wabbit's warren

New Fic: Sleepless

jackwabbit — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:04:28 GMT

Sleepless

Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rated: R for language only.
Category: Drabble. Ilya focus.
Time Frame: During episode five, “I’ll Believe in Anything”. Ilya. After he says good night – to Shane.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific/General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: You know how your brain replays every word you said during the day when you try to go to sleep at night? And how it then makes you obsess about if said something wrong? No? Lucky you. You’ve got a step up on me – and Ilya.

---

A/N: Please, please, please no book spoilers.

---

Ilya had said it again.

The one word that had haunted him for so long, even before it ruined everything.

And it hadn’t been an accident this time.

He’d said it very much on purpose.

And so far, things seemed ok.

But he couldn’t be sure.

And that old, familiar fear was back, coiling deep in his stomach.

He wanted someone (no, not someone – Shane – and there was that fucking word again) to tell him it was ok. That they were ok.

To that end, he started to text countless times.

But he never sent anything.

He also never slept.

New Fic: There's Always a Bigger Fish

jackwabbit — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:42:20 GMT

There’s Always a Bigger Fish

Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rated: PG
Category: Drabble. Ilya focus.
Time Frame: After episode four, “Rose”, but before episode five, “I’ll Believe in Anything”. Or so.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific/General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: No matter how good you are, there’s always someone better.

---

A/N: Please, please, please no book spoilers.

---

Ilya was well acquainted with losing.

Even with his talent and skills, you didn’t get to his level of play without some bitter disappointments along the way.

So he’d long since learned he couldn’t win all the time.

But he’d always been competitive.

He’d always been able to at least score a few goals.

And not just on the ice.

When he wanted something – or for that matter, someone – he’d always at least had a shot.

Until now.

Because he couldn’t compete with her.

And he had no idea how to even play when he wasn’t in the same league.

New Fic: The Devil You Know

jackwabbit — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:57:50 GMT

The Devil You Know

Fandom: Heated Rivalry (TV)
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Ilya focus.
Time Frame: Within Episode Four, “Rose”, when Iyla first finds out.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific/General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: Most people probably thought Ilya was jealous, but he knew better.

---

A/N: Please, please, please no book spoilers.

---

Ilya had known jealousy before.

Not often, but enough to recognize it.

And jealousy was his heart clawing its way out of his chest. Ripping and tearing and wailing to be set free. Jealousy was action, and so demanding that he couldn’t feel anything else.

This was different.

This was his heart at his feet. Sodden and quiet and still. Oh so very still.

And though he was loath to admit it, though he’d been trained from birth to ignore it, Ilya knew what this was too – and it was far more familiar.

This was fear.

And he felt everything.

New Fic: Reading Comprehension

jackwabbit — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 20:28:16 GMT

Reading Comprehension

Fandom: Stranger Things
Rated: PG
Category: Double Drabble. Steve Focus. Steve and Robin Friendship.
Time Frame: After season three, before season four.
Spoilers: Season Three, “The Bite.”
Summary: Steve educates himself. And his mom isn’t quite as bad as we think.

---

For once, he had nothing going on.

There were no monsters or mind-controlled high school students demanding his attention.

And Dustin hadn’t called. Not in a few hours, anyway.

So he had a minute.

Which is why Steve Harrington was frantically digging through the boxes in the back of his closet.

He knew it was back there – somewhere.

Finally, he found it, wedged between an old baseball card price guide and a yearbook.

His first Playboy.

He opened it immediately. He flipped past the pictures that had so tantalized him when he’d first traded Johnny for it years ago, searching each page intensely.

And there it was.

A half-remembered article, titled “When Love Doesn’t Go the Way You Think.”

He bent the cover back, sat back against the wall, and started reading.

When he finished, he read it again.

Then he got up, tossed the still-open magazine on his bed, and left the house for a long walk.

When he came home, he’d come to terms with the fact that Robin was a lesbian.

And if his mom, on a rare day she actually checked in on him, wondered why her son was reading about homosexuality, she never mentioned it.

