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| Lil' Zeke's Garage | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 20 2014, 11:31 PM (490 Views) | |
| Zeke Ryder | Jun 20 2014, 11:31 PM Post #1 |
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Sitting on the ground with a massive hole in front of him, Zeke pulled a small device from his pocket and clicked it on. In an instant a swirl of almost 'living' metal. The swirl stopped in mid air, held in place by the device and then slowly reconfigured itself into the frame of a small hover bike. Taking the frame as it dropped to the ground, Zeke moved it onto the pile of other parts he was creating. He had to admit, the 'smart metal' was a godsend, all it took was a little poking around his Aunt Angel's workshop to find the rapid prototyping device and the fabricator device that she developed so they could create weapons and defense systems and other things out of the smart metal 'chaff' that was littering the planet. Few people realized that all it took was a certain energy field and it could be made into nearly anything metal. Stronger than steel and lighter than even deuranium alloy. He mused that all he needed were a few more parts and he would have enough to build a few working bikes that he could sell and he and Keira would be set financially for at least another couple of months. It was his goal to be self supporting, not relying on his father or the Ryder family to really support him. Not that he didn't want it, but he wanted to prove to people that he and Keira were smart enough and resourceful enough to be independent so in a little over 2 years when they were able to be 'legal adults' no one could deny that they couldn't take care of themselves. Besides, they did agree to have Jack and Kinsey basically act as their guardians and the rest of the colony took turns keeping an eye on them. So it wasn't like there wasn't 'adult supervision' of course... it was Xenexian adult supervision, which meant in their eyes, they were already adults so 'let 'em be.' Of course Uncle Jack made sure they came home at least a few times a week and slept in separate beds. Which strangely suited them, Keira was not exactly a light sleeper and neither was he. Half the time he woke up sideways on the bed, with the pillows on the floor. Still, barely a month into their marriage and they were just as happy together as they were before, if not more so. They both enjoyed doing different things and the fact that the Xenexian elders were happy to see that there was hope that the race would continue, even if they had to intermarry for it to happen, there was a renewed sense that things might work out for them after all. Not to mention that having their own little place in the colony meant they could focus on their educational pursuits without distraction. And he spent a bit more time working out and doing more physical things, since the colony wasn't exactly the high tech, modern wonder world that the rest of TA was, a lot of things ran on sheer muscle power. Which was getting easier, plus a few of the other Xenexian boys and him were starting to bond. It did help him a lot that he spent a lot of time with Jason and Mac and Carly who taught him a lot as well as what Keira taught him. He suspected that was why his future counterpart was so big and tough, although he knew it was also the augment genes in his DNA. For the past few months he noticed being able to do more without getting fatigued, injuries taking shorter time to heal, even his senses getting a bit more acute. He certainly inherited his father's genes in that regard. Although his thoughts did drift to his 'old man'. It was weeks since he heard anything from him. Loading everything onto his hover skiff, Zeke covered the hole he made and headed back to the garage. The trip only took him about fifteen minutes but he pretended that it took longer since he didn't want others to chance onto the mine he found, there was tons of the stuff, but it was still a finite resource as far as anyone else knew. He had to remember to send a nice thank you to his Aunt Angel for letting him borrow the tools. "Yo Zeke... my father's cycle ready yet?" one of the guys he was doing some work for said as he pulled up. "Yes sir it is, I must say it was a pleasure to work on it." Zeke replied as he parked his skiff in the garage and walked off the small ramp and over to the finished projects part of his garage/living quarters. "I think he'll have a much easier time getting around now. I replaced the seat, upgraded the nav software and installed some better repulsor lifts and steering linkages. I can't believe he's 103." "That's nothin'... his father lived until he was 128 and that was only because he was killed by the Brethren." he chuckled. "So what do I owe ya?" "We came in at the budget you set, so that amount's fine." Zeke replied. "I even repaired the handgrips, I know it wasn't on the list, but they feel better and he should be able to grip them more firmly." "I can't believe you're only 13... you got talent." the man said as he handed him the credits and a chip on top of it. "I got a buddy that's working on a starship, needs