ten_fwd | Multipart Post; Backdated to the beginning of the Klingon Invasion

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Multipart Post; Backdated to the beginning of the Klingon Invasion

Part One: OTA - In the Midst of Battle...

Booker was disgruntled. There he’d been, having a beer, minding his own business, and meeting someone new, when things had taken a turn for the odd, and he had ended up getting involved in some mayhem. Now, mind you, it wasn’t the mayhem he was bothered by! It was the being interrupted while he was drinking that annoyed him.

As a result, Booker, with beer on his shirt, was stalking around a corridor bend, the overly-heavy frame of a the weird bladed weapon the Klingons had been carrying in his left hand, a Klingon gun strapped to his belt, even as his right hand sparked and spat Shock Jockey. The shattered remnants of a guitar was strapped to the other side of his belt by some cord he'd taken from a Klingon and he shook his head as he stalked along.

There was a look of mixed annoyance and fierce amusement on his face. Spilled beer or not, war was what he was good at, and it was a lesson some Klingons had already learned to their sorrow. Well, maybe. Booker had no fucking clue if they felt sorrow or not. He was pretty sure they felt nothing at all anymore. Oh well.

He was making his way slowly toward his quarters to check in on Elizabeth, but keeping a wary eye out for more of the Klingons on the way.

***

Part Two: Locked to Elizabeth DeWitt - Back at the ranch...

Once he had managed to take down a few of the invaders, Booker managed to make his way back to the quarters he shared with his daughter and granddaughter. He stepped in and looked around warily, looking battered, limping, some of his clothing torn and with more than a few cuts and bruises, but being Booker, still quite well.

One hand clutched a Klingon pistol even as the other stuffed a large replicated sandwich into his mouth. He knew from experience that this would heal him quickly, more quickly than the Sickbay could. And it was a quick way to recharge in the middle of what might be a very long few days. War tended to be messy and prolonged.

Peering around, he listened and looked for his daughter.

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Elizabeth was shaking with fear, standing guard over Anne's crib. When Booker entered the room she didn't know who it was. She'd set possession traps in front of her door, so she waited quietly, her right hand covering Anne's mouth and her left hand holding an Old Man Winter blast ready to go.

Edited 2015-09-01 15:58 (UTC)

Booker had made his way home, listening as he did so. then he blinked. All was quiet.

He turned around in mid area, then glanced around, frowning. "Elizabeth?"

"Is it safe?" She asked, keeping the door shut. She wouldn't come out unless she knew things would be okay. Hiding worked well as long as she was hidden, but there was no way she could fight her way back out of her room.

"For the moment, here is one of the safer places on the ship." Booker's voice was quiet as he stripped off his gear and shirt and ordered a new shirt and some deodorant from the replicator. Then some coffee.

"You can come out of your room to the common area."

Elizabeth opened the door and delicately dismissed the possession trap. Without her mother's hand on her face Anne's crying became much louder. Elizabeth gathered the girl in her arms, her whole body shaking. "We need to leave here, Booker."

"We can't. And you know it. Until we figure out a way, we'll have to find a way to survive and better ourselves here." He came over to her and Anne, and gently stroked her hair, then Anne's head.

His smile was warm and gentle.

"We'll survive this, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth shivered and ducked her head down. Anne was still crying, the ship was being invaded, and there was nothing she could do about any of it.

She leaned against Booker, trying hard to hold back tears. "I can't do this, Booker. I can't live with this. I've had enough violence for one lifetime. I can't stomach anymore."

Booker gently stroked her back, wanting to comfort her as well as he could. As little as he could.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth. There's no such thing as safe places, but I think maybe you should get to the safest one on the ship." He had an idea aborning. "There are a lot of powered people here and we can hold these guys off."

"No place is safe," Elizabeth replied, still shaking. "We're inside a tin can floating around in nothingness. We'll die here, Booker. It doesn't take universal power to understand that."

She started to sniffle, which only made Anne's crying worse. Elizabeth clutched the baby to her chest and ducked her head down, letting herself lose composure. Soon she was sobbing hard and kneeling on the floor, terrified and angry at the loss of the sense of peace she'd been developing on the ship.

Booker facepalmed. "This ship seems safer than most places I've been in my life. I---" He sighed. He had no idea how to help her, and how to make things better. He gently gathered her into to him, kneeling with her, and blowing out a long breath of air.

If only he knew someone who might be able to break through the fear and--- then his head snapped up and he smiled, for a moment, before shutting his eyes and focusing his mind, as much as he could now, adrenaline singing in his veins as something deep in him answered his call.

Emma! Now if only this ship's Emma Frost had her ears on...

Emma was tending to her daughter, who was trying to get a shield from the replicator to go with her little knife. It was super cute, but there was no way she was wading back out into the melee unless absolutely necessary.

She blinked when she heard her name, then closed her eyes and tried to trace the signal back. Who the hell are you?

Booker laughed inside, then composed himself, Alright!

