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Subject: {ASSM} "Staring at the Sun" (MF, Sci-Fi, Cons)
Date: Mon,  3 Sep 2001 18:10:02 -0400
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"Staring at the Sun"

By Lt. Alexander Nottingham
Chief Security Officer

& Aki Ross
Artificial Intelligence

Note: Due to Mature Content your discretion is advised.  If you find erotica
offensive or illegal in your area then please do not read this story.  It is
apart of an ongoing fan fiction located at http://usspaladin.cjb.net.  We
hope that you enjoy this log.  Any comments and/or criticisms can be
directed at
anottingham@enterprise-f.net


Chapter One: "Mysterious Ways"

It would seem strange that you would need to ask a mysterious
woman for information on another mysterious woman.  In fact Alex
knew how strange that situation would be because he was faced
with it.  In his investigation regarding Cynthia Shepherd he was
basically stalled because her record seemed absolutely clean
as a whistle.  The only problem was a saying he had picked up
from some ancient Terran fictional series.  A character in it once
said that paranoia wasn't a character quark but a job hazard.

Now a paranoid mind would suspect everything and the problem
with mysteries were that everything included a lot.  So why did Alex
end up trusting a virtual personality that could very well be against
him in the big scheme of things?  Well truth be told it was probably
due to Aki's virtual looks but Alex would never admit to something
so mundane.  Rather he would state that Aki was the ship's own A.I.
and if he couldn't trust her, then there was very little to do.  So he
would say it was 'truth or dare' time.

"Aki? can I speak with you for a moment?"

She materialized in front of him and bowed her head as a response,
"what troubles you Mr. Nottingham? You have been rather occupied
as of late?" She knew what he was going to ask him about, and she
knew what she was going to say. In this they were most definitely
on the same grounds.

Alex gave her a small somewhat pleasant smile but somewhat
pained expression.  "I have a juggernaut that I was wondering if you
could help me get past.  Though I suspect you have been watching
me along with everyone else onboard so you should have an idea
on what I am referring too."

"Yet to make it clear with a specific question.  Do you know
anything that would discount Cynthia's 'official' history?  All I
have been able to get is a record that is as clean as a whistle on
Mayberry Lane.  Yet that in and of itself suggest a cover story
that I can't get past."  Alex looked at Aki for a moment then
added, "I really don't like mysteries, Aki, they leave question
marks that make my job harder in the end."

She nodded a few times before pointing at the security screen
behind him that brought up all of the data she had been tracking
herself, "at this time there is no available information otherwise
except a confirmation of her duties elsewhere. It is suggested
she is not all that she appears to be as you can see. I also am
attempting to uncover more concerning Ms. Shepherd, I do not
trust her."

Aki turned back to look at Alexander, "she does not 'check out',
at this time I have several possible scenarios for her background,
but I would not venture to say what they are until confirmation can
be gained as setting a precept of her could be a social failing.
What is it that you suspect of her?"

Alex smiled lightly at Aki's apparent openness to this debate.  It
meant that he actually had a kindred spirit in at least this
particular regard. "Well my role model once said that if it
smells like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck
chances are that its a duck.  Her bio simply states a cover up."

"Yet then you are faced with two possibilities.  The first being
that she is a foreign agent.  The second being that she is a
local agent.  'Note' I didn't say 'friendly' because Starfleet
Intelligence in general doesn't much care for anyone else besides
their ideals.  Anyways, then comes the other test that I use
most often.  'Awkums Razor' stats that the simplest explanation
is most often the correct one."

"Well having a foreign government come in and fabricate this
cover story so very completely is pretty damn difficult in my
book.  Where as our own intelligence agencies would be able to
do it much more easily.  So you could say I suspect her of
being a local intelligence agent.  Though I have no proof of that
other than my own suspicions and logical extrapolations of
the assumption that she is indeed an intelligence agent."

Aki nodded her head, "the assumption is one of quality, but not
yet conclusive. There is no evidence to hold up to her. There is
the possibility she is a smuggler after all." She moved closer
and tapped a few controls on the panel and activated a
holographic display that she could work faster than the normal
LCARS, "there is even evidence to past dealings within the
black market, but it could be conducive of intelligence as well."

Several images in the database came up with Cynthia making
deals - not exactly with criminals, but certainly not with saints.
Alex merely nodded his head in a slight state of shock.  He hadn't
been able to scratch the surface of what Aki apparently found.
So he had no real working theories regarding it.  Yet his mind
quickly assessed the names, locations, and other relevant data
and did his own cross references with his own working database on
the woman.

Which in the end told nothing at all except that she was there
doing 'something'.  As Aki said she could simply be a smuggler.
Yet also it could just be wild speculation as there was no real
evidence, real or imagined, that corroborated any working theory
that made her out to be anything other than a maitre d's.

Silently Alex wondered for a few moments what really was
driving him this much.  Here was a woman who admittedly; he found
some interest in a non professional manner.  Yet she was a
mystery.  So was it some large previously unforseen desire to
control those he had extracurricular relationships with?

Alex doubted that theory of himself but yet he would of course.
No one really blamed themselves for anything.  Yet this wasn't
getting him anywhere.  The simple fact of the matter was that
there wasn't a person alive without at least one 'parking'
ticket.  Especially if they had been photographed this many
times.  Which also suggested a question of how many other times
she had met with this Black Market and hadn't been seen.

With a resigned but curious look he met Aki's eyes again, "You're
right of course.  There is nothing stating who she is other than
what she claims to be.  She could indeed be a smuggler or an
intelligence agent.  Or even a rouse created by the intelligence
community to mask someone... or something 'else'.  To which she
could be as innocent as her official profile says she is.

"Hell for all we know, those crates could be filled with
illegal substances, such as Romulan Ale.  Which I really don't
think is a great concern of security to be wasting both our
manpower on."

Alex thought for a moment and then looked up at Aki again, "I
guess the only thing we can do is wait and see.  Though please
keep an eye out for me as well sense whether Cynthia is
involved or not.  Something smells odd about this."

"I will do so..." and it wasn't a truly solid answer. She would be
monitoring Cynthia, but upon getting her answer she might use
her to her own measure before anything. So far, Cynthia had
not proven a threat to the ship, and as such she would leave
her alone.

"Have you been able to access the security systems
adequately?" She changed the subject to something else
since they had not gone through his briefing at all after their
first encounter.

"For the most part, Starfleet operating systems are pretty
universal that way." Alex responded with slight sarcasm but the
tone was more towards the comical than anything else.

Aki agreed with a bit of a sigh, "yes, I imagined you might say
such a thing. I will be sure to keep you busy." She turned her
head to look at him with a somewhat devious smile, "I'm not
going to do your job for you fully Mr. Nottingham. You will most
likely still have your full job." She was getting tempted to use
her new emotions to flirt with the man soon enough, for now
she wanted to play with his mind.

