DISCLAIMER: I am not the owner of nor wish to appear to be the owner of FAKE and all related merchandise thereof.
WARNINGS: Formal Diana.Calmer J.J.With sprinklings of Lime here and there. The chapter(s) with Lemon will be labeled. This warning applies to the entire story not just this chapter!
AN:The updates on this fiction will probably be pretty spaced out and slow. Not because I don't have any inspiration, but because this will be my most ambitious fanfiction to date. This is only my third FAKE fanfiction and my first AU. I hope you enjoy! Now onward! The story starts below!
Dee hated the uniforms he and the rest of the crew had to wear. They where baggy gray one piece jump suits that resembled those of the janitorial world. The only brake in the monotone gray were two thick fluorescent orange stripes, one on the outside of each leg. The stripes jutted out of the bottom of gray cargo pockets and disappeared into knee length latex gray boots. The bright orange was also seen on two large zippered pockets stationed on the chest. Dee sighed, he really hoped his Commander's proposal was approved today. New uniforms were definitely in order. Besides there ugly appearance they were just down right impractical.
Suddenly, two crisp claps were heard and the entire crew stood, recognizing the sound as the way their Commander made herself known. Dee smirked looking at his leader and, not for the first time, took back his words about the hideousness of their uniforms.
Diana Spacey, fitting name for the Commander of the star craft "Glorious", walked briskly down the ramp to greet her crew. Her uniform was considerably different from those of the male crew members. Still a gray one piece jump suit, hers was skin tight. The strips didn't look so odd running down a lean feminine leg and the orange pockets weren't quite as garish when molded around the soft swell of womanly breast.
" Laytner. Up here." Commander Spacey had stopped in front of Dee and was now scowling. He was the only person on her crew who had the tenacity to openly give her a once over. Once his eyes were where they needed to be she spoke, "Lieutenant Laytner, is there any new information I need to know about before we depart for the Senate?"
Her Second in Command nodded, " Yes ma'am. There has been a change in the itinerary. We are to make a detour this morning and retrieve a new recruit. We are to meet him at ten o'clock at Numans Space Port dock C-14."
Diana Spacey frowned, " Why would they do that to me?" she sighed prettily then looked over at her navigations station, " Very well then. Ensign Adams, Ensign Parker, set a course please to Numans. Lieutenant follow me," J.J. and Drake nodded then proceeded to carry out their orders. Dee followed Diana up the ramp and into her office.
Once inside her small, but beautiful office Diana immediately freed her tight bun and let her light brown hair cascade onto her shoulders then she sat in her high backed black leather chair and spoke, " Why the hell would they give me a new troop? My crew is completely filled. Did you not inform them of such?"
Dee was running his hand along a clay statue of a nude plump woman holding a grotesque demon like child. The two were molded in such a way that they made a somewhat lumpy sphere. Dee picked it up scrunching his nose, " Hey, what the hell is this?" In front of the crew Dee knew to be professional. Even though they had all seen him lose his composure at one time or another, it was only alone in Diana presence did he open up more.
Diana looked over casually, " Her name is Oc'tull. She is considered the Queen of the Underworld. Mother of Death himself, by the Sule people."
" Sule? On that green planet?" Dee looked confused, " That species seems so content with life to care about the Underworld."
" Oh they are," Diana had stood and was now removing Oc'tull from Dee's hands, placing her back on a shelve, " they are so content with life because they believe she will protect them in death. You see, Oc'tull is a kind and gentle Goddess. She is not feared so neither is death."
Dee nodded in understanding, but still found the statue unnerving. Why would Diana want anything, good or bad, in her office that would remind her of death? He filed it away to ask her later then proceeded to answer Diana's question, " I informed them that we had the full number of bodies needed to man a ship. They said they already knew that and we are to still take him aboard."
Diana pursed her lips, " What shall we do with him?"
" I asked them that too and they said to figure it out."
Diana groaned, " Who contacted you?"
" United Earth Federation's Admissions Department."
" United Earth..." Diana smiled, " that means he is not being sent here by the Celestial Assembly of Planets then. We could make a plea with them to take him. Their fleet is considerably larger than Earth's. I'm sure they can find him a vessel with Humans on board."
Dee shook his head, " I already tried that. They refused, saying that we have to place a request like that months in advance."
Diana plopped back down onto her chair then pouted, " Well damn." she waved her hand in the air as if she where fanning away a bad smell, " Okay, okay. Looks like I'm forced to make lemonade."
