No Rest For The Wicked
Story: Angelus
Universe: 2198 Seneca
Rating: G
Word Count: 530
Summary: Dr. Kastoria Themista starts work on her famous cannon, when real life gets in the way.
Dr. Tory Themista sat in her lab, with the lighting down low. It was late evening, and she was still working, tapping away at the keyboard. Sebi Cohen lounged in an armchair beside her, toying with a strand of her long hair.
“I’m nearly done,” she promised.
He grinned at her. “It’s OK. Sometimes I wonder who you love more, me or the damn gun.”
She whirled around, her eyes wide. “Oh, it’s not-”
Sebi chuckled, cupping her cheek in his hand. “It was a joke, Tory.” He leant back in his chair, eyes twinkling, and stretched his arms above his head. “You thought of a name yet?”
“It has to have a name?” Tory turned back to the computer screen. “It’s just Project 24-oh-2.”
“Pfft. Boring. That sounds like, I don’t know, like a super soldier thing. You want something like…’The Themista Cannon’.” He waved in his seat melodramatically.
Tory raised an eyebrow, pausing her typing for a moment. “Seriously, how do you listen to yourself?”
Sebi giggled again, dropping his arms. “I thought it had a nice ring to it.”
“I can’t name it after myself. That’s ridiculous.”
“Sure you can. It’s your baby, after all.”
Tory grunted non-committally. “Right. Speaking of babies, did Irene get back to you?”
Sebi twisted his mouth. “It was supposed to be a surprise,” he mumbled.
She turned her chair away from the computer and grabbed both his hands. “She did? When does he get here?”
“Two months. She said there’s still a lot of things she needs to sort out - official stuff with his school and everything. And of course the visa pass…”
Tory waved her hand. “But we could handle that!”
“She wants to. You know. Sending Luke off to see the world.”
She beamed, and gave him a tight hug. “I’m so nervous,” she said into his shoulder.
“Luke will love you.”
“He’ll think I’m a wicked step-mother.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Sebi pushed her away to look into her face. “Tory, you’re a born mother.”
Her face relaxed into another warm smile. An insistent beeping made the two of them part. Sebi reached into his pocket and brought the small com pad up to his face.
“You’ve been summoned?” Tory asked.
Sebi’s shoulders slumped. “It would appear so. No rest for the wicked. And I was hoping for a night off.” He stood up stiffly, stretching his arms again. “Sorry, we’ll have to put off dinner.”
Tory shrugged. “It can’t be helped where the boss is concerned,” she said with some cheer. “At least I can get some more of this finished tonight. If I get back before you, I’ll leave a ready meal in the cooker to keep warm.”
“Ah, I love you.” Sebi kissed the top of her head. “Don’t work too hard. And seriously…the Themista Cannon thing. I think it sounds great.”
“Get out of here,” Tory said, pushing him gently. “And tell Patrick he’s a jerk.”
“Your wish is my command.”
(Story Index) | (Character Guide)
Universe: 2198 Seneca
Rating: G
Word Count: 530
Summary: Dr. Kastoria Themista starts work on her famous cannon, when real life gets in the way.
Dr. Tory Themista sat in her lab, with the lighting down low. It was late evening, and she was still working, tapping away at the keyboard. Sebi Cohen lounged in an armchair beside her, toying with a strand of her long hair.
“I’m nearly done,” she promised.
He grinned at her. “It’s OK. Sometimes I wonder who you love more, me or the damn gun.”
She whirled around, her eyes wide. “Oh, it’s not-”
Sebi chuckled, cupping her cheek in his hand. “It was a joke, Tory.” He leant back in his chair, eyes twinkling, and stretched his arms above his head. “You thought of a name yet?”
“It has to have a name?” Tory turned back to the computer screen. “It’s just Project 24-oh-2.”
“Pfft. Boring. That sounds like, I don’t know, like a super soldier thing. You want something like…’The Themista Cannon’.” He waved in his seat melodramatically.
Tory raised an eyebrow, pausing her typing for a moment. “Seriously, how do you listen to yourself?”
Sebi giggled again, dropping his arms. “I thought it had a nice ring to it.”
“I can’t name it after myself. That’s ridiculous.”
“Sure you can. It’s your baby, after all.”
Tory grunted non-committally. “Right. Speaking of babies, did Irene get back to you?”
Sebi twisted his mouth. “It was supposed to be a surprise,” he mumbled.
She turned her chair away from the computer and grabbed both his hands. “She did? When does he get here?”
“Two months. She said there’s still a lot of things she needs to sort out - official stuff with his school and everything. And of course the visa pass…”
Tory waved her hand. “But we could handle that!”
“She wants to. You know. Sending Luke off to see the world.”
She beamed, and gave him a tight hug. “I’m so nervous,” she said into his shoulder.
“Luke will love you.”
“He’ll think I’m a wicked step-mother.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Sebi pushed her away to look into her face. “Tory, you’re a born mother.”
Her face relaxed into another warm smile. An insistent beeping made the two of them part. Sebi reached into his pocket and brought the small com pad up to his face.
“You’ve been summoned?” Tory asked.
Sebi’s shoulders slumped. “It would appear so. No rest for the wicked. And I was hoping for a night off.” He stood up stiffly, stretching his arms again. “Sorry, we’ll have to put off dinner.”
Tory shrugged. “It can’t be helped where the boss is concerned,” she said with some cheer. “At least I can get some more of this finished tonight. If I get back before you, I’ll leave a ready meal in the cooker to keep warm.”
“Ah, I love you.” Sebi kissed the top of her head. “Don’t work too hard. And seriously…the Themista Cannon thing. I think it sounds great.”
“Get out of here,” Tory said, pushing him gently. “And tell Patrick he’s a jerk.”
“Your wish is my command.”
(Story Index) | (Character Guide)