Party Aftermath

A special private response to T. Owens of a DBU Zap. by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Snowaters slowly woke from her pleasant dream, a pressure warning her she had better make for the bathroom soon. Waking fully the pleasant scent of another female filled her senses, opening her eyes slowly she was rewarded with a close-up view of Aries face. Smiling slightly the feline slowly extracted herself from the mouses embrace, staying would be a long remembered luxury, but mother nature called and she wouldn't take later for an answer.

Stepping to the holodecks half open door she glanced back at the scene of last nights party, sighing at the view. It had been almost a hundred years since her last birthday party, the five people sleeping within had more than made up for what she had missed. Turning away she padded lightly to sickbay, and the nearest bathroom.

<Snowaters> Kalith's voice thundered through her head. <We have a problem>.

Grabbing her ears the feline grimaced. "Stop screaming" she mumbled, trying to get her eyes to focus again. Standing, she staggered to the shower. Must have drunk more than I should have, she

thought. She hadn't been this sick in as long as she could remember and the ageless feline could remember a long time.

<I'm not screaming> the silicon ball replied its 'voice' considerably lower. <Your just hyper sensitive from the party last night>.

Slapping at the shower controls she stumbled into the cubicle. "Ok, ok. I understand, what problem is it now?"

<That AI from the TOM CLANCY has been interfacing with the STAR DIAMONDS library systems> Kalith continued. <Normally this would not be a problem. However it has been accessing military data and how the Diamond could be used in two and three ship scenarios.>

Snowaters sputtered in the cold stream. "Shut it out, now!" she yelled, her voice echoing through sickbay. "Military data is forbidden, you know that."

<Acknowledged. However you did give 'her' access to the library computers. At 0427.353 hours. Plus-minus several nanoseconds>

Snowy shook her head, even the ice cold shower wasn't helping. She still felt ill. "Cut her out, I'll talk with her later" she decided. "Right now I need an alcohol suppressant, unless I want to end up dumping my stomach on the floor."

<Acknowledged. Systems now locked.> Kalith answered. <Snowy. Your probably not suffering alcohol poisoning> there was a pause of several seconds. <I'll run a medical check as soon as you give me a sample. Just don't eat or drink anything until I finish.>

Carefully the feline carefully walked over to sickbays sampling unit. Placing a finger over a small opening, she winced as the units tiny needle slipped up, drawing a small amount of blood then retracted. "I hate that thing" she muttered. "I should have gotten one of those medical sensors implanted like last time."

<True> Kalith replied. <But we were out at the time. As I remember we never recovered your last body after those slavers decided to make fertilizer out of it.>

Closing her eyes, Snowaters remembered that last death, and the weeks of pain preceding it. Shaking her head she started back to the holodeck. "How are my guests?" she asked.

Stopping at the holodeck door Snowaters inhaled, letting the scents within fill her senses. "Tell AA I'll see them next week at Targel Station with the data they need. Feed them and send them on their way" she ordered. "I want to talk with Kela and Aries alone."

<Understood> there was a light click in her mind as her alien partner ceased active communication.

Slipping softly back into the room, she slid back into Aries arms, letting the tall mouse enfold her within her arms. Carefully reaching between the mouses legs Snowaters felt the lingering wetness. Bringing her hand up to her face she licked her fingers clean. Over a hundred years had passed since her last lover, snuggling against the mouse and suckling on one of Aries nipples the feline was soon deeply asleep.

Kela woke suddenly, someone shaking her arm. Looking up she saw a duplicate of herself. "What" she managed, her head pounding.

"Sorry for using your form but this is an emergency" the other answered. "I am Medical AI B-3. Please call me Beth."

At the others voice Kela relaxed. "Ok Beth, but what is it, and why use my form?"

Standing the other moved away. Kela was shocked at what she saw. Aries still slept, but the smaller Snowaters was obviously very ill. Her eyes were wide, foam trickling from her nose as she fought for breath. Beth stepped over to the two women. "If I woke Aries it would be a severe shock to her" she answered. "Therefore I have induced a narcotic into Aries system, allowing her to sleep. I only have form within the holodeck, yours was first in line. Please transfer Lady Snowaters to the sickbay. Table number two."

Kela fairly leapt to her feet, quickly extracting the now shaking felines body from her friends arms. Turning she ran for sickbay. "Where is Atlas" she demanded, panting under the heavy load.

<Atlas Aerospace warped out seventy three minutes ago. I have sent a request for their return> came the silicon dry voice of Kalith. <They are presently returning at high warp. Star Diamond and Tom Clancy are on an intercept course. Estimated rendezvous time is forty three minutes. Seven point three seconds.> There was a pause, <Snowaters is suffering from a severe allergic reaction to yours, and Aries body fluids. Because she has not had sexual contact in over three hundred years we forgot to immunize this body.>

Kela laid the unconscious body of her lover on the indicated table, backing away as several mechanical arms slipped down from the ceiling. Tubes, probes, and other things attached themselves to the limp form as she watched. "Why go through all this, when she could just activate a new body?" the mouse asked.

<Because of the Tali red ant event I cannot afford to utilize her transference systems except in an acute emergency> Kalith answered, <All transference sub-programs were corrupted. We are still replacing them. It is possible that if she transferred now she would end up a mentally retarded person for the remainder of her life.>

Locating a chair, Kela settled in. "You love her, don't you" she asked, watching as more systems connected with the felines body, slowly covering her from view.

Kela closed her eyes. Sure last night was fun, but certainly not something worth several trillion credits in equipment and hundreds of times more in cash. "How long before you know?" she asked.

Kela nodded to herself, watching as units slowly withdrew, to slip back into their hidden storage areas. "I better go wake Aries" she whispered, more to herself than Kalith. Turning away from the aseptic machines she walked slowly back to the holodeck.

Snowaters looked up at the two women towering over her, managing a grin at the look of concern and anger in their. "Your both so beautiful" she managed, her voice a harsh whisper in the sterile room.

Aries leaned down, rubbing her cheek against the felines. "You almost died, why didn't you tell us your allergic to animal protein?"

Grinning weakly as she inhaled the others scent, Snowaters sighed. "Well, normally my bodies are treated to tolerate the minor amount of protein I ingested last night" she answered. "But since I swore off love forever I deleted the process. I just forgot about it last night." Reaching up slowly she touched Aries neck. "Still last night was worth the pain." Her hand fell to her chest, she was too weak to manage much yet.

Aries withdrew slightly, standing next to her friend Kela. There was a moment of silence as the two looked down at the feline, then Kela spoke. "Kalith informed us you wanted to see us after Atlas left, since they will dock in three minutes what was it you wanted?"

Snowaters giggled, coughing slightly for a moment. Looking over the two still naked women, their fur mussed by the nights activities, she giggled again. "I had hoped to have this in a more romantic setting, not with me laid out like a slab of meat while you two stand over me." Pausing a moment she closed her eyes. "Uh, Aries, Kela" she started, her voice shaking a little. "This is hard for me to say."

Reaching down, both women took Snowaters hands. "Look, whatever it is, its best to just say it" Aries whispered. "We won't get angry, promise."

Snowaters looked into both women's eyes, taking a deep breath she squeezed their hands weakly. "Will you two marry me?" she asked.