Family Reunion

[Ashley Walker]

George held up his hands in a defensive gesture, "I didn't say you were doing any of those things. I just don't put it past you if you think it would benefit you."

"Christ George! That's not helping," Ashley hissed. "They aren't after royals in general," she continued leveling her gaze on Marissa. "I don't know what the play is here, but if I had to guess it was to seed unrest amongst the Narlin Empire. That is something Dominus and his ilk would do. It weakens his enemies. Fortunately for you, we just aren't that important, neither to the Imperium or the Alliance."

"It would probably benefit Emperor Lei," George added. "Give him a rallying cry."

Ashley nodded, "See? Just relax."

[Marissa Windsor]

"Yes, thank you Ashley..." Marissa sighed. "Fine... but I still want you back with us. I am sure the Ryder family's largess will not last you forever, unless there's something that the reporters haven't told us. Jackson Ryder is rather handsome. A bit young for you, but then again... age is simply a number now isn't it?"

[Ashley Walker]

"I have not spoken to Jack in weeks. No, I'm making my own money now. I'm on Senator Porter's payroll now. I think she's grooming me to take over her chief of staff position. I've been living here as Ashley Walker the former Starfleet science officer, not as a princess. I left that old life behind me long ago. This is my life now. You need me to do your dog and pony show? Okay, I will, but I'm coming back here when I'm done. Not, when you are done with me."

[Marissa Windsor]

"Porter?" Marissa looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Isn't she dating Governor Underwood? Her late husband was an Ajem you know?"

[Ashley Walker]

"So, she's not an Ajem. Porter is one of the most influential politicians in the Alliance. Her name is often thrown in when it comes to the next president. She's going places."

[Marissa Windsor]

"I hope the right places... hell is a warm place but it's not where you belong either." Marissa said and finished her tea.

[Ashley Walker]

Ashley laughed, "That's not what you said the last time we met. What was it that you said? Oh, yeah, "I hope you burn in hell freak!' No goodbye, or good luck at the Academy. Freak! That was the word you chose. I get it. We had just lost Henry to the Borg several years earlier, but I couldn't live there anymore. That wasn't the life for me. Here, I'm not a freak. I'm special. Yeah, some fear me. The Ajem have done that. But, there's a lot of good from the Jase'dasis, and they have earned a lot of respect."

[Marissa Windsor]

"I was a young little twat then... and you were entirely a freak then." Marissa said as she gave her a look. "Everyone was cheering for you, like you were doing some bloody grand thing, all so blinded with military patriotism. Henry and I were very close and I bloody blame Starfleet and that whole 'go get 'em' attitude everyone had when he left. No one said 'stay'... besides me. I even tried to get one of my girlfriends, that Swedish Princess to try and keep him here, but nope... she supported the bloody oaf... and what were his last words? Oh yes... 'You will adapt to service us!"" she shook and clenched her fists. "And you have a power I never had... did you ever think that maybe... just MAYBE your big sister was jealous? I was jealous, you were young, beautiful, you had a power I never understood, you had intelligence. Total bloody package. You could have lead our people, maybe better than I could have... but y'didn't. You ran off. You fought for that, but you didn't fight for us!"

[Ashley Walker]

"Well, maybe you aren't a twat anymore. It sucks we lost Henry, but did England really need a Henry the tenth? Marissa the first does have a better ring to it."

[Marissa Windsor]

"It does have a nice ring to it... oh... and I've got a guitarist that sounds just like Brian May from Queen to perform at the coronation. If Ryder can have rock music at his, I can have a bloody electric guitar playing God Save the Queen at mine." Marissa said with a laugh.