Alex smiled somewhat tempted to see how far Aki would go
with that train of thought. "We both know that Starfleet can't help
itself but to try and put me out of a job.  So are you suggesting
some 'other' means?"

She shrugged, "I'll keep an eye out, alert you like any good
computer would, and help you, but you make the decisions.
I'll make them for you if you or anyone on your staff needs
the assistance?"

"Hmm... well considering you 'are' apart of the security force
in spirit if not in design and fact.  Perhaps we could discuss
this over say dinner?"  The concept of asking Aki out for
dinner was not out of design but rather the moment.  She was
indeed a very beautiful creature even if it was virtual.

Then again her profile did suggest at least the concept that
she evolved into choosing her own form many moons ago.  With
current technology for the biologically driven souls there
was the ability to do basically the same thing... which was
one of the difficulties of security; which was off topic.

Aki gave him a wide-eyed look. The man had beaten her to the
flirtation, and she decided to play along... perhaps playing along
would work to help them close the gap the Chief seemed to have
formed in their professional relationship, and it would open her
to trying out her newfound emotions. She would test it, but most
definitely limit it she supposed. She was too curious to say no.

"I accept your proposal for dinner."

Now came the doubt of what Alex had just done and internally
chided himself for the brashness of it all.  Yet he was beginning
to find that this Aki was every bit a complicated woman as her
flesh and blood counterpart.  So with a warm charming smile he
got out from behind his desk and offered his elbow elegantly
for them to walk to... 'wherever we're going.'

The hologram stepped back a bit as she eyed him, but then she
allowed herself to smile. This man knew not of her lack of a true
physical representation, or at least, she didn't exist anywhere in
or perhaps even near the Federation.

She slipped a hand through the offered arm and walked out with
him, unsure of what she herself was doing, but very much aware
of the man's gentle charm. Not quite evident, but she had no
complaints for this first special occasion for her.

As they passed outside Alex's office doors and started down the
hallway.  "So do you have a preference on where we have our
evening?  A quiet meal in my quarters or in Athene Noctua?"

Aki thought about that one. If it was in Athene Noctua, most of the
crew knew whom she was, they might think it awkward. On the
other hand, this man had made the invitation. What would she
do?

She searched her database.

"There is a quiet cafe onboard, Terra's Cafe, formerly known as
the Starlight Cafe. Have you been to it?" It was practically empty
at this time due to its not having been unveiled to the rest of the
crew, and they could adjust the holographic emitters to emit any
scene they wished from Earth's natural lands.

Alex smiled lightly in response to Aki's suggestion, "No but it
sounds interesting." Silently he knew of the place and he knew
from the reports of the recently finished modifications, they would
be virtually alone. 'Quiet Cafe' indeed he thought to himself.

"So tell me a bit about yourself?"  Alex asked as they entered
the turbolift.  To go up one level.

"What would you like to know?" She looked over to him almost
innocently, though she was playing hard to get in these respects,
almost as if it were becoming natural to her.

With an soft but amused smile Alex looked forward as the Turbolift
doors opened up on Deck Five.  As they walked out he responded,
"Well where you started out.  What did it feel like in the beginning?
What caused you to basically to grow into the person you are now?"

Her brow rose skeptically as she played this one smoothly, "well,
I started out at the Daystrom Institute, eventually went through Mr.
Zimmerman's Jupiter Station Facilities, and then I was installed
within the confines of the Paladin's computer to replace the Leah
Brahms version of a starship A.I." She looked away from him as
she continued, "I mimic no physical being in existence, I was
created as you see me, and my program was made to evolve."

Alex nodded his head a little as they walked down a ways to the
cafe she had referred too. "I already figured out that you were
like no other woman in existence, Aki."  He stated smoothly and
with a significant degree of natural charm and interest in his
coyness. "So do you know what you are supposed to evolve
towards?  Typically a person doesn't know and that is what helps
define who we are... our search."

She chuckled very lightly before shaking her head gently. "No,
I do not know of my final destination through the transcourse of
time..." And in more ways than one, it was all too true. Whom she
was, what she was, would remain an untold mystery.

"So have you ever went on a dinner date before?" Alex asked.

Aki blushed a bit just as she was about to shake her head. She
hesitated briefly as she seemed to have some sort of a memory
flash. She paused, and did nothing for a short time, a wide-eyed
expression written across her face.

The sudden stop right in front of the cafe seemed a bit odd
to Alex.  He stepped in front of Aki after letting her arm go
a bit.  Seeing the expression on her face he began to worry
slightly.

While holding her arm closely he held her hand to try to comfort
her through whatever was happening.  "Aki?  Is something
wrong?"

She blinked abruptly as the memory faded. She would have to
study it later. Her eyes swept down to their hands and then up to
Alex, "I'm fine, just had to reroute resources through the ship..."
She smiled apologetically.

Alex smiled warmly at her though he could tell it was more
than what she was letting on.  He knew something about computers
and rerouting resources didn't stop an A.I. cold... it was something
that normally came natural to them.  Yet he wasn't going to
press her on it.  Just like a woman of flesh and blood he
doubted he would get anywhere by forcing her to do anything...
Let alone, to open up a bit.

"Well, what did you have in plan for me?" Alex asked as he
gestured towards the door, which caused them to open with the
proximity of his hand.  Again not by design but out of the
moment.  It was beginning to seem almost poetic, to him.

She took a step forward and gestured for him to follow, "I don't
know what you take me for Mr. Nottingham, but I'm not planning
anything." Her eyes seemed to flicker with a hint of naught as
she guided him along to the cafe. She turned around and
walked backwards, looking at Alex while researching what
had happened to her just now.

"What are 'your' plans?"

Alex rose an eyebrow as the doors closed behind them and he
followed in her wake.  As he looked into her eyes he
let a corner of his mouth raise up in response.  "I plan on
having a quiet dinner with a very charming, intelligent,
and attractive woman."

Aki blushed gently before smiling softly in return, turning
back down the corridor with him to reach the cafe finally.
She was amused still, but now she felt, at random times,
that she truly was not the ship's computer. The processes
concerning ship operations were uncomplexed to her
thoughts.

They neared a table in the middle of the nearly empty
room.  Alex walked behind Aki who had pulled out her seat
then after a surprised look on her face she sat down
gracefully.  After pushing Aki's seat back towards the table
he gained his own.

A holographic waiter seemed to materialize behind the bar
and was preparing for them a couple of glasses of water.
Yet Alex was finding himself very... intrigued by Aki.  She
was always showing that she was more than she seemed to be.
Which drew him in like a moth to a flame, he thought to
himself silently.

"So what do you do for fun?"