---

A/N: I’ve written before about Playboy teaching Steve about homosexuality. And I’ve done the deep dive to find out when Playboy first started covering it (long before the eighties). But I used the creative license I got out of a Cracker Jack box when I was six for the article title, etc, here. And I’m okay with that. As for Steve reading this in an actual closet, and anything else he might have learned from the article, I leave that to your imagination.

New Fic: Just This Side of Paradise

jackwabbit — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 21:22:41 GMT

Just This Side of Paradise

Fandom: Star Wars Skeleton Crew
Rated: G
Category: Vignette. Slice of Life. Wim Focus.
Word Count: 863.
Time Frame: Post-Series (but only by a bit, probably – Wim is still quite young).
Spoilers: Nothing Specific/General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: At Attin isn’t paradise. But some days, it’s enough.

---

Wim sat in the uncomfortable chair and tapped his foot nervously, then looked around for what seemed like the millionth time.

But this time, things were different.

A door cracked open this time.

And a droid stepped through.

“Next,” called the droid, gesturing to Wim.

Wim wiped his suddenly sweaty palms on his trousers, then stood.

He took a deep breath and followed the droid back into the room it had come from.

He understood why this was necessary. And why they still had to do it this way, even with all the technology at their disposal.

But that didn’t help his nerves.

Every year, this test made him anxious.

But now, it was so much worse than before.

Because now, he had so much more to lose. His genetics hadn’t changed, but his dreams had.

And he couldn’t fly an X-Wing if his dad passed on his bad vision. At least that’s what he’d heard.

A moment later, sitting in a different chair, his eyes filled with tears – because his vision had been blurry before they’d come. He’d tried, so hard, to read the smallest line, or even the one in the middle. He’d willed the letters to just come into focus, if only for a moment.

And they hadn’t.

Wim started to cry.

The droid, clearly trained for this type of thing (though not very well), patted him on the shoulder.

“There, there,” it said.

But Wim would have none of it. He was embarrassed now on top of his failure, and the tears wouldn’t stop. He didn’t even notice when a door to his right opened and a human man stepped through.

Suddenly, a warm hand replaced the droid’s on his shoulder, and a gentle voice said, “What’s wrong, son?”

“They were blurry,” sputtered Wim. “They were blurry and I couldn’t see them right and now I don’t know what to do and…”

“Whoa, slow down. It’s ok. So they were blurry. So what? We can fix that.”

Wim sniffed and wiped a hand across his face, calming somewhat.

“But I can’t wear specs!”

The man blinked. “Who said anything about spectacles?”

Now it was Wim’s turn to blink. “Well, that’s how you fix it, right? Specs? I have to wear them now?”

A slow smiled spread across the man’s face.

“Well,” he drawled, “ you can if you want to, and some people do, but you don’t have to. Most don’t.”

Wim stared at the man.

“What?” he asked.

The man’s grin grew sly as he took in Wim’s flight style jacket. Then he nodded toward the patches representing various New Republic ships.

“Which one you like?”

Wim looked down at his sleeve, realizing after a moment what the man had meant.

He beamed despite the situation.

“The X-Wing!” he nearly shouted.

“Excellent choice,” said the man. “Now, I know what they say about flying and eyesight. That’s my job, after all. Well, eyesight, not flying. Obviously. And you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”

Wim’s eyes widened.

“I can still fly if I can’t see?” he asked, completely flabbergasted.

The man laughed.

“Oh, I didn’t say that! Pretty important to be able to see what you’re shooting at, don’t you think?”

Wim deflated.

“Yes, sir,” he muttered.

“But between you and me,” said the man, leaning in close to Wim, “I know a few Republic pilots who wear special visors to help with vision. At least until they get the surgery.”

“The what?” asked Wim, looking lost.

“Son, you’ve been hidden away on At Attin a long, long time. In a lot of ways, that was good. But you missed a lot, and not all of it was bad. I know you know more than most about that. But you’ve still got a lot of catching up to do. And this? This is nothing. I can fix your eyesight in nearly the time it takes you to blink.”