My name is Booker DeWitt, and I knew a version of you, in another world, at least I think it was you, an Emma Frost who was a telepath... I am calling because...

He paused, took a breath, peering down at Elizabeth, then concentrated again. This might be easier to explain if you looked in my head.

I'm a bit busy at the moment. If you want counseling book an appointment. She grabbed Faith before the girl could run out the door. "Sweetie, you can't go out there."

Booker sighed. Understandable. I was thinking more of a now thing. I have a distressed daughter, with her infant child, and I've seen you here, with yours. I could use another functioning adult, and three adults with powers is better than one, yes? Should things come to the nitty and the gritty.

Edited 2015-09-03 03:38 (UTC)

Emma sighed and picked Faith up again. What's your room number? I'll be there as soon as I can.

Booker gave her the information, then turned his attention back to Elizabeth.

"I asked some help to come by, so hopefully we'll soon have even more of a secure position."

Elizabeth was done crying, now she just felt heavy and angry. She nodded and tried to soothe Anne. "You weren't hurt, were you?" She looked up at Booker, trying to determine if he needed help or not.

"No. It was a little crazy out there, but those damn Klingons weren't prepared for a human who could fight back." He chuckled and waved a hand toward the pistol and weird bladed thing he had taken from the Klingons.

"I'm okay, I promise."

She nodded and stood, moving herself to the couch. "Can you get me a bottle and clean diaper for Anne? Maybe a cup of coffee, too. I used up my salts making traps and getting us here."

"Of course." Booker went to the replicator to get those items, and got himself coffee as well as some cheese, crackers, and summer sausage bites, making a tray of the food items, all, and then bringing it over.

"Here we go."

Taking care of Anne soothed Elizabeth. The girl quieted once she was changed and being fed, her cries turning to greedy grunts as she inhaled her bottle. "We've been in here since nearly the start. There was a Big Daddy and I got scared so I came back. Ran past the Klingons on the way. They're vicious." She shuddered and shook her head. "I hope the ship is as safe as you think."

Booker started up and stared. "There was a what?" he knew what those were and just the thought of them was enough to make his hands glow.

He calmed himself visibly, and nodded to her. "It is. We'll make it so."

Elizabeth startled when he reacted so harshly, but she managed to keep her calm. Booker didn't really frighten her. She knew he would never hurt her.

"Things are so strange, Booker. I wish we could leave. This place makes me so nervous and edgy."

Booker sighed. "Sorry." He shook his head. "I have a feeling this place is our only way home, if there is a way... or a way somewhere else, maybe." he rubbed his chin.

"I wonder what 24th Century Paris is like."

Faith was the one who walked into the room first, waving her toy sword and shield. Emma was following behind, trying to catch her out-of-control daughter.

Faith was having so much fun that she didn't notice a short table in the middle of the room until she ran into it, bonking her head. By the time she started crying Emma had caught up, and she hauled Faith onto her hip. "I'm sorry, she's wound up by the invasion. It's nice to meet you both, I'm Emma Summers."

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From here - http://ten-fwd.dreamwidth.org/173005.html?thread=8612813#cmt8612813

Booker laughed as he spotted the girl, then winced as he saw her bonk herself. He shook his head, then rose, gently helping Elizabeth up. He extended a hand to Emma next. "I'm Booker DeWitt, and this is my daughter Elizabeth, and my granddaughter Anne."

A small smile quirked the right side of his lips upward. "Welcome to the madness."

Elizabeth covered her mouth to keep from laughing at the girl's enthusiasm. She gasped when Faith hit her head and rubbed Anne's head in sympathy. "It's nice to meet you again, Ms. Summers. Please have a seat."

Elizabeth rose and motioned toward the couch. "Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

Emma let Faith cry over her injury. It only lasted a few seconds. By the time Elizabeth rose and introductions were announced the girl had calmed down again. "This is my daughter Faith." She put Faith down and gave the girl a nudge toward the couch. "Go have a seat, dear. Would you like some dinner?"

Faith nodded, running up to the couch and jumping onto it. Emma sighed and shook her head, but Faith settled so she didn't reprimand the girl.

Booker smiled, and nodded to them as Elizabeth rose to the task of host, stepping back a touch to get out of the line between the two. "Thank you for coming, Miss Summers. I appreciate it."

he spread his hands helplessly. "Seems like now is the time people should be coming together."

Elizabeth prepared a sandwich for Faith one handed. Her shaking eased up as she shifted her focus to the new people in the room. Booker was being awful formal. Elizabeth wondered why the woman had come.

Emma almost corrected him, but then she thought better of it. Scott didn't deserve to be referenced in her title anymore. He wasn't here, and even if he was she wouldn't be his wife.

"It's as good a time as any," Emma agreed with a nod. "Neither of you are hurt, correct?"

Faith took her sandwich and tore into it greedily.

"Nah. I was roughed up a bit,"Which for him meant bitten, cut, burned, and battered. "but I'm better now." He scooped the second part of his sandwich off of a side table where he had set it and went to town on it, absorbing it and feeling himself grow more energetic by the moment.