The waiter came over with their beverages, consequentially she
only looked down into hers for a very brief moment before looking
to him, "a great deal of research. I'm interested in many subjects,
so it's easy to find me working around the stations surrounding the
ship's computer core..." She pushed back a few strands of her
own hair, back over her ear before smiling up to him, "sometimes
I'll indulge in reading, holographic scenarios that don't require
the use of the holodeck since it's occupied for research many
times... I even have my own crew quarters, but I haven't had a
chance to fix it to what I'd like as of yet."

Alex rose the glass of water slightly, "You haven't done
anything with your virtual body, like say... martial arts?
hiking? etc, etc, etc.?"


Chapter Two: "Everything You Want"

As with all things, Aki was concerned. If she could suffer from stress
in a way that would deter her ability to continue working, right now
she might be having a breakdown. Luckily, this was most certainly
not the case, and she found herself trying to assist.

She appeared in Alex Nottingham's office, just before him, with a
degree of trepidation that she swallowed down. Their last meeting
had been bizarre for her, and most certainly for him. She didn't want
to explain a thing to him, not now, she wasn't ready. Everything was
so confusing, and that was saying a lot for a computer intelligence
that surpassed the human brain by a considerable degree...

Alex felt the familiar hum of the air as the female form he had grown
to know so well in his thoughts appeared in front of his desk.  He
had been going over an initial concept design of what he had
wanted to send to Kalik.  Then of course there was also the matter
of a new way to encrypt the messages... To which he was having a
more difficult time than even he initially suspected.  Starfleet
Intelligence had really done their job exceedingly well with the
new variation of encrypted algorithms.  Yet, he surmised, that it
was just as well since what he wanted for this was something very
different.  The encryption would be a basis for other things in the
future, he was sure of.  So designing a new, previously untested,
and highly advanced encryption method was daunting to say the
least.  So with all these thoughts running through his head; one
would expect him not to notice her.  Yet how could he not?

It was something very disturbing to Alex, in more ways than one.
Still he couldn't very well halt his burgeoning feelings for the
woman for further study.  He had to make it up as he went along
and despite her vaunted computer core onboard, he was pretty
sure Aki was in the same boat.  He did mark her trepidation and
could tell that it was derived from what happened before and her
lack of announcement of her presence said volumes.  Though to
be honest, Alex wasn't entirely sure what those volumes of
information were besides that she didn't want to reveal what
happened before and yet couldn't figure out how to move on
from here without it.

Which in and of itself spoke volumes as well about the subject
material and that was one area Alex excelled at.  Though, again to
be honest, all it gave Alex was the notion that it was something very
big and important to Aki.  Though his own memory did serve him
well and he had found no planet with the set of environments that Aki
had revealed... and her dress, was of very unusual design.  Not that
he was complaining mind you.  He never complained at seeing a
half naked women dance.  He just was a little sore that it had
interrupted their dance.

Still, to look upon her face... to look upon her fine and uniquely
sculpted body; Alex was speechless himself, after a fashion.  He
still was calculating and extrapolating what information he had and
could make an educated guess at.  Though it did occur to him that
he should help her out and end the, now, uncomfortable silence.

For a woman who could just whisk away and disappear without a
moment's notice, was highly irritating to deal with.  As far as Alex
was concerned he didn't know what to say either.  Of course there
was business but somehow he wanted her first appearance after
the incident to be something more than that... he didn't know what
and to make matters worst he knew he had to come up with
something fast before she just decided to leave. 'That would not
be a good way to end this particular scenario' Alex thought to
himself. 'So think of something!' and if there were a mental avatar
of Alex in his mind he would be hitting his head against a red
brick wall.

Suddenly Alex stood up from his desk and walked over to the
woman who had so captivated his mind at present.  With a deft
movement, his hand was touching her cheek and he silently told
her with his eyes that he would wait for her to reveal to him what had
happened when she was read.  Trying to comfort any anxiety she
may have about him being impatient.  He could see that she cared
and he knew it was something big... and with an amused smirk he
tried to lighten her expression.

"I heard once a human saying that sounds very uncharacteristic of
them. 'Good things come to those who wait'."  With that said Alex
merely dropped his hand to hold hers and soft tried to nudge her
out of his office. "I am sure there is something else we can talk
about... work always has its problems but over dinner... something
less intimate this time though?  like in Noctur Athene?"

"Athene Noctua..." She answered weakly before turning to look at
him, "but we have to work, or rather, you need to continue working
on the new devices for the ships?" She had objections to having
dinner with him. She didn't know what it was that came over her
every time she was around this man, but she felt she just wasn't
ready for whatever came. She only wanted memory flashes to
happen occasionally! But here she was, being taken to dinner,
and not disappearing though she very well could..

Alex could sense the inner turmoil but he trusted her to come to
the right decision.  Whether he would like the 'right' decision was
another story entirely.  Yet he couldn't be anyone but who he was;
and who he was someone who wanted to be with her.  He wanted
to assure her that he had no problems with other people knowing he
was interested in her.  Though of course that fact surprised himself
somewhat when he thought of it but he realized it was true.

The 'right' thing for Alex to do seemed to continue forward though.
The reasoning behind it seemed suddenly opaque and it was
something of a gut feeling.  He didn't know anything, at the moment
really, but he did know what he felt.  He felt that a dinner with Aki was
probably one of the rightest things for him to do at the moment.

"Right now, I need you more than I need to sit at my desk working
on those schematics and algorithms."  Alex said softly and with
all the persuasive charm he could muster.  Though it was different in
that he actually did care and he did want nothing more than to
actually have dinner with Aki.  That alone prevented it from seeming
empty and hollow in its core... if you could see past it; and he
would bet his next month's paycheck that she could have sense it.

Aki's response was to widen her eyes, but not to Alexander as she
looked at the floor. His words indicated he had an interest well more
beyond friendship, and it made her holographic heart flutter somewhat.
She found him attractive, indeed she did, but this was dangerous to
her and to him, more to her, but nonetheless...

With subtle movements Alex steered them both out of his office
and down the corridor.  He didn't want to pressure her into anything
but he also knew that nothing would be accomplished by pretending
nothing ever happened between the two of them.  Not that he knew
what did happen; which happened to be the point of not  pretending...
or so he thought.  Which ironically made him smile softly as they
began walking down the corridor.  He needed to ease the turmoil
in her mind and quickly.

Yet that was a hard thing to do if you didn't know what the turmoil
was about.  Alex hoped that he knew enough of the basics of it to
guess right.

"Aki, something I have noticed is that you... whatever it is that
is troubling you. Typically occurs when we are alone and in an
otherwise intimate situation.  Well that is why I suggested Athene
Noctua, because it will be someplace public.  Where we can
hopefully spend a quiet evening together for dinner without...
the whatever it seems to be troubling you."