Wim’s eyes grew wide again, and he nearly shouted at the man.

“Do it now!”

“Now, hold on,” answered the man. “We have to ask your dad if it’s okay. If so, we’ll do it right now. If not, or if we can’t reach him, we’ll fit you for specs today and you can do it later. Is that okay?”

Wim nodded.

A moment later, Wendle had agreed, and Wim had the procedure.

Then he retook the test, and he aced it.

And then he was on his way, smiling broadly.

Behind him, an old optical technician shook his head. But he was smiling too.

He’d been on At Attin for one standard rotation – similar to a year on his own planet – and he still couldn’t get used to the dichotomy of it.

It was nearly paradise, but they couldn’t fix a child’s vision – and it had never occurred to them to try.

There were days when he wondered why he took this job, or even did it to begin with.

And then there were days like today.

He didn’t know if young Wim would fly an X-Wing. There was so much more to that than vision, after all. One day, the boy’s dream might die.

But not today.

Not today.

New Fic: Being Human

jackwabbit — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:45:16 GMT

Being Human

Fandom: MacGyver (2016)
Rated: G
Category: Double Drabble. Matty and Jack Friendship.
Time Frame: Season Two, Right After “X-Ray Plus Penny”
Spoilers: Nothing specific, but knowing the events of “X-Ray Plus Penny” helps. Or just assume Mac has gotten himself into (and out of) trouble, Jack still blames himself, and Matty’s not having it. The usual.
Summary: Jack is tough as nails. Matty is tougher than that. And yet…
Disclaimer: I own several Swiss Army knives, and I think I have a paper clip around here somewhere.
Note: Companion piece to “Filed Away,” but can be read alone.

---

“So. Mac’s safe. You ready to talk about it?”

“Talk about what?”

Raised eyebrows and a stare were the only answer.

“Oh, that.”

“Yeah, that.”

“I mean, not really?”

“Jack…”

Jack looked away, shook his head slightly, then huffed out the smallest snort.

“We fought, Matty.”

Matty nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“He’s just a kid, and we fought, and then…”

And then the tears came.

Matty didn’t argue that MacGyver wasn’t a child or make any of the other roughly twenty logical arguments that came to mind.

She just held him.

She held him as he babbled incoherently using words like “what if” and “lost” and “fault”.

She held him until he was done; until he’d put himself back into some semblance of order and was pacing the office while looking anywhere but at her; until he mumbled “appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone about this” at nearly the same time as she said “this stays between us, then?”

And never had two human beings been so grateful that the office glass was set to opaque.

Because a crying Jack Dalton and a comforting Matty Webber were indeed human.

But that didn’t mean they had to like it.

New Fic: Filed Away

jackwabbit — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:35:50 GMT

Filed Away

Fandom: MacGyver (2016)
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Matty Webber POV. Matty and Jack Friendship. Team.
Time Frame: Season Two, During “X-Ray Plus Penny”
Spoilers: “X-Ray Plus Penny”
Summary: Like it or not, Matty Webber Knows Jack Dalton. And this will have to be addressed. Later.
Disclaimer: I own several Swiss Army knives, and I think I have a paper clip around here somewhere.
Note: Companion piece to “Being Human,” but can be read alone.

----

Matty Webber and Jack Dalton went back a long way.

The specifics of that didn’t matter right now, but she knew this man.

And she’d never seen him like this.

Not after losing operatives, not after nearly dying, not even after his dad died.

But now wasn’t the time to dig deeper into that.

Now was a time for action.

So she told him (truthfully) that this wasn’t his fault and sent him to do what he did best: get the bad guy.

That hadn’t happened.

But somehow, they had MacGyver back, and that was all that mattered.

For now.

New Fic: Son of Asgard

jackwabbit — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 18:03:51 GMT

Son of Asgard

Fandom: Loki (Marvel, TV)
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Sylki If You Squint. Asgardian Culture. Sylvie POV.
Time Frame: Occurs During S1, E3 (“Lamentis”), specifically the bar scene.
Spoilers: “Lamentis”, general series knowledge.
Summary: He could deny it all he wanted, but Loki Laufeyson was very much an Odinson.

