Nicole was pissed to learn that the King's Fleet had agreed to host the gala event to coincide with the treaty allowing the Cardassian Union under Legate Anwar to join the the Alpha Trianguli trade routes.
Why the hell should her government have to pay for a gala event to host an invading dictator? Jessie and Galley had prepared an amazing feast including several items of Cardassian flare.
Nicole did not rise to clap when Legate Anwar entered with Thandie Varno and Dr. Orchid Coren-Lau, complete with fan fare and regalia. Nicole was disgusted.
Elizabeth walked by her table, "Isn't this what you wanted? Isn't this what Veltkamp taught you all those years ago? There can be a home for everyone.
Nicole was not pleased with the mocking by the Betazoid grand dame. Elizabeth was right. Nicole had invited Thua'ra Varno back on many occasions and now Anwar was here. Nicole was still very unhappy.
Zoe, Yotel and Lt. General Hogale Braze entered the gala. Mac and Brenna went running over "Grandpa Hoagie!"
Nicole was disgusted. She barely lifted her head to Zoe and did not make eye contact with Zoe at all. The kids followed Hogale to their table.
Zoe came over with two glasses of Kanar. Nicole looked up, "What do you want?"
"I don't know, to offer you a drink.", Zoe responded. She did not know what to say.
"Does Yotel know you were in my bed the other night?", Nicole snarled.
"No, of course not. I just wanted to feel you once more.", Zoe sat down.
"I bet he feels you... No fills you up. He is the hero you dreamed of in the holo-program.", Nicole snarled.
Zoe did not respond. She just went back to her table. She sat down next to Hogale and Yotel. Hogale was having a blast with the kids. Yotel just sat there.
After a while, Hogale walked over and sat down with Nicole, "She is miserable you know."
Nicole glared at Hogale, "It is what she wanted. It is what you wanted. You brought him here, remember."
Hogale looked at Yotel. The Bolian just sat there. He did not say much at all. He was a soldier, nothing more. He followed orders. Hogale then looked over towards the bar area. Zoe, Mac and Brenna were all holding hands and they were dancing. They were having a blast. Hogale secretly wanted to go over there and dance with his grandchildren.
He had not had any fun since Zoe and Nicole split. They had simply been soldiers. The house was quiet. Even when Yotel and Zoe were having sex, the house was quiet. It was efficient, military sex. Hogale missed Zoe and Nicole and their kissing and even having to take the kids outside knowing what was going on upstairs.
Thandie and Orchid came over to Nicole table. Orchid looked at Nicole, "Thank you for the gala."
Nicole snarled, "You are welcome, doctor."
"I am glad you survived the Phoenix Colony exodus.", Nicole looked at Thandie. Secretly, she wished she had not. Perhaps things could have been different.
Nicole got up to leave. Two ladies dressed in black grabbed her arms, "You are coming with us."
"Who the hell are you? Cardassians?", Nicole snapped.
"We are Zombies.", the ladies responded.
"There are no more Zombies. The unit was absorbed into the Betazoid Snipers aboard the USS Apocalypse.", Nicole retorted.
"Believe me, Governor. There are Zombies. You can't kill us, we are already DEAD!!", the two marines grinned taking Nicole into a back room of the Galley.
Nicole waited for Zoe Beamon. The human raised Bolian had been the legendary commander of the Zombies on the USS Arizona, fighting for the Phoenix Colony in the Beta Quadrant and here fighting for Ephyra.
Nicole screamed as the woman pulled off her skirt and slammed her into the chair, "Where the hell is my security detail?"
Tania appeared in a white robe that had been used to hide her identity as she stood with the marines, "I asked them not interfere."
The marines lowered their hoods to hide their eyes and Tania pulled the hood back up. Nicole was there in the chair alone when Zoe appeared wearing only black panties. Her blue skinned breasts were open for everyone to see.
"I know you want me back, Nikki. You just can't bring yourself to admit it so I am gonna do it for you.", Zoe rammed her hand into Nicole's crouch.
Nicole grabbed the chair and then Zoe's hand. She tried to pull it away. She then tried to stand up but the marines forced her to sit down again.
"We were great together, Nicole.", Zoe begged.
"You chose Yotel.", Nicole shouted.
"You chose Orchid.", Zoe slapped her.
The forceful response scared both women. Zoe looked at Nicole, "I am so sorry."
"I want it all back. I want you back.", Zoe begged.
Nicole got up and stormed from the room. How dare Zoe? How dare her do this? She used the marines to kidnap her. She literally touched her without her permission and she even slapped her.
Nicole was very upset. She went up to the Governor's Mansion. She never went up there. She hated it there. She was not above her people. She was one of them. She was not some show off. The mansion however was quiet and a place to think.
She went out in the back. There was an amazing hot tub and bath house. The Cardassians loved to flaunt their decadence when they commanded the colony. Nicole dipped her toe in. She was still dressed in her disheveled skirt and shirt from the gala. She slowly slipped out of the dress and her clothes and went into the fountains of Ephyra. It felt so warm, so beautiful and so cleansing. She just stood there alone. She thought of Hogale and the kids. She thought of Zoe, Mac and Brenna dancing. These memories were so beautiful and warmed her heart.
She thought about the kidnapping. What would she have done to get a relationship she wanted? She started to cry. Maybe she had ruined it. She stormed out.
Nicole was startled when the water suddenly rustled. She quickly turned around to see the Bolian marine, naked to the world walking into the water. Nicole sobbed. Ephyra was truly a magical place. Zoe did not say a word. She just scooped up Nicole and carried her to someplace special...
Someplace warm...
Nicole rested her head against Zoe's breast, "You don't need to search for a hero, Zoe. You are a hero. My hero."
Zoe smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
Posted by:
Nicole Branson
Governor
Ephyra Colony
King's Fleet