inside cargo haulers, think you can maybe help him refit and rebuild some salvaged ones?" "Sure, I could. Never worked on them before, but I've seen them in my grandfather's shop. I think I could do it." Zeke said, feeling a little surprised at the offer. "Well, that chip has the tech manuals, study up on 'em. If you're interested, let me know. Tryin' to build a real Xenexian starship, haven't done that in a long time, besides... havin' a Ryder hand repair some of our rolling stock, might be good luck." he winked. "An' yer part of the House Condacin, sure Keira's ol' man was a bit of an ass, but it was a proud house. They supported me a few times, only right I should try to support you two. Oh and tell your lady, the wife wants her to come and visit sometime. Somethin' about talkin' to one of my nieces or something." "I'll let her know. She's at class today so yeah I'll tell her." Zeke nodded his head. "Thanks again." "Anytime my friend." the man said and nodded his head as he got on the bike and zoomed out of the garage toward the far end of the colony. Later -- "What do you mean that Marcus Ryder isn't answering comms? What's going on up there?" Daisy said as he scratched her head. "Yeah I'll look into it." "Thanks Ensign Hill, I mean I'm not super worried, but... still, it's not like him to at least not call in." Zeke said and sighed. "I think he might be mad at me for marrying Keira, he never replied to my wedding message." "Well, I'll see what I can do Zeke. Oh and don't forget, I'll be down later to pick you two up and take you to the house. Kinsey's a bit busy and Jack's doing something with his new travel pod or something. So Kinsey and I are going to get some work done at the house. My apartment is being redone, something about bugs. Actual ones, someone brought in some contraband food and there are little bugs all over the crew quarters on Byron." Daisy shuddered. "Then you shouldn't come down here." Zeke laughed. "Should see the monsters we've got." "Eww. I dunno how you two live with that." Daisy chuckled. "Talk to you later Zeke, oh and don't forget to bring that crate of stuff. Your Aunt will have my ass if we forget it again." "I won't. I'm literally sitting on it as we speak." Zeke knocked on the top with his knuckles. "Good, Hill out." Daisy said as she cut the comm. Hopping off the crate Zeke looked at the shop and smiled. Things were going well and he wouldn't have to spend tonight in the colony during one of the big 'fight nights', last time things were so loud he didn't get a wink of sleep and nearly flunked a math test. Of course, sometimes he couldn't get a long night's rest at the house but... he was looking forward to a swim in the ocean. And seeing Keira in her swimsuit again... |
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Ezekial "Zeke" Ryder Son of Marcus and Kirby Ryder Mate to Kiera Condacin-Ryder | |
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| Tess Ryder | Jun 30 2014, 12:16 PM Post #2 |
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Director of Terra Alpha Naval Medicine
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Later that evening a sleek burgundy and silver shuttle parked in front of Zeke's garage and his great-grandmother Tess walked out. Which surprised Zeke a little, he didn't expect to see his great-grandmother. "Hey Buscia." he said with a smile, may have been surprised, but he enjoyed her visits. "Hi Zeke, Daisy and Kinsey got a bit swamped so I thought I'd be the 'fun' great-grandma and pick you up. And here I thought I did a silly thing when I got married the day before my nineteenth birthday, although at least you two didn't do it too close to your birthdays." Tess said with a laugh. "You're looking so muscular Zeke, like your father at your age." "Speaking of dad, I haven't been able to raise him on comms." Zeke said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I mean I can understand if he was mad at me, but still..." "Well, you do know he was demoted and after his whole resignation and reinstatement back in the Marine Corps instead of TAAF, I think he's more than a little depressed. I'll see if I can contact him. He may answer the comm for his grandmother." Tess replied, feeling more than a little upset with her grandson, but she wouldn't let his son see that. "So, are you Keira ready to go? Leo's watching the little girl, so I actually have a night to myself for the first time in months. So if you two want to do anything before I drop you off?" Zeke hummed as he loaded the crate for Kinsey in the back and tossed his bag in the backseat. "Well, I'm sure Keira wouldn't mind doing something, spent most of the week doing school work, we both had papers to write." "Oh I do not miss those days, although... writing up medical reports is nearly as bad and then I have to publish something at least once every couple of years. Get used to it kiddo." Tess laughed and patted his back. "You really are a good kid, I had my reservations about you two living here but you're healthy, you're keeping up with your school work, you're building your own business, and you're not having a child in your teens..." "Everyone's so