---

Sylvie didn’t remember much of Asgard.

But she did remember her brother.

Her loud, annoying brother, who made stupid mistakes and stupider jokes.

And right now, she was reminded of his most obnoxious nights.

She sighed. She’d completely forgotten about Asgardian celebrations, and would’ve been happy to leave it that way. They’d driven her crazy.

She’d never known exactly why, but that didn’t matter.

What mattered was the one-man version happening right in front of her.

Because he’d deny it all day, but that changed nothing.

This Loki, her Loki (and wasn’t that a terrifying thought?!), was undoubtedly Thor’s brother.

---

A/N: I know we don’t actually know if Sylvie had a Thor in her timeline/reality, but I’m once again evoking the creative license I got out of a Cracker Jack box when I was six.

New Fic: Informed Consent

jackwabbit — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:00:55 GMT

Informed Consent

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Janeway.
Time Frame: Post season one/open.
Spoilers: General Prodigy and Voyager only. Nothing specific. Perhaps “Supernova, Part Two.”
Summary: She knew what she was getting into, and it wasn’t good. But that wasn’t going to stop her.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “boldly go.”

----

The Kazon.

The Vidiians.

Species 8472.

The Hirogen.

The Borg.

And now, the Vau N’Akat.

They were all out there.

So were the unique fears and anxieties that came with being the first Starfleet Captain to be stranded in the Delta Quadrant – and the only one to return so far.

She stood on the bridge, feet wide and hands on her hips, and took a deep breath, in and out.

No one in their right mind would go back there.

Not with all of that waiting for them.

But Chakotay was out there, too.

And so she would go.

Boldly.

New Fic: Creature Comforts

jackwabbit — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 18:45:02 GMT

Creature Comforts

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Chakotay.
Time Frame: Season One/Open.
Spoilers: Very general series knowledge for Prodigy, Voyager, and somewhat DS9. Nothing specific.
Summary: Chakotay didn’t have it all that often. But when he did, he wanted the good stuff.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Chakotay.”

----

He’d sometimes daydream of home.

It was like Voyager all over again – except this time, he had nothing.

There was no replicator to make favorite foods.

And since they kept him separate from his crew, there was no company.

It was just him.

And his thoughts.

So he’d make lists of things he’d do if he ever saw Earth again

The first item never changed: follow Kathryn’s example and never come near this wretched quadrant again.

The second varied.

But today, he knew exactly what it was.

He’d have a cup of coffee.

No, forget that.

He’d have a raktajino.

New Fic: Predator

jackwabbit — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 21:44:54 GMT

Predator

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: Light PG
Category: Drabble. Caitian Prisoner.
Time Frame: Season One. Set within “A Moral Star, Part Two.”
Spoilers: “A Moral Star, Part Two.”
Summary: Some things are just instinct. Others are done very much on purpose.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Drednok.”

----

She didn’t have much experience with them.

After all, she hadn’t had a normal childhood, filled with trees and games and play.

No, her life thus far had been steel and glass and anything but play.

So they hadn’t done her much good.

Still, she knew how to use them.

Every Caitian did.

And at a time like this, their emergence might seem almost involuntary – but it was not. Not for her. This was very much intentional.

A moment later, the Drednok was dead, and her claws were resheathed.

She’d killed it.

And given the chance, she’d do it again.

New Fic: Motivation

jackwabbit — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 15:34:48 GMT

Motivation

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. The Diviner. Backstory Speculation.
Time Frame: Season One/During “Supernova, Part One”.
Spoilers: General series knowledge only. Occurs during “Supernova, Part One”.
Summary: What does it take for a Starfleet supporter to become a member of The Order? And what might turn him back around again? Time, circumstances, and blood, perhaps?
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “The Diviner.” And the random word prompt of “woman” – it’s a stretch, but it’s there thematically.

