The colonists of the Covenant would never know what had happened. They would never know about the planet, the aliens, the stray android that they had just barely managed to get away from, but what they did know, and what of course Dorian had noticed, was that the crew was very small and left much to be desired compared to when they had taken off all those years ago. Of course, with all these slots unofficially open, Dorian had dived right in and started to manipulate his way into the ranks. Not as an officer, that wasn’t something he desired, but he wanted to command, he wanted power and that’s one of the reasons he had signed up for this.
He was charming, strong, stubborn, helpful, everything they might need, anything she would need. What the crew of the covenant would never know was that in leaving one soulless machine behind, they had now awoken a very human one and he had been let in too deep for him to be pulled out now.
Approaching the log cabin with two bowls in hand, spotting Daniels out on the porch, he approached with a smile and climbed the few steps up like he owned the place (he almost did, in his opinion.) “Here, I brought you some soup, it’s getting a bit chilly nowadays.” he smiled as he handed her the bowl of steaming hot soup and a spoon. In doing so, he also reached up to place a well familiar kiss on her cheek. Damn the tall women. // @daniels-b-captain liked for a starter
Spock had been busy overseeing the bridge in the absence of Captain Kirk as he had beamed down to the surface when he had been called to the transporter room along with mister Scott by captain’s orders. Handing the con over to mister Sulu for the moment, he hurried down the corridor to meet Mister Scott, both at a loss as to why they had been called along with a hand full of security officers. They had gone down four to the surface, along with the captain had been doctor McCoy and two security officers. Though they were now five coming back with only two familiar faces. They had all seen the colony ship blow up and the Enterprise had been the closest to pick up the signal and come for help. But too late. Standing at the ready, he noticed before anyone else that the female officer was about to fall over, and thanks to the quick reflexes of his Vulcan heritage, he was able to catch her before she hit the floor.
“Well done Mister Spock.” Jom congratulated him before Mccoy came rushing to scan her and make sure she was okay. The other looked a bit dizzy too, obviously not used to being beamed up.
“Can you stand?” he asked as he carefully helped her to stand on her feet by herself, slowly letting go but ready to catch her again if need be as the doctor proclaimed her well enough for the moment before he went on to the others, ordering them all to be taken to the sickbay. // @daniels-b-captain liked for a starter
There’s something to be said about the sanctity of screaming.
Not that Khan knows particularly well. He’d rather swallow his tongue before shedding his skin for the world. His nightmares are his own, and they are a part of him. He dreams so often of black talons and sharp teeth that he’s ever closer to finding himself in the midst of transforming himself. Sometimes he feels the writhing in the center of his chest and simply finds himself waiting for his rib cage to unleash his sins upon the universe.
It never happens, and so he often tries to claw himself open from the outside instead. To be vulnerable is needed most of all, but sometimes he thinks he’d rather die. Then he’d be at rest with those lost, with the family he’d forsake everything for.
The fire of temporary madness passes, but the thoughts never do. He observes himself in the mirror, wondering when the new self-inflicted slashes across his bare chest will begin to heal. The blood congealed beneath his nails feels heavy, a burden comparable to Atlas, and as he sinks through the floor, he doesn’t notice Dani’s presence.
|| @daniels-b-captain || ❤ ‘d for a Like Clockwork thing. || ♫: The Vampyre of Time and Memory
David has always loved to watch the stars. It’s different to look up at them from the surface of a planet than it is to be surrounded by them in the viewing ports of the Prometheus or Covenant, but this experience is not disappointing. From down here, he can see the full expanse of twinkling lights shining beautifully in the darkness, but still be surrounded pleasantly by growing things.
He’s just begun to get lost in his star-gazing when Daniels speaks up. David immediately turns his head toward her, smiling faintly. “I don’t mind. Would you like me to raise my internal temperature to provide a source of heat for you, Daniels?”
David waits patiently for her to scoot closer so that he can put his arm around her back-- in an effort to warm her more evenly, of course.
His relationship with her has been moving more slowly than he anticipated, but he’s glad of that now; he never realized how pleasant it could be to simply be in the company of someone he cares for when that person cares for him (or for the synthetic he’s impersonating) in return.
He feels a sudden stab of guilt for robbing his brother of this moment, but he suppresses it completely. He deserves this, he does, and Daniels deserves him-- not an android who was too devoted to his programming to make anything out of his own affection for the new captain. David is perfect for Daniels, and she is perfect for him. And all of this beauty would only be wasted on Walter.