"But..." She tried responding, but was stopped be Alexander. Her
'mind' kept swirling with concerns and reasons to not go on this
dinner with him, but her emotions were betraying her. The new
memory fragments in her file were inducing her to follow. Would
it be as bad as before?

"I don't want you to feel pressured, Aki but nothing will come
of pretending there is nothing between us.  Not that I know what
that something is but I would like to find out... wouldn't you?"

A single tear escaped from her left eye, out of the view of what
Alex could see. She made her holographic programming force it
off of her face and existence as she calmed herself and turned to
look at him with a light degree of upset registered on her face, "I,
yes, but it is not easy for me. My programming was not developed
for this, though I am... able to...to..."

Alex smiled gently, "None of us are ever really programmed for
what our life gives us.  We make it up as we go along, Aki... and
for you I don't see much difference." Alex stopped and held her
hand softly but firmly with a tenderness. "I know you're more than
what you and your record claim to be.  What 'that' is matters very
little to me right now.  How long it takes for you to 'evolve'
matters very little as well... There is always tomorrow Aki, even
for people like us."

Aki swallowed visibly, unable to answer to what he said, just very
afraid of what the future would bring. Already she felt presently
existing memory files activate and come to mind. She tried to just
suppress them.

"For now though I just wanted to have dinner with a woman that
interested me personally a great deal... anything more will either
come or it won't."

She smirked a bit before looking at him again, finally reacting to
her own efforts to hold back and contain herself more adequately.
"You need to return to duty, don't you?" She didn't mean to crush
the evening, but there was an internal computational battle being
fought within her programming.

With a short but warm laugh, Alex looked forward for a moment
before responding and looking back at her.  "I've been working
18 hour shifts for the most part constantly lately.  I think I
deserve a short time to relax... nothing ever comes of
'burning the midnight oil' constantly."

"Do you 'not' want to have dinner with me?"

Aki blushed lightly as she thought of something to say in response,
but the turmoil within her overwhelmed her thought processes as
they had other times. She turned in front of him and pulled him by
his uniform down to her own face, then kissed him. It betrayed her
desires 'not' to go with him. Perhaps McTavert was correct in his
words. Perhaps psychologists were very foolish?

Alex's own desires directed his own next action of embracing Aki
and holding her in his own embrace as well.  He returned the kiss
with more passion than he himself expected.  Yet it was real and he
had been fighting his own internal battles on the ramifications of it.
Yet something he believed in very strongly was that you are what
you are and there is no point in denying what you felt.

As their lips parted for a more intimate kiss, Alex held her
close to him.  As if that would somehow keep everything else in
the world at bay and he could just share this one beautiful and
uncomplicated moment with Aki.  Too soon their lips parted in
a mutual agreement that Alex needed air.  Though he merely
smiled and tilted his forehead against hers as he continued to
hold her.  He didn't know how long she would let him hold her or
that she would hold him but he wished it would never end.

That wish spurred off several new internal debates in Alex's
mind, as he pushed them down and out of his immediate thoughts.
He looked into her eyes and stepped back slightly.  "I take that
as a yes; for wanting to have dinner with me?"  He said softly.

What had gone through Aki's mind had somehow quieted many of
her internal thoughts, but it had all been replaced by a solidified
memory, not one as intense as others she had had previously, but
one of a man. Someone she had loved, or felt a strong affection for.
Each time it seemed that she had been real once upon a time, but
as a curiosity, for some reason Alex was very similar to that man.
There were subtle differences, but he was so... close...

She nodded slightly before breaking eye contact to lean into his
arms, snuggling against him warmly, "it's a yes." After hugging him
she stepped back and looked up into his eyes, her voice struggling
to keep stable, "I need you to be patient with me though. This is so
new to me, and there is so much that will take time to explain to you.
I'm very scared, Alex." She finally called him by his first name.

With a soft and caring smile Alex kissed her lips lightly in response.
"I know you are and I wouldn't expect otherwise from even myself.
and..." Alex looked into her eyes for a moment but it was more of an
effort to find the feeling that he had.  To nail it down so that he
could say what it was but it was illusive.  Instead he smile a little
again, "I will always be here for you Aki.  So you have all the time
in the universe."  He said with a feeling that he didn't really
expect, again.

She smiled meekly before grinning slightly, her brows rising, "I do,
you don't, and I'd rather not wait until you're old and gray..." She
tried to joke and wondered if she was successful.

Alex smiled at her joke and chose to kiss her again in response.
"Well then, shall we go and enjoy each other's company while
eating food.  Or do you just want to stand here, kissing each other.
Neither of which I am opposed to, mind you."  He said with his
normal smooth charm and hugged her close with his hands on the
small of her back.  Suddenly a crewman walked past them both
without saying a word but Alex could sense what he was thinking.

Not that it mattered to him in the big scheme of things. Centaurians
rarely really cared what others thought of what they did.  It had
grown from centuries of what the Federation would have called
mistakes.  Yet the Centaurians as a culture had thrived past their
earlier and epic troubles.  For this, here and now, he merely had
to look into Aki's eyes to find all the reason in the world to
be with her in whatever way she would have him.

Aki though, had been somewhat discomforted by the appearance
of the crewman, nonetheless she let it slide past as she held onto
Alex, "let's go for dinner, and go from there." She whispered in a
soft tone. She wasn't too afraid though she had a light suspicion
of what might follow. Strange things were occurring to the Paladin's
Artificial Intelligence.

With a light hand and a soft touch, Alex weaved his left arm around
hers once and held her hand as they walked down the hallway
towards the ship's main lounge.

"So I am sure even for yourself, there are some things you didn't
find out about me.  Yet you haven't really asked anything... so
is there anything you would like to know?"

She glanced over to her thoughtfully. What she needed to know,
she knew, and that was a great deal of material, but there were
certain things she most certainly did not have access to unless
she resorted to telepathic means which she restrained her own
self from in respect to the crew.

"How you grew up, and particularly, how many women have
fallen for you. You seem to be a walking woman's charm." She
eyed him with a humorous smirk on.

Alex smiled, amused at Aki's comment, "I grew up on an island
called Tyr on Centauri Prime.  My parents were both Professors
at one of our primary Institutes of Higher learning in the
Physics and Mathematics department.  Meanwhile they had us
kids growing crops the traditional way on a farm on Tyr."

The memory of it made Alex smile a little, "They viewed it as
an excellent way to 'start' a life.  Of course they were right
in the grand scheme of things I suppose but it still didn't
keep me and my brothers out of trouble for the most part."

"As for the women part?  Normally a man doesn't talk about
other women than the one he is trying to court." Alex paused
and smiled a bit. "Since you asked though, I haven't really
kept tabs but I would have to agree... not that I really
intend to have that effect but it seems to be a part of who
I am... why, though?  Does it make you jealous?" Alex asked
with an amused tint to his voice.