----

He couldn’t save her.

He found her, but not in time.

And she died.

So he joined The Order.

He’d supported Starfleet at first.

But her loss pushed him over the edge. Blame was a powerful force, and he knew just where to put his.

And the rest was history.

Literally.

He’d travelled back in time, and despite it taking years, he was about to accomplish his mission.

There was no barrier he could not overcome.

Except…

Gwyndala.

She stared at him, and his mind was made up.

Forget the mission.

He’d failed his sister.

He wouldn’t fail his daughter.

----

A/N: I know The Diviner left Gwyn for dead in “Terror Firma”, but he’s not the same Diviner by the time we reach “Supernova”. That’s why he chose a different path the second time around. So even though the loss of his OC sister here would have been present in both situations, he would respond to it differently, as he’s not the same guy. I think, perhaps, a little of Gwyn’s not trading one tragedy for another idea got through to him. At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

New Fic: Eternal

jackwabbit — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 15:32:06 GMT

Eternal

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Chakotay. Very Slight J/C Angst. It’s A Little Cheesy, But So Is Chakotay.
Time Frame: Season One/Open.
Spoilers: General series knowledge for Prodigy and Voyager, and “Resolutions” from Voyager too.
Summary: Chakotay is just trying to hang on, any way he can. Fortunately, he has a little help.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “hope.”

----

Chakotay thought of her every day.

And not in a romantic way, though he frankly wouldn’t have been opposed to that.

After all, his feelings hadn’t changed since the angry warrior debacle – not really, anyway. Sure, he’d experimented with other alliances, but in the end, it was always her.

Just like now.

Now, when it wasn’t romance at all that brought her to mind, but something far more important.

Something she’d always represented to him, and always would.

Something he needed now more than ever.

So he conjured her face in his mind and held on.

To Kathryn.

To hope.

New Fic: Ghost

jackwabbit — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:22:57 GMT

Ghost

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Double Drabble. Janeway. Hints of J/C if you read it that way.
Time Frame: Season One.
Spoilers: General knowledge for Prodigy and Voyager only.
Summary: It was a ghost in the machine – only it wasn’t. Companion piece to “Recycled”.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Holo-Janeway.”

----

Admiral Janeway had not spent any significant time on the Protostar.

As Chakotay’s former captain and a Starfleet darling, she’d been there for the christening and commissioning, of course, but that was about it.

So when Holo-Janeway discovered a particular holodeck program, her brown knit in confusion.

How was this here?

Why was it here?

Never one to turn down a mystery, she opened the holodeck use logs, thinking that was the first step in figuring this out.

As soon as she did, she closed her eyes. She let out a holographic breath, then slowly smiled.

Of course.

This was no mystery after all, though it was both endearing and heartbreaking.

Chakotay.

Chakotay had done this.

He’d uploaded the files, and he’d visited Lake George.

Many times, from the looks of it.

Janeway could only hope he’d found her old stomping grounds comforting on his journey.

And come to think of it, she knew another captain who could use some comfort.

She’d introduce Dal to the lake later.

But for now, she sat.

If only for a moment, she’d enjoy this.

Hologram or no, she could appreciate beauty.

And for just a moment, she’d remember what she wasn’t supposed to.

New Fic: Recycled

jackwabbit — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:11:44 GMT

Recycled

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Quadruple Drabble. Dal. Found Family.
Time Frame: Season One.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific. Small Voyager Reference.
Summary: Dal had been a scavenger for a long time. So he recognized treasure when he found it. Companion piece to “Ghost”.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “holodeck.”

----

Dal grinned.

He’d been planning this for weeks, and finally, it was time.

He had to admit he’d been skeptical at first.

Having each member of the crew show off their favorite holodeck program (other than whatever one they’d already been subjected to when the holodeck malfunctioned to trap them) seemed like a waste of time, and more than a bit too personal for his tastes.

But Janeway had said it would boost morale and the others had seemed to like the idea, so he’d agreed.