worried about that." Zeke said with a roll of his eyes. "We're waiting, I mean we share a bedroom and sometimes we sleep on the couch together, but that's as far as it goes. I think it was just more important that her house have us together. Plus... our older counterparts are already expecting, so once big Zeke gets back, then they'll dote on them more than us. This is a dying race and I don't want to see it fade away." "I don't know where you two got that kind intelligence and honor, but never lose it." Tess said proudly. "We're all proud of you, so... why don't you get Keira and we can go." she sniffled and sneezed as she turned around quickly. "I can't take the sand too much, I don't know what it is, ever since I had Tasha, dust and sand make me sneeze worse than a pregnant Bajoran." |
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Commodore Terese "Tess" Ryder, MD Director of Medicine Terra Alpha Navy | |
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| Zeke Ryder | Jul 4 2014, 05:32 PM Post #3 |
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Zeke ran up to the small living quarters above the garage and tapped on the bedroom door. "Keira, Gran'ma Tess is here to pick us up. I packed up some of that fresh cogan fruit and some harish for Aunt Kinsey." he said and chuckled. "The merchant that sold them to me told me that I must be smarter than a lirga to be bringing my in laws cogans... not sure if that's a compliment or not." |
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Ezekial "Zeke" Ryder Son of Marcus and Kirby Ryder Mate to Kiera Condacin-Ryder | |
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| Keira Ryder | Jul 8 2014, 04:02 PM Post #4 |
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"It is," Keira replied with a smile as she stepped out of the bedroom. "You do realize that bring K'n'zy harish means she's going to make us eat it. After eating Earth food it's not the best tasting stuff in the universe." |
| Keira Ryder | |
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| Zeke Ryder | Jul 8 2014, 07:47 PM Post #5 |
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"I've tried it, kinda why I picked some up." Zeke winked. "Hey I've eaten pretty much half Xenexian, half Terran food lately, if I'm supposed to be your mate and adopted your people as my own, should at least learn to enjoy the food, even if some of it's a bit nasty. Although gran'ma Tess made me eat Sultz, looks like Klingon food." "Polish soul food kid." Tess retorted. "My mother made it the best, but mine's pretty good. Not the healthiest thing in the world, but hey... life's too long to always eat healthy." she said with a smile. "Keira, I love what you did to your hair. You look so grown up." |
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Ezekial "Zeke" Ryder Son of Marcus and Kirby Ryder Mate to Kiera Condacin-Ryder | |
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| Keira Ryder | Jul 16 2014, 04:42 PM Post #6 |
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"Zeke...sometimes we don't even like the food." Kiera admitted with a soft chuckle. |
| Keira Ryder | |
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| Zeke Ryder | Jul 17 2014, 02:38 AM Post #7 |
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"Well, there's a few things I'm not crazy about, but hey if I didn't try it at least once, how would I know?" Zeke said and sat closer to Keira. "Yeah I like the new 'do too. So uhm... I'm surprised you weren't more upset about our marriage." "I was a little, don't get me wrong, you're too young, buuuuut... I learned a long time ago that not every culture is like my own and each has different definitions of 'adult' and let me tell you... after being married to Leo for as long as I have, there are days when I wonder why I was so young and dumb and other days when I'm glad we're together. He's not perfect and I'm sure he'd say the same about me." Tess said as she flew over the colony. "But you make it work and just from what I've seen so far, you two do seem to have 'it', something that not many couples ever have." she glanced at Keira. "That said, I think you two are adorable together. But I'm still not telling you what your older counterpart is having. All I'll say is the baby is very healthy and so is the mom. Even if I'm a bit puzzled by how you two could conceive in the future and not have Jack's treatment." "Big Zeke thinks it's because over the roughly 15 years they were active... uhm... y'know... that somehow their bodies got used to each other." Zeke replied. "Or maybe they did take something and forgot and it worked. Either way, it's pretty cool. Even though I'd be happy if it was just Keira and I for the rest of our lives, something tells me that the family will have plenty of kids that we'll be asked to look after." "If you ever need a few extra credits, I've got an infant daughter that would loooove to keep you two up at night." Tess teased. |
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Ezekial "Zeke" Ryder Son of Marcus and Kirby Ryder Mate to Kiera Condacin-Ryder | |
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3:35 AM Jul 11