The detour to Numans came quickly and now J.J. Adams, working on his own, had the responsibility of docking the aircraft. A job he was quite fond of actually. No one else on the ship was allowed to dock, either because they didn't know how or they were just generally bad at it. J.J. had another reason as to why he was fond of this task. Secretly he hoped Lieutenant Laytner would be impressed with his skill. At any other time he was just an Ensign at the helm, who was interchangeable with Drake, but this task was all his own. There was no mistaking who was doing the docking and securing of the ship. J.J. knew it went against the code of conduct for a Officer to engage with another Officer of lower rank, but he still hoped he got his attention.
Once the ship was secure Diana clapped twice and the crew looked her way, " Okay, this will be a quick trip since we have to double back to make it to the Senate offices on time. However, there is still transition paperwork that has to be done so..." her eyes scanned the group until she saw who she was looking for, " Ah, young Mr. Goldman. Here is a list of supplies needed for the ship. They are not necessities so it is okay if you cannot find them all. However, since we are on a populated moon colony we might as well pick up what we can. Everyone else you are free to do as you please, but be back and ready to go by eleven thirty. Dismissed. Lieutenant you will accompany me." Young Mr. Goldman took the paper from Diana's hand then proceeded to make his way off the ship.
Bikky Goldman wasn't an actual member of the crew. An Earthling child orphaned after a brief, but brutal conflict between Earth and a sector of radicals from one of their moon colonies. Only 13 he was to be taken to the inter-species Miner's Orphanage by the crew of the ship "Glorious". It was during that journey that Bikky began to integrate with the crew effortlessly. Diana found the young boy endearing and rather helpful so after long deliberations with the United Earth Federation he was allowed to stay aboard. Highly unorthodox the arrangement seemed to work with the crew and most were happy. All but Dee. It wasn't as though he found something personally wrong with Bikky, he just didn't like children in general. Also, it didn't help that Bikky did seem to have something personal against him though. The boy rarely called Dee by his true name finding that 'Meathead' and 'idiot' sufficed. Even now the child was eyeing him curiously, as if Dee was holding something back. Like he had a secret only his heart was privy to. Dee found the gaze unnerving and looked away. He sighed as he made his way off the ship and stepped onto the hard warmed metal of dock C-14.
The great thing about Numans was that it had it's own climate and weather control. Today it was a pleasant 80 degrees and a gentle cool breeze blew around Diana's body making her smile. Dee, however, was grumbling.
" Why do I have to follow you?" Dee's whole body was slouched in boredom, " You can do the transfer papers yourself."
Diana arched a brow, " So you would leave me all alone at the mercy of muggers and murderers?"
It wasn't a true question, but Dee answered anyway, " Yep...yeah I would."
Diana smirked, " Cad."
Dee shrugged," Witch."
" You are such a pompous ass! You can't speak to me like that!"
" You started it!"
Diana rolled her eyes, " What are we in fifth grade!"
"Ahem," the soft cough was just barely heard by the bickering adults. The two turned to see a man holding a gray duffle and smiling meekly. Once he had their attentions he dropped the bag and made a sharp salute, " Ensign Randy MacLean reporting."
Diana saluted back and Dee had the vague thought that Randy's salute looked much cleaner than hers. He didn't bother giving one himself though. He was too busy drinking in the site before him. The man, Randy, was breathtaking, with his sandy blond hair and dark captivating eyes. Dee knew he was staring, but could care less, besides the man was in conversation with the Commander. Dee continued his study of this new crew member lingering over his unique eyes and before he could stop himself he was speaking.
" You're mixed with something. Asian?"
Randy and Diana jumping slightly from the sound of Dee's outburst had turned to look at him. Diana with a scowl and Randy with a look of awe and confusion.
" Uh...yes Sir." Randy looked down embarrassed, " Japanese."
Dee nodded then stuffing his hands in his pockets turned away from them. He scanned the pier and noticed a small café. Waving over his head, but never turning around he told his Commander that is where he was going to be. Diana made a move to protest then thought against it. She turned her attentions back to her new recruit.
Dee walked into the café, named Blue Lotus, sitting he ordered a coffee and a chocolate dipped biscotti.
" I knew there was something 'off' with you."
Dee didn't have to turn around to know the voice belonged to Bikky, " What the hell do you want? Shouldn't you be getting those things on the list?"