He’d drawn the last rotation, which suited him fine. It had given him more time to find something suitable. But eventually he’d found what he thought was the perfect program, so now that it was his turn, he was excited to show it off.

The others were on time for once, and they were gathered around him in the holodeck, so it was now or never.

Here goes nothing, he thought.

“Computer,” he said aloud. “Load Dal Crew Program One Point Three.”

“One point three?” asked Jankom.

“It took a few tries to get it just right,” said Dal, shushing him.

A moment later, the crew was surrounded by clear water, towering trees, and rolling mountains.

“It’s beautiful,” cooed Rok and Zero simultaneously as Murf chirped at Dal’s feet.

“Where is it?” asked Gwyn.

“This,” said Dal proudly, “is Lake George.”

“Is it Earth?” asked Jankom.

Dal nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, it’s Earth.”

“I like it,” said Jankom, “but is it just for looking at, or…”

He trailed off, and Dal chuckled. “Well, it’s nice to just sit sometimes, but there’s plenty to do. Here, let me show you.”

Dal then pointed out the boats, hiking trails, and recreational areas scattered about the lake.

They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring. Rok learned about birdwatching. Zero took an interest in the mountains. Dal and Gwyn sailed out to a rocky island and back. And who knew Tellarites liked to swim so much?

All in all, it was a lovely day, and when it was over, Dal smiled as he laid down in bed.

He hadn’t told the crew how he’d come across Lake George, but in the end, he didn’t think it mattered.

Still, he wanted to acknowledge it now.

“Thanks, Janeway,” he muttered.

Then he turned over and slept.

And if a holographic adviser gently smiled somewhere in the matrix, so be it.

New Fic: Upgrade

jackwabbit — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:49:36 GMT

Upgrade

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Double Drabble. Jankom.
Time Frame: Post Season One/Open.
Spoilers: General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: Sure, in some ways it’d be an upgrade, but in others, not so much.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Jankom Pog.”

----

Jankom banged on the housing with his prosthetic.

Its current hammer was clumsy and crude, but it got the job done.

The housing came open, then Jankom switched tools to carefully reach inside to remove the broken conduit. As he set it down on the deck, he chuckled.

Because just that morning, he’d had his bimonthly required medical exam.

So they’d asked him – again.

And he’d said no – again.

Sure, sometimes he was tempted.

After all, they had the technology, and it certainly would’ve been less conspicuous.

But he’d never go through with it.

Jankom slid a new conduit into the now-empty slot, lined up the housing again, and swapped back to his hammer. A few well-placed blows later, the housing was back in place. Jankom picked up the broken conduit, and using his “good” hand, tossed it up in the air once and caught it. Then he started down the hall, grinning as he did so.

He’d admit that being “all natural”, as it were, had its appeal.

But he’d just completed a conduit repair with no tools other than his body.

So when the docs asked, his answer was always: Thanks, but no thanks.

He’d keep his multi-mitt.

New Fic: Parameters

jackwabbit — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:39:04 GMT

Parameters

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Rok.
Time Frame: Season One.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific.
Summary: The problem with parameters is that there are always outliers.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “uniforms.” And the random word prompt of "allocation."

----

The replicator chimed.

And not its happy, “I’m done” chime, but its angry “there’s a problem” chime.

Rok sighed.

No matter how many workarounds she tried, or how often Jankom played with it, this still happened.

She’d even had Janeway try to fix it.

But it wouldn’t even listen to the resident hologram.

So once again, she used Dal’s codes (everyone knew them by now) to override the system’s limitations.

“Allocation exceeded, my big red butt,” she said, punching in the numbers.

A moment later, the replicator continued its task.

And eventually, despite its protests, Rok had a new uniform.

New Fic: Pros and Cons

jackwabbit — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:49:06 GMT

Pros and Cons

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Zero.
Time Frame: Post-Supernova, Part Two/Open.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific.
Summary: Being Medusan has its challenges, but it’s not all bad.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Zero.”

----

Zero loved learning new things.