"What do you think?" Her brow rose as she decided to reverse
the table on him to see what his reaction would be, "I do not know
if you realize this Mr. Nottingham, but there are quite a few men
onboard that have also decidedly warned me that I seem to be
too real for them... now if you remember what that meant for you..."
She grinned playfully.

With a visible shudder, Alex smiled at Aki in response. "I think
that you would be jealous, though you need not be.  I for one
would be jealous as well but it doesn't normally suit me so I
typically ignore it."  As they walked through the open Alex pulled
Aki to him and kissed her smoothly and smiled as their lips parted.
"I also don't care who sees us together."

Aki smiled warmly before she returned the kiss gently, "good, for
somehow I see myself being with you often, but please promise
me you'll keep working? I don't want to distract you 'that' much."
She smiled lightly. Whatever was going on, she was consumed.
Perhaps at her 351 years of age it meant she was more between
30 or 40 in human years, or perhaps her progenitor had been,
or whatever!

Alex smiled lightly and walked with her over to a table, while
holding her hand.  After pulling Aki's seat out for her and then
pushing it back in with her in it, he spoke lightly in her ear.
"I think I'll manage, mon cheri."  Then walked over to
her own seat across from her.

The hologram smiled up to him, still slightly unsettled. She was a
hologram after all. She sighed only mentally as she gazed across
the table to Alex thoughtfully, considering asking him a rather
indiscrete question, but it wasn't the time, even if she could get a
good laugh out of it. She only smiled naughtily all of a sudden, her
eyes falling to the table and then gazing off to the side. She shifted
her clothes to something casual for the occasion instead of the
uniform she was always wearing.

"So what do you exactly do when your not working with me?"

She turned back to look at him, breaking away from her own
thoughts so she could answer, "a migraine. If anyone on this ship
were to do what I do, they might die from overload." Aki smirked
before folding both her hands together, "even now, that I'm with
you? I'm multi-tasking all across the ship processing commands
that're given to the computer systems through LCARS or holographic
touch screens, or I'm present there physically aiding someone or
another. I can 'exist' in many places at one time..."

"Mother always said that women were good at that." Alex said with
a soft smile. "Though I suppose something terribly drastic would
have to happen to the ship in order to have you all to myself..." The
idea made Alex smirk a lightly though amused, "Yet then I wouldn't
have been doing my job then and you'd be upset with me."

Aki chuckled before shaking her head and smiling at him warmly,
"hardly. I was designed to be able to handle this ship on my own
and still have my resources free, but I'm not tempted to try unless
there's an emergency... Besides, who knows who you might be
busy with if you weren't doing your job..." Her brow rose
skeptically as she crossed her arms.

"If I wasn't doing my job? Probably you sense you seem to be my
sole reason to do anything personal here so far.  Yet I imagine I will
make more friends in the future.  Yet don't think you're replaceable
because we both know your not... technicalities aside of course."
Alex said smiling back.

Aki gave him a strange look, she wasn't sure how to interpret what
he had said.

"Yet one has to wonder what that feels like... being in multiple
conversations at once."

She looked upwards and to the side before she shook her head,
"I cannot describe it for it is a natural process of my programming,
there is no form to adequately express it for hive minds involve
several individuals whereas here the ship is one and I am one even
if there are multiple representations of myself across the ship." She
gestured towards the bar of the lounge where another Aki, that was
in uniform, was discussing with Cynthia Shepherd.

Alex looked over at the other Aki and when he turned back he was
slightly amused, "You look as good from behind as you do from the
front... anyone ever tell you that?"

"So far, you are the first." The Aki that had been speaking with
Cynthia said into Alexander's ear mischievously in order to get
back at him for checking her out. The duplicate turned into one
of the holographic waiters for the lounge abruptly after having
surprised Alexander.

"May I take your orders?"

Aki smiled to herself quietly before she looked up to Alexander,
doing everything she could not to laugh. She even gestured to the
waiter with playful eyes and a bit of a shrug, "be my guest. Introduce
me to your taste palate?"

"That would require more intimate surroundings, my dear." Alex
responded every bit as coy as Aki.  Then he turned to the waiter
and said, "We'll have New Orleans Cajun Fetuccini Alfredo with
a glass of Centauri Prime White Wine."  Alex turned back to Aki
and smiled at her as the waiter left. "You don't have to play
tricks to shock me; it happens whenever I simply look into your
eyes."

The hologram blushed slightly after she had held back giggling
about the "intimate surroundings" comment, but she recovered
rather quickly and smiled across to him, "perhaps I'm just a girl
that wants to have fun, Mr. Nottingham." The naughty glimmer in
her eyes said a great many things, but eventually she only offered
a light chuckle before leaning forward and setting a hand down
over Alexander's hand, turning it over to look at the palm, eyes
locked onto it and the lines that formed along it. With a delicate
index finger she traced along them, her thoughts mildly lost in it. A
tendency she had not been aware of until now, she seemed to be
examining his hand.

"Find anything interesting?  I heard that Terran gypsies used to
be able to tell 'a lot' off things by the lines in a person's hand."
Alex asked warmly and with a smile.

Aki's eyes slipped away from Alexander's hand before she looked
up to him, "I'm not actually sure. I just, felt like doing that, I don't
know." She shrugged very lightly before she released his hand
and started to sit back, "I could give you a gypsy's analysis, if
you wish?"

"Not unless you're a gypsy..." Alex said with a subtle meaning.
With that said the food arrived, startling them both ever so
slightly as it interrupted their conversation.  Yet in a flash
the waiter was gone again and now Alex had food in front of
him... one of his favorite foods but he was more interested in
watching Aki eat and not because of the novelty of it.  Merely
because he liked watching her... and listening to her, period.

The hologram ran a hand across the side of her neck and then
through her hair thoughtfully, her mind growing distant for a very
brief moment although it seemed that she was staring at her food.
She felt lost for a brief moment, and it made her land her feet back
in where she was, sitting before Alex, to whom she offered a smile
before she said anything. Her fork entered the Fetuccini slowly.

"What's on your mind?"

"I just enjoy watching you move and listening to what you have
to say...." Alex said with a small smile as he began to eat his
Fetuccini as well.  "But I guess if anything the answer would be
you."

She would truly be getting in the habit of blushing more often in this
day and age. Aki swallowed down some of her Fetuccini before
answering to him with an even warmer smile than before, "I wish I
had more to tell you, really..." She did have more to tell him, but
she might not, ever. Somehow it remained a constant even if she
felt 'butterflies in her stomach' to a certain degree.

