Star Trek: Terra Alpha

It was a sunny and mild winter day in Capital City. Such as it was that many had ventured out doors to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather.

Having been stuck inside Hel for more years than she could count nor, did she actually want to a number to those last years. Ashley of the House of Windsor, the Duchess of York, and youngest daughter of the queen sat outside a coffee shop along Leo Ryder Boulevard, sipping a steaming cup of tea. She loved Terra Alpha. Here no one knew her, and she could literally sit within the shadow of the capital building enjoying her tea.

"Welcome to Terra Alpha," a polite voice announced.

Ashley looked up to see a lean woman about her age with close cropped blonde hair. She was wearing a perfectly tailored blazer and pencil skirt, and the perfect pair of pumps to complete the outfit. There was a pin of the Terra Alpha flag on her lapel. She was a government official. Most likely one of the senators.

"Thank you," Ashley said. She didn't say anything further hoping the woman would get the idea and move on. To her annoyance she sat down in the chair across from her.

"So, princess. How do you like our little city?" The woman glanced around and smiled diplomatically. "Not so small anymore is it? Nearly ten million people live here, and it grows every day."

Ashley frowned, "It seems you have me at a disadvantage madam."

The woman stared at Ashley, "Of course my dear. My name is Abbygale Porter. A senator here."

"Charmed," Ashley said flatly. She wanted to tell the woman to get bent, but etiquette stopped. "Well, if you don't mind I got to be going."

Abby smiled, "Of course." She handed Ashley a rectangular white card with nothing more than an address written on it. "If you want a place where you can develop your special abilities go there. What you have is very valuable. You are not a freak my dear despite what your family might say about you."

And with that the woman stood, and was walking down the street, the clicking of her heels on the concrete emphasized her departure.

A black 1968 Chevelle rolled up to Ashley as she walked down the street, making a beeline from the cafe to whatever else was down the street.

"Hey Princess, give you a lift?" A familiar blonde said with a smirk. "I know that look and walk, that's a someone made a pass at me and I'm getting the fuck out of dodge." she gestured to the empty seat. "Give you a ride somewhere else? I'm on my way to meet my son and bestie... but I can lie and say they changed the streets. In all honesty, last time I was here, half of this wasn't here. At least one of my caches was still intact, my baby was where I left her." she patted the steering wheel. "If you can't trust your ol' cellmate... who can you trust?"

Ashley glanced around and placed a few credit chips on the table. Taking one last sip from her tea she got into the car. "I would appreciate if you didn't call me princess in public. Apparently an appallingly number already know that."

Kirby laughed and nodded her head. "News does have an appalling way of getting around." she slipped on a pair of sunglasses. "So where they did they put you up? When I told Olivia that I was back, she told me that if I didn't stay with her she would send a black ops team to bring me there. As if she's got that pull anymore, but then again... look who her father is." she gunned the engine and shot down the street. "Porter... never quite liked that woman."

"Oh the Grande Hotel off of 108th. Nothing special, but compared to our last accommodations it's practically the palace at Versailles." Ashley sank back into the seat enjoying the simple pleasure of being free. "Porter seemed nice enough. She just wanted to see how I was adjusting. Probably looking to whip up support."

"Nice place." Kirby nodded her head. "Abbygale Porter. She's a snake but a well dressed, well spoken one. I've been a spy since I was in training bras and let me tell you, something is just... off with that woman. She's been an ally but who knows what she's been up to since I've been away." she reached over and popped open the glove box. "Type 1 phaser, unregistered. Keep it. I know you can probably make something float but not everyone you can just turn on a pair of stilettos and walk away." she sighed and waited at a stoplight. "Level with me Walker... how are you?"

"Me? Oh... well, you know. Probably about the same as you. Definitely lost, and paranoid. I guess I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop... or to wake up back there, and this is all just a bloody dream. Of course this can't be a dream. I can't sleep at night. The mattress was too soft so I sleep on the floor, but the room is too hot. Images of Dominus will startle me out of my sleep, and then sleep is impossible."

"Yeah... about the same. I slept in the storage garage last night, I couldn't take the hotel. I kept expecting someone to burst in at any moment and expect me to do something depraved." she said softly. "I have a hard time even looking at strange men, half expect them to just unbuckle their pants in front of me and expect me to do something to them or get beat or shot." Gunning the engine she gripped the wheel tightly. "I told Olivia that I'm a broken mess, she told me 'what else is new?' Suppose she's right, I was pretty screwed up after Marcus left me, pretty much holding the bag and a child. Could be why it took me no time at all to slip into my 'new life of pleasure'. We so need to get drunk or we need therapy... and therapy might last longer than the booze and I won't chunder all over the bloody car. No fun being an alchy..."

Ashley was staring out the window, "Whatever, you need, but I don't think I would do either. I saw what alcohol did to my brother, and I'm not much of one to talk about my feelings."

"Yeah... well, I'm Aussie and I used to tend bar and was the Ryder family's source for rare, exotic and down right illegal libations." Kirby said with a smirk. "Family were part of Jack's father's intelligence network, I grew up with his kids, my father was one of his agents until mum and dad decided to pull back and maintain the family business with my siblings, I became Liv's partner in the field once we both got old enough." she glanced at the rear view mirror and saw the same car following her. "Buckle in... need to lose this SOB before I drop you off... I don't make a habit of letting anyone I give a ride home be harassed." she quick swerved and shot down a side street, the same car was still behind her. "Yep, we're being followed. Either they recognize this car and are after me or they know you're here."