Beyond Deep Space | Celeste

She hadn’t been intending to go to the party. It was clearly for cadets, though that hadn’t been specified in the invitation, and Anthea wasn’t a cadet anymore. Having one of the administration show up was somewhat like inviting your maths professor to your kegger. But she found herself in the area, dressed up and also stood up, her date never having shown for dinner and never leaving her a message as to why. When she tracked him down, she might possibly strangle him. Might. He wasn’t really worth the effort in the first place.

When she realised that she was so close to the party—and also near one certain commander’s residence—curiosity got the better of her and she made her way over the handful of blocks from the restaurant. The glass of wine she’d had while waiting might have influenced her decision a little. Thank Asimov for the lift, because she wasn’t climbing that many flights of stairs in her heels. After all she wasn’t a masochist.

She’d just stop in for a minute, she told herself at the door. Though she was tempted to skip it and wander up another two flights. If Celeste’s father was really as protective as he seemed, there was no way he’d be out for the night when his daughter was hosting a party. He’d be home to be there if she needed help.

Celeste found herself leaning against one of the large counters that acted as the bar. She usually loved to flirt with the boys but with her own boyfriend living in the same building, she knew it’d be a bad idea. These cadets were all pathetic compared to him anyways and she found herself shaking her head in disgust at most of their attempts with her and the other females.

Glancing behind her, she remembered the brand new set of colorful shot glasses she had purchased and quickly slipped around to get them. Lining up the brightly colored glasses, she then told the bartender to fill each with something. None would be labeled and none would be watered down. It’d be a mystery on what each person had.

"Donovan," she cooed softly, leaning up to kiss his lips. "I wasn't expecting you to be here. Wanted to come lay claim?" It was clear that she was teasing him now.

She turned fully, arms wrapping around his neck in a tight hug. Her heels helped her handle his height but she still wasn't quite tall enough.

CELESTE HARRISON | CADET | ENGINEERING | ADVANCED WEAPONRY

Full Name: Celeste Rose Harrison  Nicknames: Lettie Date of Birth: Oct 13. Hometown: London UK Species: Terran Humanoid 

INSIDE THEIR MIND

Celeste comes across as a girl that you’d find in most college settings. She has a need for adventure and often times will find herself in situations that are not the most ideal. Her need to challenge authority has always gotten her into trouble and when things aren’t going her way, she manages to find loopholes out of sticky situations or she manages to get exactly what she wants regardless of the rules. When it comes down to her job, however, and her family, everything changes. The playful yet rebellious girl is replaced with a warrior, focus and loyalty unmatched. She’d kill for those she loves and though she doesn’t have many friends, the ones she does have are always on her mind. 

THEIR STORY SO FAR...

“It is. Anthea Mackintosh, right? From London,” though the girl was only an ‘intern’ at Section 31, she had made it a priority to look into everyone else who worked there. Was it for self preservation? Maybe. Was she nosey and trying to learn about the enemy? More likely. 

Glancing at her again, she laughed and made a face. "It's annoying having him breathing down my neck, sure, but he's all I have left of family. I put up with him and his overprotectiveness for that reason and that reason only." She paused and relaxed her posture.

School. The word held a funny taste on Cadet Harrison’s tongue as she strolled along the campus grounds, looking at all of the buildings. Her first class wasn’t for a few hours and she was in the mood to explore and make a name for herself. It was so much better, after all, being free of gloomy Section 31.

San Francisco was much different from London, she found, and it had taken her some time to adjust. It was a cleaner city, with more opportunities to be a part of nature. The bustling city surrounding one like a prison was getting to be a drag and at least here, Celeste could enjoy gardens and parks without the constant traffic and pollution clogging up the air. 

She grabbed a coffee at the small cafe in the admin building before heading back across campus to her own office. She was nearly there when she spotted the cadet switching out her shoes. Smiling to herself, Anthea took a moment and sat down beside her.