"The aliens are a bit rude, but not exactly ready for people who play dirty." And Booker didn't really believe in fighting 'fair'. The few claims that he fought without honor had made him laugh, and only cheat more.

Elizabeth gave her father a concerned look when he admitted to being 'roughed up', but he was eating, so he would be fine. She took a seat next to Faith, humming softly to Anne. "Why are you here, Ms. Summers?"

Emma nodded at Booker and was about to remark on the skill of the Klingons when Elizabeth spoke up. Emma regarded her for a moment, then moved to sit in a seat across from the couch, facing Elizabeth.

"Your father summoned me for extra protection. This is a dangerous time and I'm a dangerous person. Between the two of us we'll be able to keep you three safe. The ship will not fall. Not to these aliens, nor to any other threat."

Booker just smiled, a little vaguely. He glanced at Elizabeth, hoping she would let it go, for now. The Klingons were a warrior culture, but he had been able to handle it.

He nodded to Emma's words. "Exactly, and I thought you two might want to meet anyway. In another universe, one might say you two could be friends."

Elizabeth blushed brilliantly at Booker's words, then looked down at Anne. "I'm glad you're here, Ms. Summers. I'm certain you'll ensure that your words are true."

She did her best not to think about how she knew a different Emma, but trying not to think of it only made it worse. Elizabeth shifted in her seat a little, hoping Booker wouldn't come to understand why she was so distracted.

Emma raised an eyebrow at Elizabeth, but otherwise let the matter drop. "I'm curious how you knew to contact me, Mr. DeWitt."

Booker blinked at Elizabeth, then blinked again and turned to Emma, his mouth opening then shutting firmly. That was an odd thing, and way to react, almost like she was... huhn.

Realigning his brain to Emma's words, he gave a short shake of his head. "I knew you, in another world. One where you and your powers were public knowledge. We were allies for a time. Sometimes." He rubbed his face. "And I saw you here, looking different but oh so close to how you looked there, and with her." he waved a hand at Faith, smiling at her.

"In the other world, you didn't have her, but seemed very concerned about children and about security, or so it seemed to me. You taught me a few things. So, when this all happened, I took a chance."

Elizabeth went back to trying to soothe Anne to sleep, focusing on the baby and not on the adults.

Emma weighed what Booker said, considering the implications. "I suppose that's as good a reason as any. Have you received any training for your telepathy? It's not terribly strong, but with some education you could learn to utilize it to stunning effect."

"No, ah, it's rather new." Booker sat back, stroking his chin, wiping his hands on a small doily style handkerchief.

He wasn't much for propriety, but in a world where handkerchiefs were literally easy to make out pf thin air, he could do that, at least. He had a good dozen of them in his pockets, of all shapes and sizes.

"I was in a situation where I was surrounded by enemies, and trying to rescue Elizabeth, here, from those enemies. With my mind somewhat..,. off-kilter, I didn't think much of taking advantage of some mind and body altering chemicals at the place, called Vigors, which gave me powers, enabling me to handle those enemies."

He paused, blowing out a long breath of air, then shook his head. "Killing them, really, but yes. Anyway, the affects were supposed to be temporary, but they lasted and lasted, and started changing. When I got here, they confirmed that the substances were somehow altering my very genetics, in ways they didn't understand." He lifted his head to face Emma, square on.

"Hence the telepathy, and a slowly evolving suite of abilities that seems to be changing by the day."

Emma's eyebrow arched again. "That's a fascinating story. Do you require training with your other abilities as well? In one universe I taught at a school for gifted people, though they were all born with their powers they were not natively skilled with them."

"I suppose I should. The only training I've had was on the job, so to speak." he gestured at Elizabeth.

"And that was some time ago. I've used some of them in being a private investigator, but they have changed since then, and I've had little but private sparring on the holodeck to do to work with them since." He looked at her again, smiling. "So, yes, I suppose I do."

"I could use help too, Ms. Summers, if you're offering. It seems I take after my father in a wide variety of things." Elizabeth chimed in, now that her embarrassment was somewhat under control.

Emma smiled and nodded. "Alright. We'll work on that once the crisis is over. One thing at a time is the best way to approach these matters."

Booker smiled at Elizabeth, proud of how she was finding her own strength again. Then he sighed and nodded to Emma. "That sounds about right.

"You and your daughter can use my room, if you need it to rest in, until this crisis is over." He nodded to the couch they were on. "This thing is quite a comfortable bed, I've learned."

Emma nodded and leaned back in her chair. "That sounds fine. In the meantime I suggest we amuse ourselves. We could play a card game. Faith knows Go Fish."

This was, Emma suspected, going to be a hell of an experience.

Booker chuckled. "What the heck is Go Fish?" He nodded.

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Multipart Post; Backdated to the beginning of the Klingon Invasion

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Emma-Booker-Elizabeth, part 2

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