This story is based on one by Fred Herriot
Gall Force: The Day After.
(IMHO, a very good story)
which can be found at:
http://orangeroad.org/fanfic.html
I wish to thank Mr. Herriot for 
giving me permission to post my story
and for looking it over before I posted it
I am sorry for any errors in spelling or syntax
this is my first try at a fanfic
WARNING there may be lemon action later in the story
(I write, my mother edits) ^_^

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Schafhirt Productions Present
GALL FORCE: finally, peace?
Chapter 2

After dropping Denise off at her house, Lucy, Eleanor and Cathy went 
to the Hospital to find out how Shelly and Mal were doing. After they 
park the BMW, the three go to find Rachel or Patty and get 
any information that they had on their friends condition. 

Finding them waiting near the Operating rooms, Eleanor asked "Has 
there been any news yet?" 

Rachel replied "A Doctor came out about fifteen minutes ago and 
said that Shelly's right leg is shattered and will need to be pinned 
back together, She'll have a cast for about 3 months, then have to go 
through physical therapy. we haven't heard anything about Mal yet".

Patty walked over to Cathy "I'm sure they'll be all right, there's 
really nothing to do but wait". 

Lucy had a distant look in her eyes "How did they know that Shelly, 
Mal and Cathy would BE there?, it seems more then a accident that 
the Guard was there AND waited for Cathy to arrive before attacking. 
Cathy, how did Shelly find out you were flying in today?". 

Cathy thought for a moment, then grew pale "The phone, they must have 
a tap on the phone in the office and if they followed one of us back home".

Eleanor then goes to look for a phone to call the apartments. After 
a few minutes she returns "Nothing happening at home yet, thank 
Mother, but that may change at any time. We need to leave someone here 
to find out how they are doing, the rest of us will go back to the 
apartments". 

Lucy speaks up "I've got my automatic, I'll stay here and find out 
what I can, will you send Derek to pick me up later?". 

Sarah then said "Should we try to get them protection while they're here?,
what if the Guard trys again, we can't always be here, besides it's a 
Police job, isn't it?". Sarah asks, Everyone nods. 

Akira adds "I'll stay here with Lucy, I might be able to help, 
I'm a brown belt in Kempo and Kendo, besides she's my fiancee now". 
Lucy thanks him and then goes to find the nurses station to arrange 
for police protection for her friends. when she returns the others 
have gathered themselves up and are ready to go. 

Amy asks "Was there any trouble getting a guard posted for them?". 
Lucy snorted "Not after I flashed my coast guard I.D. and pointed out 
that they ARE citizens of Canada". The others then leave to return home.

After about two hours a couple of Police officers arrive, Lucy thanks 
them and then goes to call the apartments for a ride for her and Akira

The next day, after nothing happened at the hospital or at the 
apartments the whole group got together downstairs in the apartments 
living room to determine what steps to take next. 

By this time Catty-3534 has returned from NYC and told them that her name 
is now Catty Nebulart II and her mother HAD heard about the shooting.

Denise was surpised to see TWO "Cattys" in the same room at the same time
for she had been with Cathy last night to help her over the shooting, it 
was a little hard to tell them apart but then realized that Catty looked 
older, like she was born before Cathy.

Rachel states "Well, it's nice that you are honoring your mother this way, 
does she have any ideas on how to stay safe from the Guard?". 

Catty replied "No, nothing other then keeping an eye out for trouble. 
we may want to put out a sensor net around the buildings just in case". 

"Well, to do that, we will need to dive on the Blossom and get some gear, 
is there anything else we might want from the pod?" Eleanor asked

Miti spoke up "What if we got Mal's tools and stuff, it might make her 
happy after she gets out of the hospital, she could start a repair 
service or something while she recovers".  

"Being that I'm not an android anymore. I would like to strip the computer 
and set it up for the office. It will help me do the work AND we can set 
it to determine if anyone is spying on us there". Cathy adds "and what 
about the basement Shelly talked about?".

Eleanor explains "Well, we really haven't started digging it as yet but 
we plan on two levels, one for the equipment and a smaller one for a 
fusion plant, the Blossoms computer could be put down there too, 
and a dedicated phone line run to StarLeaf Comp".

Amy pipes up "We should pull the medical gear also, that way we could help
Shelly and Mal heal a little faster".

Eleanor and Rachel both nod at this idea, Eleanor says "Okay, that sounds 
like a plan but we'll need someone to dive on the pod to do the strip 
while 2 Bronz'sare on hand for heavy lifting and to move major parts to 
the hanger".