Though that was frankly sometimes hard, when the hive mind had known so much.

Still, Earth was all new.

As was its history.

So Zero had plenty to explore in the Academy archives.

Today’s takeway?

That despite its unique issues, being Medusan had some serious advantages.

Because while his own people had had their share of troubles, basing laws on such trivial matters as skin color, sex, or gender (whatever that even was) seemed insane.

Zero was glad humans had moved beyond that, but still, the evidence was clear.

Non-corporeal was the way to go.

New Fic: Redefined

jackwabbit — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:47:24 GMT

Redefined

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Double Drabble. Gwyn. Found Family.
Time Frame: Season One/Open.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific.
Summary: What’s in a name, anyway? Actually, quite a bit, as it turns out.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Gwyn.”

----

It was almost always “my progeny”, or even just “progeny.”

She hated that.

It was so… biologic.

It was a definition.

Not a name.

On the rare occasions her father or others (usually a Drednok) used her given name, she liked it.

Gwyndala was pretty. It sounded regal.

And it was hers.

No, it was her.

Or at least she thought so.

Until a group of misfits took it upon themselves to shorten it.

She hadn’t liked that at first.

Now, anything other than Gwyn sounded wrong.

She wasn’t sure when that happened, and she couldn’t remember why she’d ever cared.

Because of course that would be the case – for so many reasons.

One, it wasn’t basic biology (of a kind she didn’t even like to think about), which counted for a lot. Two, she heard it more in a week than she’d heard her full name in her whole life, which meant more. And three, it had been given to her by her crew – her family – which was everything.

Because she wasn’t just a progeny, the offspring of a desperate man.

She wasn’t even Gwyndala, an untouchable princess.

No, she was a member of this crew.

She was Gwyn.

New Fic: Come From Away

jackwabbit — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:45:51 GMT

Come From Away

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Janeway.
Time Frame: Post Season One/Open.
Spoilers: General Knowledge for Prodigy and Voyager. Nothing Specific.
Summary: Usually, an away mission implies leaving the ship. This time, things were different, but it was still about as away as one could get.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “away mission.”

----

They all knew the risks.

Some more than others, but they were all Starfleet.

And weird was part of the job – as was danger.

Still, she knew this particular scenario better than anyone else on the bridge.

She took a deep breath, then nodded.

“Take us into the wormhole,” she ordered.

The helmsman obeyed, fingers only barely hesitating.

And just like that, they were all on the away team.

Literally.

This was a different type of away mission to be sure, but it was about as away as one could get.

And she had only one thought:

We’re coming, Chakotay.

New Fic: Carousel

jackwabbit — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:44:05 GMT

Carousel

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Janeway.
Time Frame: During “Supernova, Part Two”.
Spoilers: “Supernova, Parts One and Two”, General Voyager and Prodigy Knowledge.
Summary: Life is like a carousel. You have to go down before you go up.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “The Protostar.”

----

She always thought if she found the Protostar, she’d find him.

But now, the Protostar was gone.

And with it, any chance of finding him.

It wasn’t fair.

Which she’d learned long ago. But still – how could the same person experience both sides of this?

First, being lost .

And then, losing someone in much the same way.

It wasn’t right.

And the last thing Kathryn wanted was to sit through yet another briefing about it.

Especially once she heard his voice.

That was just cruel.

But then, the words were new.

And that’s all it took.

Admiral Janeway was back.

New Fic: Master and Commander

jackwabbit — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 17:00:08 GMT

Master and Commander

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Triple Drabble. Janeway. Dal. Found Family. Comfort. Chakotay Doesn't Get Enough Credit.
Time Frame: Post Season One/Open.
Spoilers: General series knowledge for Prodigy and Voyager. Nothing specific.
Summary: Janeway has been in command for a long time, but even she can learn things from a master.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Admiral Janeway.”

----

She worried about him.

Sure, things looked great on the surface.

But she knew what it was like to be alone, even when surrounded by others.

