Welcome to the Journal of Now and Forever. This Journal is a collection of my Star Control and Star Control 2 fiction. Note: Some of this material is, by necessity, extrapolation from the slim information provided by canon sources.

New fiction is posted first at My Livejournal before it appears here. This story is in response to 15 Minute Ficlets' Challenge #33.

Dean stepped out of the building into the crisp fall air. He'd had the foresight to bring his coat; it was heavy, locally made, and he'd suspected the meeting might last into the late afternoon, which it did. The sun was crimson fire on the horizon. He found himself staring slightly to the left of it. Nothing was there – he just knew better than to stare directly at the sun.

"Hey."

Dean turned to see Nick standing against the wall. "I greet you," Dean said.

Nick waved his hand. "You got all formal with them, huh?" He gave a tense smile. "Thought I'd walk back with you. Thought you might not want to walk alone, it getting dark and all."

Dean smiled in return. "Thanks." He understood Nick's real meaning. A gust of chill air blew around them, and Dean turned up his collar. "It's funny, isn't it? It's not really that cold, compared to Earth, but after the heat of the summers, it feels cold."

"Yeah. 'Course, all winters feel cold to me." Nick fell in step beside Dean as they began walking. "So... how'd it go?"

Dean shrugged. "Hard to say. I think I spooked them. I think they weren't sure what to expect of me. But I also think I brought up some good points, so we'll see how it goes... all we really want is to be left alone."

Nick nodded, absently. "You're not gonna get that, y'know."

"I know."

They walked in silence for a few minutes.

"Thought I'd make honeycakes or date cookies when we got back," Nick said. "Just, y'know, felt like it."

Dean smiled. "Really. Not as a celebration that I wasn't killed outright?"

"Oh, like they want to have a martyr?" Nick threw his hands in the air. "Guess what, everyone! Someone was so threatening to the power structure that we waxed him! But everyone else is safe, you betcha!" He laughed. "People don't get to real power because they're stupid. They might get there by loyalty or hard work or force, but they don't usually get there by stupidity. Stupid rulers don't last long."

"What about idiot kings?"

"They're not in power, usually, right? It's someone else behind the throne." Nick shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. "Looks like we'll have to get the hats out soon."

"Yeah."

Another several moments of silence, then: "Besides, I think they'll have other problems to work on, if your church keeps quiet."

Dean looked at Nick with a quizzical expression.

"You didn't hear this from me – maybe you didn't hear it at all," Nick said. He didn't lower his voice. Dean suspected he knew why – the classic "anyone talking in whispers is someone you should be paying attention to" problem with passersby. Not that many people were out on the streets right now. "But we're gonna have computer problems within another year if we don't get a fab up."

"A year? But I thought..." Dean trailed off. He didn't know what to think, really. The computers were such a constant part of life it was hard to picture what life would be like without them.

"I've been trying to reach Jack all day, but he's off on some big job and I can't reach him. It's happened before." Nick brushed his hair out of his eyes. "We're running out of parts, and we're down to the spares we brought from Earth. I don't think we ever set up a fab to make the chips and boards we need. And some of those are gonna require clean-room tech and things that I don't know if we can set up. But that's just it, I don't know, and for all I know the Consuls have something planned. But I thought I'd bring it to Jack's attention. Jeez, I need a haircut." He swiped at the stubborn strands.

"You want me to cut it? I could do it tonight. I don't really have anything else planned," Dean said.

"I was gonna ask Bill, he owes me a favor – "

Dean cut him off. "Save the favor. You might need it later." He looked at Nick's hair. It seemed vaguely familiar, the last rays of the setting sun turning it all fire-red. Maybe it just means I'm starting to remember people by face. That would be good. Then I wouldn't have to try all these tricks. I hope so. He grinned at Nick. "I'll get a bowl and – "

"No, you don't," Nick mock-growled. "No bowl cuts!"

"Oh, all right. Use the bowl to make honeycakes." Dean looked up at the darkening sky. "Are you..." He couldn't bring himself to say scared. "Are you nervous about... the way things are going, Nick?"

Nick exhaled noisily. "Yeah... a little... a lot, sometimes."

"Me too," Dean murmured, and crossed himself.

Comments? Email me: laridian at aol dot com