Project Boussh: Donation
by Majick

Thayer Atner walked into the med chamber, and the cheering started. With
Alison and Rekla safely bubbling their way back to health, everyone felt
that the fight was well and truly over. Time, then, to celebrate.
Thayer launched into a speech that Sharon suspected was prepared, although
Thayer had had lots of time to write speeches while not fighting his late
uncle's corrupt regime.
Still, despite the political leanings the handsome ruler now displayed, she
felt herself warming to the man. He seemed genuinely committed to taking
Mendellia forward, leaving the past where it belonged..
Really, he was saying everything Sharon truly believed in her heart.
Since events had conspired to bring her on board with the Terra Groupies,
she'd had one real desire. While it was nice to spit in the Empire's eye,
she'd always had a part of her mind thinking of Mendellia. For her, the
attraction in the Star Wars films had been twofold. Not just the
starfighters, but the idea of overthrowing a corrupt regime, and replacing
it with something better.
"How many times," she thought to herself, "did I read the Star Wars novels
and long to be on the Provisional Council? I wanted to restore Toprawa, to
help the victims of the Krytos virus, to make he decisions that needed to be
made. And now Thayer and his people get to make those decisions."
Sci was introducing Thayer to the members of Terra Group. Josh,
mysteriously, had wandered off -"Probably not comfortable with the idea of
paying allegiance to an absolute ruler"- she thought.
She watched Thayer meet Mike and Emily, who'd put their bickering aside
briefly to act nice before their ally. Moving down the line, Thayer was
re-introduced to Kristy and Morwen, before he looked up at the bacta tanks
holding Alison and Josh. She noticed he spent a great deal of time looking
at the former Air Force pilot. Something told her they'd be out there
playing tag over the Pacific before things returned to some semblance of
normal.
"All things to all men," flashed through Sharon's mind. With Sci, Thayer
was a leader of men. While talking to Mike and Emily, you could see the
mischief crackling in the air between them. With Morwen and Kristy, he'd
been a perfect gentleman, even kissing their hands, with Alison and Josh,
he'd seemed like a concerenc friedn, checking on their wellbeing. When he'd
though no-one would notice, with Josh he'd been a flyer.
Looking around, Sharon noticed Becki standing apart form the rest of Terra
Group, and she wondered what Thayer would be with her? A gentleman? A poet?
Or would they make beautiful music together?
Belatedly, Sharon realised she was last in line, and Thayer and Sci were
heading towards her. She tried to kill the blush she felt rising in her
cheeks. There was no denying how handsome he was. She wondered if there was
anyone.
Again, her gaze was drawn to Becki. She *had* known Thayer longer than
anyone.
"My lady Kerr," Thayer began, taking Sharon's hand, and shaking it. "I'm
delighted to meet you. Your leader here tells me you're a formidable
warrior, and a promising pilot. Mike added that you are an excellent shot,
as well as possessing a 'classy flying body tackle'."
Sharon blushed again, hotly.
"Thank you, my lord. Really, I only did what was necessary," she replied.
"Considering how you came to join this band of heroes, my lady, you went
far beyond what was necessary."
Sharon tensed. She spotted an opening, and jumped in.
"Really, my lord, I did it all on behalf of your people."
"Oh? Tell me more," Thayer said, a look of deep interest on his face.
"Since I was a child, I've hated injustice with a passion. Once I heard
your story, I was devoted to finding a way to help put you in charge of your
country."
"That's admirable," Thayer said, enthralled.
"I'm glad you think so, my lord. I have a proposal for you," Sharon said,
breathlessly.
"Go on."
"I'd like to help you in your attempts to restore your country," Sharon
said. "If not in an official position, I'd like to be, oh, I don't know, the
representative for Terra to the New Republic? You are the first national
ruler to come out in favour of the New Republic, and it would be fitting for
Mendellia, as a newly free nation, to be the base of contact for the New
Republic."
"I like your ideas, Miss Kerr-"
"Please, it's Sharon," she replied, belatedly realising the ongoing
formality.
"Sharon, then. And I am Thayer," he added with a twinkle in his eye. "For
now, Sharon, I must tend to more immediate duties, but I see definite merit
in what you propose. Perhaps at a later time we can sit down and discuss
this? That is," he added. "If your commanding officer has no objections?"
Sci looked at the two of them, and shook his head. "The only thing I would
like is for Sharon to stay with us for the duration of this mission. We
still have people in captivity, as well as the ongoing battle in New
Hampshire,"
"I too have other matters to attend to. Why, my own mother needs to be told
of my accession, exiled as she is in Paris. Your Prophetess has offered to
send word to her, and then some of my people will go collect her."
"Perhaps we could aid you in that mission? I know some of my people are
just too badly injured for an all out assault on the Admonitor."
"I could help," Sharon spoke up, feeling self conscious. "I know Paris very
well."
"It was the best of good fortune that bought us onto the same side, then,"
Thayer said, with a smile. "Now, if you'll be so good as to forgive me, I
must go and talk to Becki, who I see looks a little uncomfortable over
there. More than anyone, I owe her a deep debt of gratitude. I shall speak
to you both soon."
With that, Thayer turned, and strode quickly over towards Becki, who was
standing demurely behind Rekla's bacta tank.
Sci looked at Sharon.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked. She looked him straight in the eyes.
"It's all I ever wanted."
She didn't have to say anything else. Looking around them, they knew that
every person in the room would understand that sentiment.