ATALANTA With SNOWATERS

by: Lord Rees

Atlantia © The Alston Brothers

Crestley & Klipper © Mrs. Mel. White

Snowaters slowly rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then looked back up at the towering female form in her room. "uhh.. Kalith? What's going on here?"

<Major intruder alert on the Klipper, crew woman Amina injured and en-route to sick bay. Intruder considered armed, dangerous, and possibly unhinged. Star Diamond secure.>

"uh-huh... Well she's here....."

<Good luck>

"#$%$^^" She slowly sat up in bed, feeling the hardness of her dagger under the pillow. 'No use for that, I'm way to slow' she thought. 'I wish Opal were here now'. Smiling while she pulled her sleepware back up she asked; "So, whom do I thank for this lovely visit?"

Atlanta continued to hold the arrow on Snowaters, 'Funny' she thought, 'She sure doesn't act like an evil person. But then, when do they ever?' {"You brought me here, now you send me back or I'll do what I promised"} she responded, remaining in her native Turkish.

Snowaters frowned... (in Standard) "What? Language... Terran... uhhh... Turkish, right? Turkish... hummm...". In halting Turkish she replied {"I know what you speak about not. Never I have before seen your face. Can speak you Sandard?"}

Atlanta winced at the horrible accent, then switched to Standard. "As I said, unless you want this through your neck, I suggest you send me back home, Greek" (spitting out the last word as if it were some foul tasting thing).

Snowaters sat bolt upright at that threat. "Hold on a moment while I find out WHAT your talking about. And please, put that bow & arrow away." Snowaters replied. (Seeing Atalanta's shocked look when she mentions the bow), "Humm... Spirit bow, around 1435 Common Era, Ottoman Empire. Not the best but I think it will do you." (grins) "I bet you even have a 'Magic Cloth', aseptic fibers, stops minor bleeding by causing the wound to shrink on itself, mountain & desert clans always had them...." {at the same time} 'Kalith, fill me innnn....'

<Person currently in your quarters arrived on return beam from overloaded transporter. Your experiment apparently violated several laws of this universe. But then, that's about average for you as I remember.>

'uh-huh... Ok, but can 'we' send her back home?'

<Negative, main transporter coil would never hold that kind of load again. You will have to convince Dang to replace what appears to all his tests as a perfectly functioning master transporter coil.>

'Expensive, right?'

 <More than you currently have onboard the Star Diamond>

Smiling up at the Turk, Snowaters carefully stood up, smoothing her dress as she walked, slowly, to the replicator. "Ok, put the weapon away, it won't help either of us and I really don't feel like a new body at this time. First, I am NOT Greek, more like Gaelic/Japanese. Second, at this time I am informed that the unit that brought you here would kill you if it sent you back. Third, you were caught up in an experiment I conducted while under the influence of catnip, which is still the case. I have no idea what I did or how to do it again." She handed over a small cup of Turkish coffee "Desert blend, circa 1845. A bit strong for my taste but it fits you.

Atlanta looked down puzzled, "Fits me? What do you mean?" she asked.

Snowaters sat down, putting one hand to her head, then looked back up at Atalanta and smiled. "Its called Turkish Delight.'

There was a banging on the door. Atalanta raised her bow again. Seeing this Snowaters waved at her. "Quiet, its probably security. Let me handle this." She quickly loosened her garments, mussed her face then stepped to the door. Keeping between Atlanta & the door she opened it.

"Security alert, we have an... an... an...." said Crestley, spotting Snowaters obvious (to him) rumpled condition.

"Intruder, right Crestley?" continued Snowaters. "It's not like we.. I couldn't hear it. Everything is just fine here, why don't you try Cargo Bay 5. Perfect hiding place you know, since it only holds spare parts." Leaning over slightly she kissed Crestley on the nose. "Hurry up snookems, you have a job to do right?"

"Ye..ye..yes mam" Stuttered Crestley, his nose seemed to burn. Quickly he turned and headed for the Cargo Bays. Snowaters closed the door, latching it as she did so.

Turning back to Atalanta she raised her hands above her head. "Look, I'm a scholar, not a fighter. Could you please sit down? I'm getting a crick in my neck just looking up at you."

Snowaters then walked carefully back to the bed and tossed the covers in some symbalance of order. Slowly she sat in the center of the bed, reached back, and picked up her bowl of fudge, much depleted. Opening the bowl she picked a piece at random, then held the bowl out to Atalanta. The rich heavy aroma boiled out of the bowl and rolled over Atalanta. "Care for a piece TD?" she asked in a low voice. "I just made it myself."