Alex said, "It's not what you say but how you say it, that I enjoy
Aki."  Then finished more of his meal as he continued to contemplate
and watch for a bit longer.  Soon his meal was finished as far as
he was concerned though there was still some food left.   He looked
up at Aki and smiled warmly, "So has this evening been quiet and
pleasant?"

Aki had also finished, but she took her time in finishing even the
small leftovers on her plate, wiping her lips occasionally before
she dared sip from her glass. Memories, yes, coming to the USS
Paladin had been the step she needed. It made all of it come
faster, perhaps prematurely to a certain degree, but she was
getting closer.

And she felt more... real.

"I've never had such an evening, I just don't want it to end..." She
whispered over to him hesitantly.


With a small and fluidly soft movement, Alex took Aki's hand in
his and kissed the back of it... then the inside of her wrist ever so
gently.  As he looked up into her eyes and straightened his posture
slightly, he let a small warm smile cross his lips.  "I don't want it
to either but perhaps we should recover to your quarters or mine?"

Aki knew everything about customs that different cultures held, and
one such one was the kissing of her hand. She was surprised that
he hadn't caressed her palm with his finger considering the very
circumstances... but the analysis ended soon as she smiled at
him warmly, resisting taking him to her quarters due to the new
decorations, but definitely accepting his, "let's go to yours..."

With a smooth smile and soft but deft movements, Alex stood and
scooped Aki up into his arms in a surprisingly difficult test of
footwork and strength.  Even if her body wasn't technically 'real'
it still held weight though her frame was smaller than normal,
per the normal for those of asian descent.  With her arm draped
around his neck from the maneuver, the room spun 180 degrees
again as they both proceeded out of the room.

Aki laughed and blushed as she watched him and smiled up into
his face, leaning up slightly to kiss him and wondering if he would
be able to carry her. Perhaps she should lighten herself...?

As they proceeded down the hallway, Alex looked into Aki's eyes
and kissed her lips lightly as he carried her across the
threshold.  With a light smile on his face he wondered exactly
what he was getting himself into... humans tended to regard
sexual activities as being... a certain stage of a relationship
and he wondered if Aki thought similar things.

Before, Alex had made the mistake of letting things go too far
once in regards to a 'relationship' with humans.  Now he generally
refrained except for few entrances where he knew that they both
knew what was really occurring.  Oddly enough, whether she
considered sexual activities an advancement of their relationship
as her biological counterparts did or not remained to be seen.
Yet unlike before, Alex didn't know if he didn't consider
the potential future to be an advancement of the relationship
or not.  The issue was that he predominately was that he 'did
not' but the mere thought that he might caused him to pause.

Visibly the private war inside his head took a few moments.  The
smile was in response to his decision and his kissing of her
lips.  The decision was very much apart of who he was though.
That was to not really decide at all and just see how things
developed.

"Have I told you yet? That I think you are the most beautiful
creature both mentally, and physically that I have ever known?"

Aki had been thinking the entire time as well, but each millisecond
was more thinking than living life forms did in a month, if not even
more. Her hesitation had all but disappeared, and somehow, she
even felt drowsy. It hadn't been the food or the drink, that was for
sure, it was her emotions. The same emotions she was afraid of...

She breathed slowly before setting a hand upon Alex's cheek,
"a few times..." She kissed him very softly at first, her eyes closed
halfway, only for her to press her lips to his warmly. Perhaps she
was truly falling in love, for as far as she was concerned, she had
fallen, and fallen hard for this man.


Chapter Three: "Truth In My Whole Life"

A lingering kiss seemed to open the doors to so much more.
Another being's slow breaths that betrayed a racing heart also
said so much to her. What did destiny hide for her now that she
stood before him, arms wrapped around his neck as she held
a kiss and pressed into his body, feeling his body respond to
a simulated warmth that she seemed to forget as being just a
simple holographic projection...

Alexander Nottingham, pulled Aki in closer still as their
bodies stirred in the quiet pond of his 'quarters' with his
hands smoothing down from the small of her back and to the
back of her chest.  It seemed even to himself that he was
searching for something as he kissed Aki passionately.

As one thing led to another Alex moved his face back slightly
as he looked into Aki's eyes.  As the thing he was searching
for came to mind, "Are you sure?"

She looked back at him for a moment, not really hesitating, she
was just trying to find out what ran through his mind. It didn't take
her too long as she held him as close as she could with both
arms, "if you are, I am."

Alex smiled and kissed Aki's lips as he reached behind her to
pull the zipper down of her dress down and ease it off her. He
bent down to ease her first layer of clothing down he left a trail
of kisses that he retraced as he came back up.  Easing Aki's
bra up and over her breasts as he spent some time kneading
and sucking them gently and tenderly.

Aki's eyes had closed while Alex applied tender kisses along
her skin. Her hands had travelled along his back smoothly, into
his hair, and through it as she held him to her breasts gently. She
couldn't help but let a soft moan escape her own lips. The gentle
flood of emotions sweeping through her was amazing, it felt so
right, but she wanted more.

She lifted his face to her own to kiss him deeply as her hands
worked on removing his uniform jacket, leaving only the golden
shirt under it on as her hands swept over his chest intentionally.
Her kisses grew more passionate as she drew closer. Eventually
her nails were gliding gently down along Alex's shirt until she
slipped her fingers into his pants, pulling them towards herself
and opening an arch around in a form of tease.

The kissing stopped briefly as she grinned warmly to him, her
eyes evidently brighter than earlier before she pulled his pants
to pull him closer and into a deep french kiss. Her hands slipped
into his pants full so that she could untuck his shirt, hands coming
around to his back, only to sink back into his pants to grab his
hot ass, only to massage each cheek tenderly after, pulling him
against her own body once more.

The movement caused Alex to abandon his attention to Aki's
breasts, for lack of his bodies ability to bend that way.  Yet he
smoothly transitioned to kissing her neck, shoulder, and nibbling
her ear; as his lips traced back towards her own.  After kicking
his shoes off he parted from her slightly to finish taking his shirt
off and loosing his slacks to let them fall to the ground.

In one swift motion Alex picked Aki up as he lifted her up with two
hands holding on to her but and pulling their bodies together as he
carried her to his bed.  They gently fell down onto the waterbed
and Alex left a trail down to Aki's muff as he slinked his body
down.  Grabbing her ass again, he lifted her torso up gently as
he began sucking on her clit and tenderly flicking it.

As Alex began alternating from invading Aki's sex with his
tongue and sucking on her clit, he felt her legs rise up around his
shoulders as she shivered from the sensations he was causing.

Aki didn't think she was the kind of woman to moan, but she made
light pleasant sounds. She used her legs to hold onto Alex, but
it was her hands that had been previously running through his hair
again, that held his mouth and sinewy tongue closer to her. She
felt her body being wrapped with each movement his tongue made
within her, and eventually she gasped as she had her first orgasm
for the night. It caught her completely by surprise, it hadn't been
calculated, it had all come as a consequence of...

