Subject: USS Grail: 'Unexplored Spaces' - Blake & Castle

USS Grail: 'Unexplored Spaces' - Blake & Castle

by

Lt. Logan Castle - Chief Security Officer

&

Ensign Karen Blake - Assistant Chief Science Officer

(NPC - Written by Jason Cleaver)

<Deck 12- Gymnasium>

At the end of Alpha Shift, Logan Castle headed right for the gym.

The combat exercize he had shared with Tifa Charr exemplified exactly

how out of shape he was.

His mind started recalling that combat, or more accurately, the

aftermath. Tifa, on all fours, arching her back, wiggling the water....

With a sharp slap to his own face, Castle started to run. His

breathing was labored at first, but he finally managed to hit his

stride. And with his body on `autoplilot' he allowed his mind to

wander again.

He started thinking about Eve. She just completely forgot about

him since the Romulan conflict. She had told him she would seek

him out once they were back aboard the Grail. But, she had made

no effort to do that. It had been almost a day.

He had stopped himself from going to her more than once. He

had been aggressive with her from the start and had felt that she

enjoyed his company, but this silence seemed to indicate otherwise.

But, as aggressive as Castle was, he would never allow himself

to be `pushy'. He would only pursue until his attentions were no

longer desired. And a days silence was a strong indication that

Eve no longer desired his attention.

Castle shook his head and lost his wind. His enthusiasm for the

exertion deflated him. "Damn.", he hissed as he towelled off his

sweat-soaked torso and neck.

She had gotten under his skin, is what happened. Despite the

fact that she was an artificial duplicate of a once living person, he

was very attracted to that once living person. But the real Eve

Mallory died over a hundred years ago. Or did she? Did it matter

that she was silicon and not flesh and blood?

`Obviously, it doesn't matter, Maggot, or you wouldn't be thinking

about it.'

Odd that he should recall the words of Jeb Kirby, spoken to him

so many years ago. Maybe a good long talk with Kirby was what

he needed now.

`Blake.', his mind suddenly reminded him. `Maybe this has

something to do with Blake.' Of course, Castle could not imagine

the connection, if any. But, maybe he could just make a few innocent

inquiries. Castle got cleaned up and into his civvies and decided to

look for Blake.

He found her in one of the Science Labs, frowning over a screen

full of data, and alternating between that and a slab of rock with

some very intricate carvings and a language Castle didn't recognise.

She looked up as he approached, with an expression that told him

nothing.

"Hello Karen. May I call you Karen?", Castle asked with a small

smile. It was his most innocent affectation and had worked on a

hundred women on a hundred worlds.

It didn't work this time. Blake just looked back at him with a blank

expression. "If you have to," She replied in a voice that was bare

of anything but politeness

"Eve has been conspicuously silent of late.", Castle said as he

leaned casually against a wall, his hands stuffed into the pocket of

his flight jacket. "Is she all right? Has she mentioned me at all? I only

ask because I guess you guys go way back and you DO work

together...."

Blake shrugged. "She's probably working on the cloaking device,"

She replied. "Eve has a tendency to forget time when she's working."

She turned back to the screen. "The ship could explode around her

and she wouldn't notice."

Castle waited for her to say any more, but she didn't. He got the

impression that she was deliberately ignoring her. He turned to

leave, but was stopped by Blake's voice.

"Why would she mention you anyway?" This time, there was a

note of curiosity and almost hostility in her tone.

Castle shrugged. "I don't know. We had a date the other night, and

since you two are friends, I thought maybe she had...."

Blake's face sneered at him. "Oh *I* get it," She said. "You want to

fuck her, don't you?" She shook her head. "I should have expected

that from you. I've heard all about you, Castle. And I know why you

are after Eve; just another kind of woman to have sex with, right?"

She stepped up to him, face and manner furious, finger pointed in

accusation. "She doesn't need your 'love 'em and leave 'em' antics

right now, big man; she couldn't handle that. Not again!"

Castle weathered the hostility the same way he weathered

everything. With impassive patience. But when she was done, he

spoke. his tone was a controlled hush.

"This is the first conversation you and I have ever had and you

think you've got me all figured out already?", Castle put his hand up

and gently pushed her accusing finger out of his face. She pulled it

away quickly, as if his touch burned her.

"You don't know me. And if you're going to believe everything you

hear, then I guess you're not all that much of a scientist. Just because

a theory is widely espoused, doesn't make it the truth."

If she had a phaser, she would have shot him dead.

"Listen, Karen. You're a good friend to be so protective. But I am

not trying to hurt Eve. I like her. And I think she likes me. Just

because you don't like me, doesn't make me bad for her."

Castle turned to leave, but stopped.

"`Just another kind of woman to have sex with'", Castle repeated

Blakes accusation. "That's a pretty offensive accusation to make. And

you give me too much credit. And Eve too little. If I were that simple,

she would be too smart to fall for me."

Posted by Jason Cleaver

Lieutenant (jg) Eve Mallory

Chief Science Officer: USS Grail

http://www./Area51/Rampart/8529/index.html

/ ICQ No: #4914684

"Great, she's a toaster oven. Can we go now?"

Alien Resurrection