“I am very pleased to be able to share this experience with you. There is no one with whom I would rather discover the splendors of this world.”
SO MANY ASPECTS OF DANIELS & RIPLEY WERE ALIKE. ----- they were also different in so many little ways, but they were more alike. the stars they embraced, the stars could serve as a home; but in their hearts they had HOMES somewhere else, for someone else. home is where the HEART is. she could never make it back to amanda, daniels was going to make that log cabin without her significant other. the universe was cold & the stars were ALWAYS there. no matter what.
------------- ripley’s eyes close. forehead leaning down to press against daniels. fingers curling lightly into skin; a COMFORTING grip.
‘ i think you’re the first person to ever tell me that. ’
& maybe for a few seconds she finds that odd. after everything she’s done, it just never seemed to matter because weyland-yutani wanted the creatures alive.
David watches their newest employee for a long time before he approaches her. People always act more honestly when they think they’re alone than when they’re with company, especially if that company consists of Mr. Weyland’s personal David unit. David has been around enough humans to realize that he usually makes them somewhat uncomfortable, even more so than his brothers do. He gets the impression that his father’s employees assume that Mr. Weyland uses his son as a walking camera through which he can spy on their behavior and performance.
Funnily enough, that’s a pretty good summary of David’s current assignment.
“Hello, Ms. Bell,” he says politely as he finally steps forward to greet her. “I’m David. I’m very much looking forward to working with you.”
“I’ll be assisting you throughout your transition into the company. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask-- I’m entirely at your disposal.”
The itching had become maddening. Over the course of the past few weeks, the timer on his wrist had begun its countdown. Slow at first, as if it wasn’t certain of the fate beholden– or maybe it was damaged by the passage of time. He wasn’t certain, having placed its existence in the back of his mind for the majority of his life. More important instances had stolen his undivided attention: empires to build, a flock to lead, gold to turn to rust.
Now, now the timer demanded nothing but his attention. Truthfully, it had created a certain unrest within him. Uneasiness had no business taunting a king, causing shivers to crawl up the spine. Each vertebrae echoed his displeasure, a dull ache in his bones. Khan wondered– was it a member of his crew, someone that had been near him since the beginning? So then why now? The entire galaxy was at the reach of his fingertips, and he reminded himself at every warp.
At least he could divert his attention to the plan at hand. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the augments had found a world to call their own. Avoiding the scrutiny of Earth and its Federation, they’d slipped between the cracks. At least they were free, no longer in the hands of warmongering admirals or scientists determined to cure human mortality. Not to say that Khan himself was not a wanted man– that would be true until Starfleet could slake the thirst for blood, for vengeance. He yearned for retribution as well, but he was also patient, and he was old enough to know there was plenty of time.
The first order of business was to sculpt their chosen world into a desirable condition. Ceti Alpha V was a blank canvas and an unadulterated opportunity for a new kingdom. It would become a utopia when he was done, rivaling– surpassing– the empire he had built on Earth so long ago. It had not been his idea to hire a terraforming consultant, however. That had been suggested and encouraged by a few others. Despite overwhelming and often consuming pride, he had finally relented. Adaptable to a fault, even he had to admit that terraforming was not a task the augments had dealt with before. This was still a new time, ripe and unblemished, even if malleable.
The captain could have gazed through the viewport for another decade, simply contemplating and admiring the vast array of stars, cosmic wonder seeping from every angle in his vision. Interruption manifested like a bolt of lightning to the wrist, down to the marrow. Inhalation mimicked a hiss as the offending appendage was clutched in his other hand. Only when he noticed the timer did his grimace melt away, giving into surprise.
00:00:00
The sound of another entering the bridge was like flipping a switch– never show weakness, especially not in front those who looked to their prince for leadership. Becoming stone once more was no light task, but it was done before he turned to face the two. One he recognized, the other he did not.
The dawning of realization was not wasted. As if every other living thing on the bridge was no more, his focus turned to her. This human, this ghost among living statues.
“Thank you, Lieutenant Moreau. You are dismissed.”
The female augment nodded curtly and turned on her heel to exit, but not before shooting Daniels another amused look. Her brisk walk could be heard until it disappeared down the corridor. He remained silent for moments after, stretching into an infinity. To deny the pull would be to deny himself and the whispers of what must be that were tattooed into his very flesh. Still, his hands were placed behind his back, expression revealing anything aside from the disquiet that plagued him.
He knew that she knew, he could see it in her eyes, that inherently defiant stance. This would be interesting.
