Heart Attack in Progress - Part 2

Posted on Sun Feb 17th, 2019 @ 6:19pm by Lieutenant Commander Catrina (Cat) Tendai & Ensign Connor Turner & Candy Templeton
Edited on on Mon Mar 11th, 2019 @ 2:26pm

1,091 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 2: Into The Breach
Location: Candy's Quarters
Timeline: MD05 - 1220

Cat had disappeared from the bar with Holly nearly twenty minutes ago. Connor had to wonder what in the world they were doing. What could possibly take so long? After all, would it not just easy enough to ask, "Hi, is your name Holly Moore?" and have her answer yes or no? It should have been a very simple process. Yet, here he was waiting without both Holly and Cat.

After ten minutes, he decided that whatever was going on must be taking some time, so he finally ordered himself some fish and chips. They replicated quickly and he was able to eat approximately half when his commbadge went off, =^=Tendai to Turner, please report to Candy Templeton's quarters.=^= He acknowledged the communication but waited for a moment more while he finished his meal. Cat had said that he was to report to Candy Templeton's quarters. His heart sunk. So, she was not Holly.

Sulking, he finished his meal. He asked the computer to direct him to Candy Templeton's quarters, which it was more than happy to do so. After what felt like an eternity, he rang the chime. A woman's voice that sounded suspiciously like Holly's told him to enter, which he did.

Once he entered, she gave him a warm smile. Her brown eyes were large, warm, and sympathetic. "Hello, Boo," she told him. To the woman's right, sitting on a chair was Cat. Connor looked at the woman and then to Cat. "I'm confused," he finally admitted.

Glancing up when Connor came into the room, Catrina gave a small sigh. "I don't blame you for being confused, Connor." She looked to Candy. "She..is who you said she was. But..."

"But my real name is Candy Anise Templeton," she replied rising from the bed. "I'm a reporter. Holly Moore was the name I used during my undercover investigation." She started to cross the room towards Connor, looking up at him.

Surprisingly, Connor looked directly back at Candy. "Why would you lie to me, Holly, I mean, Candy?" Connor replied, his Exeter accent ringing out clearly. "Was everything a lie?" he demanded.

Candy's heart ached and was torn. Part of her wanted to run into his arms, kiss him and tell him that everything was going to be alright. The other part of her told her that she needed to rip off the bandage and leave him hurt, which of course, hurt her more. She compromised by wrapping her arms around Connor and placing her head against his chest. "No, Boo. Most of it wasn't."

Connor stood still and looked at Cat, silently asking for help.

Rubbing the back of her neck, Cat looked between Connor and Candy. "Her feelings we..aren't a lie, Connor. That right there," she nodded to Candy laying her head against his chest, "That's her. The Holly you knew. That may not be her actual name but, that's her."

Candy continued to hold herself against Connor while Connor continued to look at Cat like a deer caught in the headlights. "But, but..." he stammered. "But how do I know who she is?" Gently, he took his hands and pushed Candy off of him. "I've been worried sick for nearly two years. I never heard anything. I feared the worst."

He then looked at her with a combination of awe, admiration, and anger. "So, you were never a cadet? How did you fool the professors? Or the computers?"

"Do you really want to know those answers, Boo?"

"Yes," Connor answered.

"Well, I had a FNS computer expert forge my credentials, making me four years younger and giving me a new identity. They built me a schedule. You would be surprised at how little professors really notice how average students in their classes. Anyways, when I finally cornered you and we finally started dating, I knew that I could not fool you for long. So...."

"You essentially had me teach you how to hide your real identity from me," Connor finished.

Candy bowed her head shamefully. "I didn't want to but.... It was the only way I could stay with you. You have to believe me, Boo." She opened her arms to the sides and looked back up into his eyes.

Connor looked back at Cat and asked, "Can you believe this?"

Standing up, Cat went over to Candy and gently moved her back from Connor to give them both some space before letting out a heavy sigh. "I do. What do you think we've been talking about? Why do you think she would be trying to talk to you like this, Connor?"

"I don't know," he admitted to both questions. "This is just so, um, well, unusual." He looked back at Cat and said, "I do not know what is worse: not hearing from her for two years or not knowing who I was dating and what was true and what was a lie."

Cat went over to Connor and put a hand on her shoulder. "I didn't want to believe it when she told me at first, Connor. But," She looked over at Candy, "I don't think you realize how exactly Candy feels."

"I thought you did not like her," Connor told Cat, feeling completely out of place.

"Sometimes talking helps, sometimes it doesn't. But we understand each other a bit better, including some of our feelings."

Connor looked completely perplexed. People were complicated. Computers made much more sense.

Candy noticed Connor's look. "Look at it this way, Boo. When I was pretending that I was Holly, it was like I was pirated software. Most of the time you got what you thought you had but when it came to performing specified tasks, you required the licensed version. I'm the genuine article."

Taking a step back, Cat listened, and oddly understood what Candy said to Connor. "Connor..do you understand what she's saying?"

He nodded, still silent and thoughtful. "I think, um.... I think, uh, we, uh need some time, Cat."

Looking between Connor and Candy, Cat took a step back. "You two know where to find me if you need me." She headed towards the door.

Candy looked at Cat and said, "I think we can handle it from here. I doubt there will be any bloodshed."

Cat chuckled and stood at the door. "I sure hope there isn't. I'll let you two be." She gave them a calm smile and stepped through the door. That was not what she was planning on doing today, but..days never went as planned.

 

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