Rachel pipes up "Well, I've been taking scuba lessons for the park service, 
in case there's another drowning at the lake, I could do the strip, if 
someone backs me up in case I get stuck". 

Cathy asked "What if I used a Bronz and 'watched' over your shoulder 
with a video feed?". 

Rachel nods at this, Lucy comments "Well, if you don't need me, I'm 
gonna get Derek to take me shopping, anyone care to tag along?". 

Catty nods "I need to buy some clothes, I don't really want 
to keep borrowing Cathy's, may I come with you two?".

Lucy nods and then goes upstairs to find Derek to ask him about going 
shopping, he agrees to this, asking "Halifax or Lunenburg?". 

Lucy told him "your choice, you know the area better then I".

They return  to the living room to find Catty waiting for them, then they 
go out to his car for the trip to Halifax. After arriving at the MicMac 
Mall and parking the car, they enter, finding that a clothing store is 
just inside the door.

Derek asks "how about if I meet you back here in, say, an hour?, I want 
to go to the bookstore to see if an author I really like has anything new 
out".  

(After all, it IS a womans clothing store) The two nod in agreement, 
entering the store, while Derek walks toward the bookstore.

He looks over his shoulder to check that Lucy and Catty are in the store, 
then ducks into a jewelry store and starts to look through 
the cases of rings

One of the counter people sees him and comes over to help "Is there 
anything special your looking for today, sir?" the man asks. 

Derek replies "Yes, I'm looking for a ring to give my fiancee, a nice 
simple one".

"Well if you find one to your liking, let me know" the man said and 
went to help another customer. 

After a few minutes of looking, Derek finds one he thinks will be perfect 
for Lucy, a thin gold band with a heart shaped opal in the setting.

Looking up, he gets the salesman's attention and asks to buy the ring. The 
salesman says "I'm sure the lady is as pretty as the ring, sir". 

Derek nods "oh, she is, she truly is" and hands the salesman a 
$100.00 bill to pay for the ring.

After getting his change back, Derek puts the ring box in his jacket pocket 
and hurries to the bookstore. 

After Catty and Lucy (Cagney and Lacey?? who let them into this fic???) 
exit the store, they find Derek sitting on a bench, reading a small book, 
while keeping an eye out for them.

He sees them and stops reading, putting the book in a jacket pocket, 
while reaching to take a bag from Lucy, asking "Did you find 
everything you wanted?". 

Lucy nods "But now I'm hungry, is there a good place to eat around here?".

Derek extends his arm "Right this way, lady's, there is a very good 
pizza shop here".

After ordering the pizza that they want, the trio wait for it to be 
delivered, Lucy asks "So, did the bookstore have the Author?, how 
well does he write?".

Derek laughs "he's a she, Lucy, Elizabeth Moon, she's written a 
trilogy about a mercenary company set in medieval terms which I 
thought was VERY good".
 
"Medieval terms?, what does that mean?" Derek answered "Well, it's 
set in a time when there are no cars, planes, radio or even guns, 
walking is the most common way to get around and people carry 
swords".

"Swords?" Lucy said "That sounds worse then World War one, I mean, 
killing is one thing but that sounds like murder, what if the 
opponent doesn't have a sword or any way to defend himself?"

"Then he either pleads for his life or dies, but in the books, there's 
not a big deal made of the killing, it's more a story about growing up, 
getting wiser, I really liked it" but Lucy can only shiver at the thought,
being that she was taking courses on earth history at the University,
and wondered just how anyone could LIKE that kind of story. 

Just then the food arrives and all talk stops until they are finished. 
Catty asks "Just where is the bookstore?, Derek, I'd like to go 
see just what they carry"

Derek tells her how to find the book store and she leaves to check it 
out. Derek turns to Lucy "Will she be okay?, I mean, she lost her 
lover only a week ago".

Lucy slides over next to Derek "I think she'll be okay, I asked her to 
give us some time alone, because I have something to ask you".

Derek looks at Lucy warily "And just what is so important,then, that 
you sent her away?". 

Lucy smiles, leans over to whisper in his ear "Mr. Slater, you ARE 
going to marry me, right?".

Derek blinks, then stares at the woman he loves "Do you really want to?, 
I mean, what about  the others?". 

"Let them get their own mates, I HAVE the one I want, do you?".