Bikky took the seat across from him and smirked, " I already got what I could. Went and asked old man Williams what this place got. He even took me around and we got what I needed. Cool dude."
Dee sighed, " So do you 'got' to sit by me?" then Dee sat up straighter his features creasing together in a frown once he remembered Bikky's first sentence, " Hey, what do you mean 'off'?"
Bikky rolled his eyes, " If you drooled anymore at that new recruit you would have drowned in the puddle you was makin'."
Dee scowled, " I was not drooling."
" Whatever man. Call it what you like, but that doesn't change the fact that you're gay."
" I'm not gay!"
" Oh I'm sorry," Bikky's voice was an exaggerated, sarcastic apology, " homosexual."
" I'm not...argh! God why am I having this conversation with you!" Dee threw up his hands in frustration. Bikky threw back his head and let out a loud laugh.
Just then Diana sat down next to the two smiling slightly. She waved over a waiter and ordered a small iced tea and ordered Bikky a soda for she knew Dee didn't offer to buy anything for the boy. Randy sat and after introducing himself silently observed his surroundings and his company.
Diana spoke, " Bikky...why aren't you out getting those things on the list?"
" I already have what I could get," the boy gestured to the canvas bag on the floor.
Diana nodded, " Mr. Williams helped you, yes?"
Bikky nodded then bitting his lip turned his attentions on the dark eyes of Randy, " You like Oriental or somethin'?"
Randy chuckled, " Asian? Yes I'm part Japanese."
" Cool!" Bikky leaned forward instantly interested, " Do you have one of those cool Japanese names like in the Animes and stuff!"
Randy thought for a moment, honestly what could it hurt for the young boy to know. He answered, " It's Ryo," he had a pleasant smile on his face and Bikky realized that he liked the man.
" Ryo..." Dee breathed then locked eyes with the young man, " That suits you much better," the two men stared at each other and an emotion washed over Ryo that he couldn't name. He knew he felt calm, but it was more intense, richer. Like Dee was projecting protection and...something more.
The soothing moment was shattered by Bikky's declaration, " You wouldn't care if his name was ball sac!" his triumphant laugher was cut short by a slap to the back of his head, courtesy of Diana, and a harsh admonishment.
Dee now picked up the laughter, " Serves you right you little snot!"
Bikky scowled, " Go somewhere and burn!" the glare given that time by Diana was worst than her smack so Bikky shut his mouth and slouching in his chair, crossed his arms in defeat.
Ryo found the exchange rather adorable, " Excuse me Commander, but is Bikky your son?" the question was directed at Diana and Dee.
Diana leaned back suddenly as if the polar opposites of two magnets were near one another, " Oh lord no! Ugh! No, nope, never!"
It didn't past anyone at the table that Diana's rant was directed at Dee and the speculation that they would sleep together and bear a child. Bikky was laughing at the angry look Dee was giving his Commander and the laughing became even more out of control when Dee began to ask Diana what was so repulsive about him. Ryo was blushing slightly embarrassed and if it wasn't for the fact that Dee caught a glimpse of the rueful expression he may have been mad longer. As it was, he smiled then spoke.
" No, Bikky is not our son, but with the way we banter it was an easy mistake to make," Dee's eyes became softer then, much more personal, " Ryo..."
Ryo blinked, slightly pushed off balance by the use of his first name by his superior, but couldn't deny the odd tingle and warmth it spread throughout his body. He glanced quickly over at Diana, but she was talking to Bikky. He looked back at Dee, wondering why he would call him by his first name. Ryo knew on some ships if the crew had been together for years the formality of rank was only used at public occasions or during reprimands, but that hardly applied here. Ryo looked down adjusting his jumpsuit and smoothing out his napkin. Anything not to have to look back into those arresting emerald eyes of Dee Laytner.
" Come on we should be getting back," Diana stood and dropped her payment on the table, " Bikky you can bring your soda." She didn't wait for the others she and Bikky just left the café knowing the two men would follow.
" Shall we?" Dee stood and waited until Ryo was at his side before he walked out towards the dock, "You will like our ship."
" Is that so?" Ryo raised a brow and the look was so alluring that Dee had taken a moment just to stare.
" Of course," Dee stepped foot inside the space craft first, " I'm here."
The resulting wink was far more than playful. Of that Ryo was sure.
AN: This chapter was mostly to set the tone and for basic introductions and scene. It will pick up in the next chapter I promise! Please review, I can't get better if I don't get help. Any critique is appreciated and wanted!