"Unhh... ohhhh... Alex!" She yelled out his name in a gasp that
quieted a possible scream as the 'true' orgasm took over her.
She began writhing under this man's attentions, finally moaning
continuously with each breath she took.

Alex thoroughly enjoyed the feelings taste of this woman he
was enamored with and the fact that he was driving her to
previously unexplored heights.  The enjoyment was not of the
conquest but that of Aki's own feelings and joys.  Her scream
took the place of a mental connection in flooding his own mind
with the endorphins similar to an orgasm.  It was not the traditional
human male idea of orgasming but more akin to a woman's smaller
orgasm as the endorphins saturated and enhanced the cortex in
his brain responsible for the animal instincts driving him.

One could question the sanity of his feelings considering that,
Aki was a hologram; sentient or not she could never complete her
half of the evolutionary event of reproducing both of their genes.
Yet Alex didn't care about that a great deal.  He didn't before and
he didn't now.  What he cared about was the woman under his
experienced mouth as he employed all the tricks he knew would
drive her body to virtually flood her own brain with endorphins.

The reality of Aki's nature, again, mattered very little.  Had Alex
been able to consider the situation he still would have disregarded
the idea that it wouldn't work for whatever reason.  Even through
Aki's slender thighs he could hear her moans and squeals of pleasure.
The tight grip on his hair, that she had that pushed his face harder
against her sex could have told him as much as well.  Aki was a
woman if not in body, then in spirit and he was intent on driving
her out of her mind with pleasure.

At some point she gasped hard and needed to breathe! It was an
awkward moment as suddenly memory files concerning her talk
with Lasher about 'smell' opened a can of worms on what she should
do. It didn't take her long in Alex's realm of perception, but for her it
turned into a form of life-long consideration.

She breathed deeply several times before she climaxed again and
found herself gritting her teeth almost viciously. She tried to sit up as
a perfumed scent began escaping her body, the scent imperceptible
initially, but rising slowly so as to not be abrupt. She even spilled in
pheromones that were from Centaurian women, but her mind made
them so much more potent as they carefully adapted precisely to
this man, to Alexander Nottingham.

She pulled him to her lips to kiss him passionately, tasting her own
juices briefly, but ignoring that as their tongues intertwined for a
brief moment as she shifted around and pushed him down against
the bed. Her tongue drew a line along his skin from his lips that only
stopped upon reaching his left nipple, which she bit softly in a chewy
fashion while her left hand caressed its way down his lightly toned
muscles and through his pubic hair which she caressed erotically
with her nails and fingertips, only teasing him as she gave attention
to his nipple. Her tongue flicked it upwards a few times as it grew
to a light extent. She was intent on provoking him further before
letting him try her again. This would be a long night, since it had
started so young...

Part of Alex's mind noticed the new smell that began to permeate
the room itself.  Yet it quickly was blown from his mind as moaned
with a soft voice that could only be described as a deep growl as
he felt Aki's fingers encircle his shaft and her mouth sucking on his
own nipples.  Though not as nearly as sensitive as on a woman's
body they were none-the-less and everything else was what was
translated through his animalistic vocal emanations.

Aki smiled only briefly as she brought delicate fingers along the
length of Alex's shaft. It was rather generous, but proportionate...
it beckoned to her, but not yet.

She continued caressing his manhood to further provoke him as
her tongue continued on its trail down along his chest, circling a
few of his muscles until she stopped at his navel and played for
a very brief moment with it. Her free hand slipped along Alex's
left leg, moving through the hairs on his leg until they reached in
for the undersides of his thighs which she caressed with both
hands provocatively. Her nose was now also playing its way
through Alex's crotch.

With Alex's hands now running through Aki's own head he groaned
his need to feel himself inside Aki's mouth. Even in these
'enlightened' ages there were still preconceived ideas on what
foreplay and intercourse entailed and he was surprised by her
movement.  Though later he would question why wouldn't she
seek to merely reciprocate the pleasure he gave her.  Yet
again the connotations of a woman sucking a man still held some
prevalence in popular opinion.

Not that these thoughts were going through Alex's mind at the
moment. Instead his mind was riding high on the waves of
pleasure Aki's mouth was giving him.  The feeling of her wet
tongue tentatively liking his sensitive shaft sent a shiver through
his body as her mouth engulfed his manhood and proceeded
to provide a vacuum as her tongue swirled over the head of his
shaft.  Alex bent his head up slightly as his mind cleared
momentarily but the sight of her lips surrounding his penis and
her head bobbing up and down was the final straw as he
slammed his head back into the mattress.  His back arched as
he filled into Aki's mouth with his seed.

Accompanying a low guttural growl as Alex's voice as he rode the
crest of the wave of his orgasm.  "aaaaaaaaagh....
yeeeeeeeeessss, eat me Aki!"

She did so, very expertly. Her tongue seemed to milk his cock
as she bobbed up and down on his manly penis until every last
drop was down her throat. She took his manhood down entirely,
letting the head slide down her throat and offer its last spasming
shots of jism to her as the insides of her throat pleasured his
nerves. She had the advantages of the biological, but she used
some inventive in provoking every nerve in his penis in waves
of pleasure caused by the forcefields that helped make her
body.

The sensation was in turn driving Alex out of his mind with pleasure
as his penis lacked the will to soften within Aki's erotically enticing
oral menstruations.  As he began to fill the familiar emanations from
his ball sack, he gently pulled Aki up to his face to kiss her fiercely.
Tasting himself in her mouth he dueled with her tongue as he rolled
her over onto her back as well.  Accompanying a thrust of his tongue
into her mouth was his success in thrusting himself into Aki and
slamming his groan into her own.

For the first time during their lovemaking session the waterbed
began to effect their efforts.  Almost instinctively Alex adjusted his
speed and angle so that the waves from the bed helped Aki thrust
her hips back at him as they drove their sexes into a union more
complete than previously thought possible.

At the base of Alex's emotions it was a desire to claim this fertile
woman as his own.  A conquest that was the basis for almost any
species.  Yet with sentient minds that truly cared for each other the
essence of the experience drove them higher and farther than their
animalistic tendencies.  As he drove into Aki, he wanted nothing
more than to share this moment of bliss with her.  He wanted to
prove to her that he saw her as any other woman. That the only
difference was how he felt... how he wanted her to feel.

Aki was capable of working the muscles in her in such a way that
they would stimulate Alex. She didn't use forcefields this time, she
was too extasied for it. It even seemed that she'd disconnected
from the main computer somehow, though it remained quite active
in her 'subconscious'. She only made sure she pushed back on
Alex's amazing cock as she felt him screw her over and over as
only he could. She started to moan again, but this time it was a
lot more intense.

