Date: 15 Oct 2014 11:02 Title: The Hunt for Copernicus
A nice mix of shipboard routine and the ongoing love story as well as the new mystery in Rychel's life. But I'm concerned about Rychel and Dakbar working together. It was mostly innocent here, with innocent messages being sent back and forth like in a classroom but if things became more critical, those kind of distractions could be fatal. Or we could get some sort of Worf/Dax dilemma in which Rychel has to chose between love and duty. I guess we're not quite there yet, but this is a long story.
Author's Response: Indeed it is :-D I appreciate you and Sam for sticking with it thus far!
Date: 14 Oct 2014 14:56 Title: The Nighttime Visitor
Well that's an odd twist.
If this wasn't a nightmare, my first thought is Section 31. Considering Helik's is an intelligence operative, their involvement here would come as little surprise. Not sure what this stunt was suppose to achieve however. Indoctrination? Subconscious suggestion or hypnosis?
Whatever is going on, it's bad news for Rychel.
Author's Response: Thanks for the feedback :-D
Rychel is definitely a magnet for such things, it would seem.
Date: 14 Oct 2014 14:46 Title: Indecision
I guess we just found out who the real victim in this story is. Not Rychel but the Cardassian operative who has been turned by vile and despicable methods and now finds himself without a real choice. What a dilemma. Is there a way out for him? And if not, will Rychel have to pay a price as well. Tough questions here.
Author's Response: Dakbar's position is entirely unenviable. I think his predicament is extremely interesting, and Marian writes him really well. Thanks for the feedback! - Erin
Date: 14 Oct 2014 14:38 Title: We Both Go Down Together
Okay so she's not as innocent as I thought she was, good for her. She understands some of what's going on in Helik's head, even if it probably isn't even half of the full truth.
It's a tough spot to be in for sure, every counselor this side of Orion would no doubt advise her that trying to make this work with Helik is dangerous and foolish, but then of course the heart wants what the heart wants.
Author's Response: People often call Rychel innocent and naive, and I think to some degree that's true. She is, however, a clever girl, and I think she's more idealistic. She sees the flaws. She may not understand them, but she sees them as something that she can fix.
Thanks for the feedback!
Date: 14 Oct 2014 14:25 Title: Caring and Careless
Intense. Especially Dakbar who couldn't be more conflicted if he tried. There is genuine attraction here for a woman he shouldn't care for in the least for a number of reasons. There is his need to dominate, to triumph over her in any way but that's difficult to do when emotions get in the way.
It also doesn't help that Rychel is so geniunely honest, innocent and eager. It's endearing but also incredible reckless considering who this Cardassian truly is.
A delicious love story here with enough conflict, angst and uncertainty to make this an intriguing ride.
Author's Response: Thank you :-)
The heart wants what the heart wants, regardless of how spectacularly ill-advised it might be. It's certainly a Romeo and Juliet circumstance.
Date: 13 Oct 2014 23:04 Title: After the Fall
Wow, you actually made a chapter devoted to the triage and trauma surgeries of two characters dramatic and interesting... no small feat!
Now I'm wondering if Dakbar really threw the both of them off the precipice. Why use his body to break Rychel's fall if he intended for both of them to die? Perhaps Desan's old foe is still gunning for his enemy's little sister?
Desan's presence and that of the vedek gave the scene added emotional weight, and I appreciated how nearly everyone had to wrestle with their innate suspicions regarding Cardassians during the process.
Author's Response: I'm glad that it kept your attention (as it was a rather long chapter as well!). I was somewhat afraid that having so many character's perspectives would make the chapter clunky, but it seems to have worked out well enough. :-D
Date: 13 Oct 2014 20:20 Title: Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together
What began as a fun, flirtatious excursion planet-side has ended in what appears to be a rather rash decision by Dakbar. If he survives, I'll be interested to see what his reasoning behind the act was...
Author's Response: The downside about caring for others is that they can be used against you. But since you care... You can't just walk away. Thanks for the feedback!
Date: 10 Oct 2014 05:08 Title: The Doctor's Orders
Perhaps naively, I never suspected that the attack could have also been sexual in nature. Dakar continues to be trapped between his duty as a Starfleet officer and his undercover mission for the Obsidian Order. It seems almost certain that the doctor's samples were tampered with, potentially making the new suspect another victim of these intrigues. I'm loving this a growing conspiracy. Well done.
