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 #4.

This is good – I can get back to work now, and I'm remembering more. It's all coming out okay now. Dean fumbled with the key to his and Nick's living quarters. If I keep this up, I'll return to normal in no time. He opened the door, didn't think to wonder why the lights were off, and flipped the switch that turned them on, speaking as he did so.

"Nick! I got out early – hey!" Dean grinned as he heard the music playing. "That's from Earth, isn't it?"

Oblivious to Nick's stricken expression, Dean pushed the apartment door closed with his foot. "It is! That's, what is it," he snapped his fingers twice, "I remember now, 'Jazzcat!' I haven't heard that in ages!"

Dean's grin couldn't be wider as he suddenly stepped in time to the music. "See? I remember it. You taught me this!" He took Nick's hand and arm and began the couple version of the dance.

Nick wrenched himself free and leapt away as though stung. "Stop it!" he screamed. "I didn't teach you anything!" He slammed his hand on the volume control.

Silence fell upon them, broken by Nick's loud, frightened breathing. Dean stared at him.

"I thought – " Dean began, in a hurt voice. "I thought I remembered – that you taught me how to dance – "

"No!" Nick shook his head. "Never. I don't dance. Ever. Neither do you! Well – maybe on Earth you did, or you do outside here. But not in this place."

"Oh." Dean wrapped his arms around himself and looked out the large living-room window. "I... guess I was wrong, then. My memory's still shot up... I guess. It must've been someone else."

"Right. Someone else," Nick repeated.

Dean looked back at his roommate. Nick looked desperate, and desperately unhappy. Something here, something he should know about, or remember, and he couldn't. He stared at his feet. The more he tried to remember, the less grasp he had.

"Look, I'm, um, going to, ah," Nick began.

Dean waved him off. "I just wanted to tell you I got out early, and... it can wait. I think maybe I'll go out for a bit." He hesitated a moment, then left, looking back as he did so.

Nick collapsed into a chair as soon as the door closed. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He leaned forward and ran his hands through his hair.

Comments? Email me: laridian at aol dot com