In the midst of their fucking Alex slowed down.  Surprisingly he
heard Aki's moan to not stop.  Though she seemed rather
agreeable to being rolled over roughly as both their senses of
bodily movement were skewed.  Then after grabbing her hips
and slamming himself back into Aki's sex.  Alex wetted a finger
and began to tease her asshole.

It was a calculated risk but Alex was reasonably sure that Aki's
holographic projection gave her the internal equipment of a
woman's body as well.  This is what he sought; as he thrust his
lubed finger into her back door and began enticing her from a
different source.

At first the intrusion had been quite painful, and her reflexes had
caused her to clamp down on his finger and on his penis. She
found that completely desirable as she was fully stimulated. She
could feel a climax closing in on her as she groaned once, only
to quiet as her hands rose along Alex's sides and slid down his
lower back to hold his ass and help him thrust into herself. She
moaned softly to him again, whispering between moans the
words of encouragement that she hoped would have him fill her
with his seed.

"Oh! Fuck me Alex... Please! Put it all the way in! Let me have your
seed! Oh, yes, yes!!! Unngh... it feels so good." She almost let out
a whimper as the pheromones intensified. She wanted him in an
even wilder frenzy. She could make her body resist, it didn't matter,
she just wanted more!

Which is what Aki got in spades; as Alex found his desire being
amplified as he drove into her with renewed strength and force.
Grunting each time he slammed his groin back into Aki over and
over again.  Each time feeling the insides of her vagina contracting
around his member in ways he never experienced before and only
succeeding in exciting him further.

As Alex climax neared he bent over Aki's body to grab onto her
mammary glands and kneaded them roughly as both of their
passions overtook their bodies in a wild act of mating.  "Yeees!
take it... I am going to fill you up; you sexy bitch!" He said as he
slammed hard into her one final time in an effort to push himself
as far up into her as he could.

The sensation was completely mind blowing as Aki's vaginal
muscles felt as if they were milking Alex's extension for every last
drop of seed he could provide. She was having a major multiple
orgasm, something rare if not impossible for human women! A final
and massive shudder went through him as he collapsed on top of
her and momentarily passed out.  His mind quickly regained
control as he found himself still joined with Aki intimately.  After
rolling off of her slightly, he laid sideways on the bed gently
caressing this woman who meant so much to him.

Aki had wrapped her arms around him gently before he had moved
to the side. She was physically tired, but that could be changed. She
didn't want to. She wanted this to be as real an experience as possible,
at least for the fragment of her that was besides him, having passionate
yet loving sex with him.

She looked over into his eyes with a dreamy smile before reaching
over to brush his lips softly. Her voice lowered to soft whispers that
contrasted entirely with what they'd just done.

"I think I'm falling in love with you..." She hoped dearly that he would
not turn his back on her to those words. It seemed more common
than not for men to do so in most races...

Alex knew the meaning behind what Aki had just said all too well.
He instinctively knew that he would never leave her though.  No
matter what happened he would always be there for her. "I know
you are and I know I have been falling very hard for you as well...
and it has scared me as well for my own reasons.  I have never
felt this way or this strongly about anyone."

She knew that in the moment, it had been largely physical. She had
weaved her web around him, but ultimately he had been the one to
start everything. She quieted her own thoughts as she moved onto
her side so she could see him face to face, body facing body. Her
hand moved down along Alex's chest in light caresses, "so it really
doesn't bother you?" What more proof could she need?

Alex chuckled softly, "What? that you're different than everyone
else?  Not in the slightest... I think that whoever looks at you and
sees anything more than a mature and intelligent young woman
is fooling themself immensely and underestimating you.  As for
myself, you make me happy Aki..."

"What more could a man want than to spend the rest of his life with
a woman he loves more than that life itself?"

Beyond a doubt, Aki grimaced lightly. Somewhere she was
reminded that there was more to relationships than just that. She
felt he was infatuated with her. He barely knew her! But even if he
was, or wasn't, if he wanted to have a continuing relationship... they
could never have children, at least not in the traditional way.

"Alex... I can't have children, not the way you might want to..." Her
eyes fell to her own hand as she held it against Alex's chest in a
warm posture. She wondered how far a man could go to play
games with someone. She was so tempted to hear his thoughts
through telepathy...

Alex kissed her lips, "I know that Aki but in this world of ours nothing
is absolute.  Strange things happen on a seemingly daily occurs
everywhere in the known universe and so I don't count on things
that may or may not happen.  Yet I am not basing my feelings on
that.  I am basing them on my deepening love for you and that I am
not going to give up on you merely because you aren't biological
and can't produce young from our unions." Alex kissed her again
but let it linger a bit longer.  "I love you Aki, and you love me.
Nothing can change that fact and so long as we hold that love and
maintain hope for the future; we can truly be happy.  Sure there will
be trials by fire for us in the future but I will always be there for you
Aki. No matter what happens I will always love you."

A weak smile appeared across Aki's lips as light tears developed
in her eyes. She hoped it was true, she wanted it to be. She had no
way of knowing until now that maybe she needed him more than
ever, more than anything else on the ship. As such, she moved
closer into his arms until she pressed against his nude body, one
arm kept close against herself while the other that faced upwards
wrapped around Alex to hold onto him. It seemed so right... it just
seemed so right as she let a few tears escape her eyes while
she rested within his arms. Not wanting this night to end...

After wrapping his arms about Aki as she was pulled closer, Alex
rolled back on top off her.  His movement ceased there though as
he just looked into her eyes and kissed her passionately.  As their
lips parted he titled his forehead against hers and let a small smile
creep upon his lips. "It's against my nature to react this strongly and
suddenly towards anyone or anything.  Yet I can't help what I feel...
its almost as if we knew each other in a past life. - and before you
state that is impossible.  You must tell me why it's impossible for
you to have a soul... Why I feel as if I am more at home in your
arms than anywhere else in the known universe."

Her expression softened tremendously as he seemed to read a
part of her mind. There were references of loving situations so very
similar, but no one but her could guess that perhaps this was more
true for her than anything. Had it been a past life for him while it was
a present and long lasting one for her? Was she for real?

Several different thoughts raced through his mind as Alex kissed
Aki again lightly on the lips, "Yet I think that to answer those
questions, you would need to tell me more than you want to tell
me right now and I can accept that.  I will wait for your answers for
as long as you need me too.  Yet for now please just accept that
I love you with all my heart and body."

In response she had only gazed into his eyes, almost as if she
were lost in a sea of love. Her form reacted to his body, her every
being seemed to answer him as her hands slide down along his
sides, down along his back where he held him close against her
own body, "Take me Alex, I want to feel you inside me, loving me."

In response, Alex merely pressed his lips back against Aki's; as
he sliced into her through her womanhood as they continued their
love making session.

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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