Author's Response: One thing that I feel like a lot of writers don't consider is that throughout history, women are often the victims of sexual assault when they participate in military or covert activities. There are a lot of forces at play that Rychel doesn't even begin to know about.
Date: 04 Oct 2014 05:01 Title: Confirmation
Dinner was awkward, though not as much so as it could have been. Dakbar’s in a tough place, having to call attention to the woman he basically attacked two nights before. Still, for the moment, he’s doing the right thing, acting as a Starfleet officer should. Rychel’s now firmly in the sights of a dangerous madman, someone who’s apparently been able to sneak onboard one of the most advanced ships in the fleet.
What a tangled web we weave…
Author's Response: Oh, definitely! The real question is: is the good that Rychel sees in Dakbar genuine, or is she just a naive woman? :-D
Date: 03 Oct 2014 05:10 Title: The Hunt for Copernicus
Interesting interactions on the bridge the day after. I enjoyed the Lower Decks nature of Rychel's perspective, swapping texts with Dakbar while the senior staff prattle on about mission particulars.
Author's Response: Thanks :-D I wondered if cutting out the "heart" of the mission would disappoint some readers, but I think this way just illustrates that both Dakbar and Rychel aren't these crazy important, perfect sort of crew members. - Erin
Date: 25 Sep 2014 05:24 Title: The Nighttime Visitor
What... in the hell... was THAT?! Aside from, you know, really genuinely creepy!
I LOVED the voice emanating from the ancient subspace radio, while Rychel was paralyzed by some unseen force. This story just keeps getting deeper and more deliciously twisted.
It's like Talon's a ship of the damned, filled with tortured souls seeking reprieve from the sins of their past.
Author's Response: *blushes* Thank you! If I recall correctly, I wrote that on Halloween (or at least some day I'd watched a bunch of horror films). Glad it had the desired effect! - Erin
Date: 24 Sep 2014 05:43 Title: We Both Go Down Together
Rychel's reactions to Dakbar's actions are conflicted to be sure, but as she states repeatedly, she knew what she was getting herself in to. I'm amazed that she is so willing to extend such grace to someone she barely knows, regardless of her physical attraction to him.
And Dakbar, to be the recipient of that kind of forgiveness from someone he may still lethally betray, one wonders how he can live with that kind of guilt.
The psychological ramifications here are as immense as they are entertaining.
Author's Response: Thinking that you know something and being able to handle it long-term are far, far different things! Thanks again for all the feedback, I really appreciate it. -Erin
Date: 23 Sep 2014 21:46 Title: Between Red Alerts
Well this is certainly an odd relationship. Dakbar In particular doesn't seem quite sure if to like Rychel or to kill her on the spot.
It's going to be very interesting to see these two people connect over the course of this story. They say opposites attract but with a Bajoran and a Cardassians that's a hard sell.
Date: 23 Sep 2014 21:43 Title: Over-exposed
Can you say awkward?
Most holodeck malfunctions tend to lead to life endangering situations. Something tells me that Dakbar would have greatly preferred one of those over what the holodeck ended up doing to him and his dignity here.
Author's Response: Hahaha, he probably would! -Erin
Date: 23 Sep 2014 02:17 Title: Caring and Careless
Ah, okay, it's making more sense now that I'm through Chapter 5. Dakbar's a torn soul serving two masters, and the Cardassian soldier within him is at war with the noble man at his core.
The psychological dance between Dakbar and Rychel continues, with the Cardassian beginning to show unexpected signs of vulnerability. However, he's a man with a mission, and the Obsidian Order is a harsh and demanding master... I don't envy him the compromises to come.
As for Rychel, she promises to be an innocent victim of his intrigues. When and if she burns, he will be truly damned, for he'll have killed someone he genuinely cared for.
Damn. Just... damn.
Author's Response: Marian writes Dakbar's conflicted nature exceedingly well. It's awesome to be able to write Rychel against him. They are at once uniquely suited for one another... and the bane of each other's existences. -Erin
Date: 22 Sep 2014 01:42 Title: Between Red Alerts
I'm up through Chapter 3 so far, and I'm finding this a fascinating character play. There's a romantic, titillating aspect to this unlikely courtship, but it's complicated by Dakbar's ingrained paranoia. The fact that he went as far as to drug Rychel's drink, and can caress her neck while a part of him clinically analyzes snapping it, suggests that Dakbar is far more complicated and conflicted than he appears.
You've certainly caught my attention!
Author's Response: Yeah; Dakbar is truly a conflicted and conflicting character... and this is just the beginning :-D