Derek looks blank for a second, then reaches into his jacket pocket. 
"You better believe I have the one I want". he opens the ring box, slipping 
the ring into place on her left hand. 

Lucy looks at the ring for a minute, then reaches out her hands to grip 
Dereks head as she pulls him over to kiss him, then breaking off, pulls a 
similar box from HER pocket "Here, now we're even, I bought this before we
went to French Polynesia".

Out in the mall, across from the pizza shop, Catty watches Lucy and Derek 
for a moment, then turns away, starting to weep softly, as she moves 
toward a alcove, out of the way of the shoppers.

As she crys quietly to herself, she fails to hear the footsteps behind 
her, until a hand touches her shoulder and a voice asks "are you all 
right?, Miss".

Catty blinks away the tears and turns to see a man wearing mall 
security garb standing there. She nods to him "I just lost a loved 
one, I thought I was over it but I guess I was wrong".

At hearing this the guard leads Catty to a bench and sits down, waving 
her to join him. "It's hard, I know, would it help to talk about it?, 
I get off in about five minutes, I'll listen".

She watches him for any signs that he is trying to lie to her but can 
only see concern in his eyes.

just then Lucy and Derek walk up, Lucy asks "Catty, are you okay?, What's 
wrong?" as she looks at the guard carefully, who stands "Oh, hi Derek", 
then turns to face Lucy, "Its just that I saw her crying and asked if she 
was okay, when she said that she'd lost a loved one, I offered to listen, 
if she wanted to talk about it".

Catty stands, thanks the guard and asks "Can we go home now, please?". 

Derek seems to know the guard "Sure Catty, Just a sec, Lemme get some 
info", turning to the guard "Well, Matt, if you want to follow up on 
the listening, I've got your phone number, Oh and Akira should be free 
in a few days, if you want to come by the apartments to chat".

Matt hands Catty a card with his address and phone number on it, 
"I really meant what I said, Miss, if you need someone to talk too, 
call me?".

Lucy and Derek thank Matt for the offer, then gather Catty up and move 
towards the exit

  
After returning from the shopping trip and putting away the item's 
she had bought. (and showing off the ring Derek gave her) Lucy 
decided that a nap sounded good, being that she had stayed up 
late at the Hospital keeping an eye on her 'sisters' till the RCMP 
could arrange a proper guard detail to watch them. 

After all they had been shot in a public place and the second (attempted) 
attack at the airport by another bald woman MIGHT be the start of a wave 
of crimes, targeting average people as random murder victims.

She set her alarm clock for a two hour nap, turns on the radio and 
lays on her bed, staring at the ring now on her left hand, thinking 
about the future she will have with Derek and what making love
and childbirth would be like, as she nods off.

After her nap and visiting the bathroom to brush her hair, use the 
toilet and so on, she pauses at Rachel's room and asks "Hey Rach, you 
wanna go to dinner tonight?".

Rachel looks a little shocked but agrees to leaving at 6:30 
Lucy then goes looking for Cathy, finding her downstairs, 
working to install a video camera on Rachel's wet suit.

Lucy walks over, checking to see if Catty is anywhere near. 

Cathy stops work as Lucy approaches.  

"I think there MIGHT be something wrong with your sister, 
Cathy" she says. 

Cathy asks "what happened, did she hurt herself?".  

"No, she didn't hurt herself but when we were shopping I asked her 
to let Derek and I talk alone for a few minutes, then I asked him 
if he was going to  marry me, he said yes and I kissed him, when we 
entered the Mall again there was a security guard with Catty" Lucy replies.

"WHAT" Cathy cries "why, what happened??".

"I don't know what happened but the guard said that she had been 
crying, the only THING I can think of is that something reminded 
her of Dawn".

Cathy considers this "that seems like a likely reason,
but you say that you re-entered the Mall and saw her?".

"Yes, that's right, she almost directly in front of th     OH SHIT!!!" 
Lucy exclaims, then starts beating her head against a Bronz's leg. 
"Idiot, idiot, IDIOT".

Cathy blinks "Lufy   uuhh, are you okay?".

Lucy turns to Cathy, sadness in her eyes "She WAS right in front of 
the restaurant where we had just eaten   AND DEREK GAVE ME
THIS RING".

She shows her engagement ring "Oh Mother, she must have been 
watching the whole thing".

Cathy looks shocked "You can't blame yourself, Lufy, it's
not like you were doing it on purpose, besides she might 
NOT have seen you two. it may have been someone in the Mall".

