The White Knight

Posted on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 @ 12:27am by Commodore Loatha Targaryen & Commodore Wilkan Targaryen & Lieutenant Commander Lily Snow PhD, MD

1,512 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Genesis
Location: Ready Room, Starfleet One
Timeline: 2429-12-24, 14:00

One of the nice things about being in Earth orbit was that Admiral William Teagarden got the opportunity to spend time with his wife. Fleet Admiral Lynz and he had had a rocky start to their relationship due to the Preservers and they were on the mend even now. Some days were good, some days were bad, but in the end he knew that he loved her and she loved him. Even though both were irritated with the other today.

"Are you sure that it's necessary for me to be here? You know my family gets together for the holidays literally at this very moment," Lynz protested after taking a bite of her Winter Vegetable and Gnocchi meal.

William nodded, "I wouldn't have asked to you be otherwise. We can go see your family this evening."

"We have the Christmas pageant with your family tonight," she reminded him. "Unless we want to try to do both."

"Don't you think that'll be a little much for the kids?" The CO of Starfleet One questioned.

The CO of Starfleet Command countered, "We could just go to my family's services then."

"Well we can always beam from one to the other since they're back to back," he made a mental note to arrange that with the Transporter Chief. Unless he could fake an emergency, but being in Earth orbit made that next to impossible. "Besides, I want to get the process started. White Knight has been a thorn in our sides for a long time and I want to know what's going on."

"I had heard about Commander Snow being aboard," Lynz answered. "I read her file, including the classified file. Are you sure she's right for the Enterprise and this project?"

"She wouldn't be here unless I trusted her," William answered. "And I wouldn't be revealing her test subject to her otherwise."

Lynz chuckled, "If she's as good as you seem to think she's probably figured it out by now."

"Most likely," he answered as he took a bite of the gnocchi. "My XO wasn't too fond of keeping her aboard."

"I may have to promote him," Lynz answered with a smile.

"I'm considering that option myself," William countered. "At any rate, I'm hoping we can get this all behind us and move on soon."

The Commander of Starfleet agreed as she pushed her bowl forward, "Not my Aunt's turkey, but I'll take it. When will they be arriving anyway?"

"Any time now," he said glancing at the chronometer. "I set the system to grant them entry without delay or ringing so, with luck, we can get this going soon."

"Good. Because I'd rather go visit my aunt now than have you fake an emergency and get out of it later," Lynz said as she walked to the replicator to order a drink.

William smirked, "You know me way too well."

"I am married to you," she replied as the door opened.

Lily had arrived at the ready room and she heard the last comment. "Admirals?" She said a tad confused, and with her British accent, with why a Fleet Admiral was there.

"Thank you for joining us, Commander," William greeted. He motioned toward Lynz, "Have you met my wife?"

Lily gave a wonderful smile that just seemed to make her prettier. "I never had the pleasure." She stated. "I'm sure she is aware of your condition?" She asked.

"Told you she'd figure it out," Lynz said with a grin. "Nice to meet you, Commander."

"When did you figure it out by the way?" William questioned.

"The first time you met with me about it." Lily said with a nod to the Fleet Admiral. "Also I have a Masters degree in Criminal Forensics, along with a PhD in Genetics."

William nodded, "Touche. So, we're still waiting for the Doctor, but what's the prognosis?"

"With the information that was provided, not good, but treatable. if not curable." Lily said. "It was good you sought me out. Any other geneticists would just use gene therapy or attempted to re sequence your DNA."

The Admiral sat for a moment, thinking about the prognosis, "What do you think causes the cellular degradation in the White Knight units?" He subconsciously looked at his wife as he asked the question, before diverting back toward the Science Officer.

"Section 31 built in an flaw into the genetic code of all the subjects in the White Knight Project." Lily said. "That way it was easier on them to control the subjects."

"That makes a lot of sense," Lynz said from her spot. "It makes it easier to prevent a unit from going rogue."

"Like I did," William smiled and snickered as he said it. "I wasn't exactly an effective member of their team. When White Knight remade me following the Battle of the Foundry they didn't anticipate that I would begin working to dismantle the organization." He looked at Snow, "From what you found out on the last mission it looks like someone is planning to restart their old hobbies."

"Yes." Lily said flatly. "The kind of problems you are having, should have taken a few months to manifest, not years. This tells me that Dr. Malcolm Betruger oversaw your genetic process." She stated looking down at her nails briefly. "That man is an intellectual thief and has no business in genetics."

William shook his head, "Unfortunately wrong person. The activities taken to create me were administered by a Doctor Laura Thrace on Gateway Station. She was under the employ of 31 and lost her life for it. See I am not the only version of me running around the galaxy."

"Let's just hope 47 decides not to rear his ugly head again any time soon," Lynz interjected. "The last time didn't go well for anyone."

Absently the CO of Starfleet One nodded in agreement as he saw the lifeless husk of his brother's body laying in a pool of blood on Risa. Then he saw Enterprise nearly destroyed at Vlulyr Tuok.

Lily chuckled at the pair. "I know her also. And guess whom's team she worked with before working on you." She said, but the statement from the Fleet Admiral caught her attention. "As for 47, he will be back before you know it, causing all shades of havoc." Then she turned her attention back to Admiral Teagarden. "So I know how those geneticists work. I can slow and reverse the damage, but it will take time."

The Admiral nodded, "Let's get started then. Make what preparations you need to do so. I'd like to get the process in place and started before the beginning of the New Year."

She leaned back in her chair and studied the Admiral. "It already has begun." Lily finally admitted. "Your body requires a certain combination of enzymes and without it your genetic modifications stop working right as your cells start to fail. Luckily it is something that can be added to food or drinks. So since all Federation personnel uses the replicators, it was easy to tell the computer to modify your food and drink with the correct amount of enzymes." She stated.

Lynz and William both lifted their eyebrow at almost the same time - it was quite creepy. The Fleet Admiral started to smile, "We always did have trouble getting you to take your medicine."

"Funny," he looked over his shoulder at his wife. "So how long ago did we start the process?" He raised a hand, "Wait, I don't think I want to know." He had been feeling better over the last few days than he had in a long time and it had been minimally invasive. "Thank you, Commander, for your help. How long until the treatment regimen is complete or is it permanent?"

"That depends on how fast you want it permanent." Lily said looking at the two. She didn't show any reaction to the creepy eyebrows. "This is going months as your cellular structure rights itself. Then it is easy to do some light gene therapy from that point. Now if you want it fast." She gave a shrug. "Then things will get ugly as I brutalize your cellular structure while I resequence your DNA."

"As much as that sounds like fun let's just keep things going as they have been. Thank you, Commander, I appreciate your efforts," the Admiral answered.

Lynz nodded in agreement, "If you'll excuse us, Commander, we have another engagement this afternoon. Please keep me up to date on the treatment regimen."

"Of course." Lily said standing. "IF you have further questions, please call me she said."

"Please make sure you share the information with Doctor Porter," Teagarden answered. "We have a family get together to go to so we're going to have to cut things a bit short. Thank you again, Commander, I appreciate all that you have done."

"I will, sirs." Lily said as she stood. "I have a family engagement myself." She said as she headed for the door.

Lynz nodded, "Until later, Commander. Merry Christmas."

 

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