.
Wiuen and Mouse's little war in still raging after all these years. Mouse does not like me to be around Alice, her best friend. She wants Alice to herself.
Ray respects me, but ultimately I think he prefers not to be around me. Deanne is finally not shy around me. Her brother is very clumsy and has a habit of talking unable to stop.
I have been spending the last nine days on the holodeck and doing reading on human relationships. Where is such a huge difference between the way Edenians and Humans is romance between partners. At the core we are the same, but Humans enjoy perfecting science and engineering experiments. But Edenians are more social creatures, we protect our own.
These are my thoughts, I have to stop thinking about this now, it is really late and I need sleep.
*************
Alice woke up about 0600 hours, Stryker was not in bed.
Alice checked the nursery, one baby sleeping, one missing ....
She then walked to the living room where Stryker was standing, burping Olivia. He had a mini towel on his shoulder, already in uniform. Then little Olivia barfed.
"'Why-me' sense tingling" Stryker whined. Alice smiled, "I am going back to bed"
********
Holodeck
Sammy pulled her blond hair from her face and tied it in a tight knot on the back of her head. She briefly then closed her eyes as she pulled the protective gear made of brown leather.
She looked in the direction of where Alice and Bélanna was standing. They had also chosen wear that suited their preferred aircraft. Her choice had been an easy one. For many years she had tried to find someone who had created a program that felt real. She had great expectations this time, her face erupted in a huge smile from ear to ear. She knelt and started to tie her uniform boots. How on earth could they wear boots of this kind?
This programmer was really good. Somehow she had been able to catch the scent of the damp asphalt after the smooth spring rain. She approached the craft and let her hand gently touch the side of the thin nose of the spitfire.
Sam looked in the direction of where Alice was standing. Her choice of period aircraft had been an easy one. Sammy's plane was the Mark 5 Spitfire, A-wing variant equipped with eight 7.6mm machine guns. Painted green camoflage colours. It had one Napier Lion and one Rolls-Royce "R" engine working together.
The Spitfire's elliptical wing had a thin cross-section, allowing a higher top speed than the Hawker Hurricane and other contemporary designs of the era; it also resulted in a distinctive appearance, enhancing its overall streamlined features. The fighter plane's name refering to a particularly fiery, ferocious type of person, usually a woman.
"You look really good but let me add the finishing touch" Alister grinned as he touched the chin of Sammy. She felt the engine grease and decided to return the favour.
"Love birds" Alice said smiling. Alice was wearing a brown and black leather flight coveralls. Her head was covered by red-brown and white coloured Winter Rabbit Fur Cap, Alice was doing up the chin strap. Alice noticed her clothing was making squeaking sounds every few seconds that sounded a lot like small farts.
The red haired woman climbed with her choosen plane. This aircraft was her second choice, Alice did not like the French built Sopwith Baby.
Alice's airplane was the Italian built, Macchi MC 72. A piston engine seaplane, powered by two V12 engines, one behind the other and two contra-rotating props. It was a single seater with two floats, painted red. Alice's plane had two 12.7mm machine guns.
They were standing on an airfield near Sammy's hometown. The temperature was a little on the cold side. A few clouds in the late-morning sky.
"Who will take off first ?" Sammy asked.
"My plane is faster, so, You have 15 minutes before I take off" Alice said, then added in dark tone "There can be only one"
~~
The Spitfire was flying South-East then South. From her left, Sam saw something unnatural. The Italian made her Spitfire dive almost 90 degrees straight down when she realized it was Alice's Macchi.
Sam felt the plane's characteristic "shudder", warning her that she was about to reach the limit of the aircraft's performance, while full control is retained at the wingtips and ailerons. "Dammit"
Alice pulled up at 2000 meters, considering the best way to hide from Sam, then how to position her Red Plane to attack Sam. I have to use my speed advantage, Alice thought.
The green Spitfire leveled at about 800 meters above the ocean, Sam searching for Alice.
After two minutes and still no sighting of Alice, Sam started climbing slowly. Suddenly from below, the red Macchi was firing at Sam. Missed me Sam laughed. The Spitfire turned quickly, her 8 guns nailing Alice's plane. About 100 rounds hit the wings and rear end of the Macchi but much for Sam's surprise, Alice's plane was still flying.
Alice retreated into cloud cover. Sam did not follow directly, instead making a slow left turn then suddenly a slow right turn. The thrill of the chase felt wonderful. Next time fly an open canopy plane Sam decided. She made her Spitfire climb at maximum thrust. Calculating where Alice would be hiding, Sam smiled, "Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty !"
After five minutes of searching, nothing. Sam made a slow circle, her eyes scanning for Alice. Short range Sensors would be useful .... Sam thought to herself.
Still turning, there was suddenly bullet holes in her left wing. From behind, where the sun is hanging in the skies come Alice's plane. "Cowabunga !" Alice cheered, racing past the Spitfire.
Sam's plane was slowly losing speed and altitude. Alice realized Sam was no longer able to pursue her.
Sam was fighting the partial loss of control. She tried to estimate amount of damage to her craft and could only come to one conclusion as she heard the erratic sound of the engine. She went to full throttle and tried to get the plane to climb. She would need the extra altitude for the maneuver she had in mind. She checked her six and saw the red fighter approach for the kill. I hope she is overconfident like me. She thought to herself.
As the Spitfire went in to a steep climb the Macchi started to open fire as it approached. Suddenly the Spitfire's engine became quiet and the plane lost altitude and speed really fast. It was spinning downward in a spiral like way, similar to a falling leaf. The Macchi overshot the spitfire and started to turn in a wide angle. Suddenly the spitfire came to life again and Samantha attacked the Macchi with the sun in her six.
The Macchi started to roll to avoid the incoming fire but suddenly plexi glass was shattered all around Alice and oil started to leak out from the engine. The oil caught fire and the trail behind the Macchi engulfed the Spitfire and its engine froze. Both planes were going down in a hurry.
The metal plating of the turned off holodeck surrounded the combatants. The computers voice said "Dog fight program ended."
"I think I got you." Sammy said as she turned to Alice.
"No way. The program malfunctioned."
The women turned to Alister whom had been observing from ground during the simulation. "Don’t ask me. I couldn’t see." I’d better stay out of this. he thought to himself.
(co-wrote by Drow and maxwell)
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