"I need to ask her anyway, Cathy...and apologize, if need be, 
OH, Mother how could I be so stupid" Lucy cries.

Rachel, hearing the noise, comes downstairs
"What's all the yelling about?". 

"I REALLY might have put my foot in it this time, Rabby" Lucy relates 
the events of the afternoon.

"Oh no, it must hurt her so much" Rachel looks sympathetic, then 
looks at Lucy and wraps her arms around her. "And it hurts you too, 
doesn't it, Lufy?".

Lucy can only hold Rachel and weep for her thoughtlessness.

Cathy joins in the group hug "It must hurt, but she HAS to get used 
to the idea that Dawn is *dead*, this might push the fact home faster".

Rachel breaks the hug and takes Lucy's hand, saying, "lets go over to 
the apartments and then get something to eat, okay?".

Lucy allows Rachel to lead her away, not noticing Cathy making a 
phone call, asking for Denise. 

"Denise, can you come over right away?" she asks after the other end 
answers "Sure Cathy, but what's wrong, I mean you've never called while 
I'm at work before".

Cathy relates all she knows. Denise mutters "Oh I see, well, I'm 
off in half an hour, I'll ask the boss if I can leave early".

"I really appreciate this, Denise, thank you" responds Cathy.

Denise states "but I am NOT gonna do this alone, I want your help 
too" Cathy blushes and agrees to the request.

In the apartment kitchen, Rachel gets Lucy a drink of her favorite Brandy, 
then carry's it out to her friend in the living room, sits down next to her 
and puts one arm around her shoulders. 

"Mother, what she must think of me now" Lucy mutters, then drains her glass.

Rachel says "You can't blame yourself, Lufy, like Cathy said, you 
don't even KNOW if she was watching you two or not". 

Lucy looks in Rachel's eyes, seeing only understanding there.
"Maybe you're right, it was just that she was in front of the restaurant, 
maybe I'm thinking too much".

Acting on impulse, Rachel leans over and kisses Lucy as she wraps her arms 
around her. to Rachel's surprise Lucy slips her tongue into Rachel's mouth 
and runs it along her teeth.

Rachel moans and then stiffens as she feels a hand rubbing her left 
breast, she breaks off the kiss and stares at Lucy, who looks back 
with longing in her eyes. "La   Lufy?". 

Lucy says in a low voice "I used to be a sensualist once but I had 
a falling out with my partner and gave up the practice. 
I didn't want to hurt like that again".

Rachel can only stare in wonder "Is that why you wanted to go out 
to dinner with me tonight?".

"Yes. as I said. I've been lying to myself and others and I just HAVE 
to let someone else know about it".

"Well, I thought we were going to get something to eat but NOT 
each other" Rachel whispers.

"Your right, food does sound real good right now, hamburgers or pizza?"
Lufy asked.

"Lets go to the Knot pub to eat, I hear it has really good sea food"
Rachel suggests.
                            
                            *    *    *

After they get back and park thier harleys, the two go up to Rachel's  
room, contining the chat that started at the pub.

"So, she JUST dumped you cold?" Rachel asks "Yeah, it really hurt, I 
threw myself into training real hard to try to stop the pain but ended 
up getting wounded".

Lucy gets up and pours herself another brandy as Rachel watches 
carefully, with worry on her face. 
 
Just then a someone knocks on the door "Come in!" Rachel calls out.

Cathy and Denise enter the room. The former winks "I thought that 
this might happen, so I called Denise in to help out".   

Lucy looks alarmed "Is   is this what I think it is?". 

Denise smiles "That's right, Cathy thought you just MIGHT want some
female companionship tonight when you go to bed".

Lucy can only look at Cathy in wonder "Now that you're human, have 
you started reading minds and hearts, Cathy?".

The former android blushes. "It seemed like a good idea at the time but 
Denise want me to help her tonight   if you'll let us, that is".

Lucy closes her eyes, tears drenching her cheeks "What did I do to 
deserve such friends as these?" she mutters.

Rachel kisses Lucy's ear and says "You were just being you, it's just 
that simple".
 
Lucy shivers at the feeling that Rachel's kiss gives her and turns 
toward her, "Hey, love, ya wanna spend the night together?" she winks.

Rachel wraps her arms around Lucy kissing her "You BET I do, Lucy, can 
these two join us?" nodding at Denise and Cathy.

Lucy laughs, "Can the bed hold us all without breaking?". 

Cathy then dead-bolts the door shut. 

                             TO BE CONTINUIED