"It is. Anthea Mackintosh, right? From London," though the girl was only an 'intern' at Section 31, she had made it a priority to look into everyone else who worked there. Was it for self preservation? Maybe. Was she nosey and trying to learn about the enemy? More likely. 

             setting : london, summer time

His daughter would never know the emotions that went though the man when he searched through the seventy two pods that was stored away. The thoughts that entered his mind was that he had lost her, for good. Until that last one showed her sleeping face, as peaceful as Sleeping Beauty. He nearly lost his resolve then. He remembered gripping the tube to keep his legs from buckling out beneath him. His crew was all that he had left, had he lost her, he was sure to have gone berserk on Marcus. He knew he shouldn’t have woken her, it would give Marcus too much to use against him. But she stood a better chance at surviving what Marcus dished out awake than she did if he found out who she was while slumbering. Maya was after all his legacy, and she would preserve it for him should something happen to him. She was trained to be a queen and Rani she would one day be once he gained their new empire. Even if sons came after her, by any relationships her father might enter in this ultra modern world.

Yes, he could have chosen Kati. She would have been thrilled to grab Marcus’ attention away from his caged tiger. All for the cause of helping their people. Otto would have proven a trusted friend, a second mind and strong body to help his plots take root. So many others that he could have used, but he picked his daughter. Perhaps he was getting sentimental in his loneliness. He had went out a few times over his stay in London. But found the women to be either too enchanted with him to form a proper conversation or to busy tooting Starfleet’s horn. Cows and sheep all of them, and his upbringing made him wince at insulting the first. He missed India, preferring it to the constant rain of England. But perhaps it was easier on his daughter to get use to this modern world. His family were too set and their ways, she was but a teenager and could easily spring into any mold given to her.

Like how they were slowly forming her cover story for the school they were being sent to. Him to teach and her to study. Marcus offered to keep Maya with him but Khan had refused. Absolutely not. His daughter would go with him, where he and those he found he could trust, could watch over her. She was not a fully mature augment. She didn’t have the training he and so many others had. He would never leave her in the hands of a man he loathed more than those that had began the wars that ended their reign three hundred years ago. No. She would be Celeste Harrison, the first name chosen by her. The stubborn little thing that she was. John Harrison’s daughter, from a marriage that ended when the mother was killed in a car crash one night more than a decade ago. False records were created to cover these lies. A lot like his own were.

She and her father would be moving base from one of the other campus’ to the main campus in San Francisco. Where he would teach advance engineering and she would start on an operation’s course – much like his made up one. A course that would hopefully lead her into weaponry and engineering. This was not their choice, but the Admiral’s. Two supreme minds at his disposal. The man was getting greedy. Khan could see in the way the man’s eyes glinted. And if either were to get out of control, they would be yanked back to London as quickly as possible. To get them away from students and headquarters. His caged tigers couldn’t get out, couldn’t escape from him. His plans couldn’t falter so he gave them as much wiggle room as possible while still keeping the cage door secured. 

Maya had been trained from the very beginning to be a leader. She was confident, strong and cunning. Unlike most Augments who were driven by their savagery, she was able to take steps back and observe situations with a calm countenance. This was not what she was trained for. When she learned of the captivity and the danger their people were still in, under Starfleet control, she found herself in a breakdown. This was hell. The only one who made it any better was her father and even there, she was skittish for the first few weeks. It made sense, really. She had to adjust and acclimate. He had chosen her, over all of his powerful subjects. It immediately put a huge weight upon her shoulders. These troubles, however, would have to be hidden as she helped devise a fake persona that would work with his. 

The young woman was pleased to hear that they were leaving gloomy London. It was a bore and all she had the freedom to do was explore Section 31 as an intern. At home she knew her father was pent up and worried for their people. It would be a good thing to get away while they plotted to retrieve the rest of their family. There were too many eyes and ears where they were. San Francisco would be a new start and hopefully one that would help Maya adjust in this modern hell. 

Celeste Harrison was a confident, energetic girl with a passion for shopping and creating mischief. She expected to always get her way and authority was something she turned away from. It would be a perfect identity for a new student in a brand new setting. At home she could be herself. It would ease some of the frustration and tension building within her at least. 

Celeste made her way to the large living space that her father currently occupied, a light smirk touching her lips. "You hate that name, don't you?"