Her situation had been different, and to be fair, at least partially her own fault, but still – she’d been alone for a long time in the Delta Quadrant, despite the presence of her crew.

Command, after all, was isolating.

But not as isolating as literally being one of a kind.

And “illegal” to boot.

So, she worried about him – especially when he was short with his crewmates, like he’d been earlier that day.

Which is why she was outside his door at nineteen hundred hours.

With ice cream.

And not replicator-produced ice cream, but the good stuff – with real milk.

She pressed the chime, and a moment later, the door opened.

On the other side, Dal looked annoyed.

“Jankom, I told you, I…”

He trailed off when he saw her.

“Admiral Janeway! Sorry, I… I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Clearly,” said Janeway, smirking slightly. “Sorry to drop by unannounced, but I thought you might like to help me get rid of this before Doctor Noum tries to take it away.”

“Ice cream?” Dal’s eyes lit up.

Janeway’s smirk grew. “You know it.”

“I’ll get the bowls.”

Janeway laughed and followed Dal to his dining area.

An hour later, Janeway bid her charge good night and headed back to her quarters.

She smiled softly as she walked.

Dal had seemed more himself by the time she left.

She should’ve known the ice cream would work.

After all, she’d learned that trick from a master.

One she would find again.

But for now, all she could do was think of him.

She entered her quarters, crossed to the viewport, and whispered to the stars.

“Thank you, Chakotay."

New Fic: Singular

jackwabbit — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:44:46 GMT

Singular

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Drabble. Dal. Angst.
Time Frame: Post Season One/Open.
Spoilers: General Series Knowledge Only.
Summary: There’s nothing worse than being alone – especially if you’re surrounded by others.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Dal.” And the random word prompt “central.”

----

He’d always wanted to know.

It was a central part of his being.

That, and trying to escape Tars Lamora.

And now, he’d somehow accomplished both.

He was on Earth, which was beautiful.

And he knew what he was.

Finally.

So he should’ve been happy.

Trouble was, knowing didn’t actually help anything.

Because he wasn’t like the others.

He wasn’t Tellarite, like Jankom.

Or Brikar, like Rok.

Or Vau N’Akat, like Gwyn.

He wasn’t even a Mellanoid Slime Worm, like Murf, though he sometimes wished he was.

And he certainly wasn’t human.

He was just Dal.

And that wasn’t great.

New Fic: Downtime

jackwabbit — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 03:13:41 GMT

Downtime

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Double Drabble. Janeway. Found Family.
Time Frame: Post Season One.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific. General series knowledge through the end of the season.
Summary: Janeway gets some well-deserved downtime. Too bad it won’t last.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “Rok-Tahk.” With the help of a random word generator giving me “extension,” because I had nothing for that broad of a prompt.

----

Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway sighed into her coffee.

She was sitting at her desk in her office, and for once, it was blissfully quiet.

She took a small sip and savored both the taste and the silence.

She’d enjoy both while she could.

Because she knew this wouldn’t last.

Doctor Noum would complain about the coffee, as always.

And surely one of her newest warrant officers would raise some sort of ruckus soon enough.

After all, she’d just come from cleaning up yet another mess one of them had made, and she knew wouldn’t be long until another came her way.

This time, Rok had been trying to determine the exact point at which Murf could no longer stretch.

She hadn’t figured that out, exactly, but she had managed to mostly destroy cargo bay two – or at least any semblance of organization it once had.

Who knew what she would try to learn next?

And what type of messes, both literal and figurative, that might cause?

Janeway chuckled.

She wouldn’t worry about that now.

She’d just cross that bridge when she came to it.

Because the Brikar was part of her crew.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

New Fic: Lower Decks

jackwabbit — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:53:53 GMT

Lower Decks

Fandom: Star Trek Prodigy
Rated: G
Category: Triple Drabble. Rok. Original Characters.
Time Frame: Post Season One/Open.
Spoilers: Nothing Specific.
Summary: This is a follow-up story to “Double Trouble.” Same events, from a different perspective.
Note: Written for the Thirty Days of Prodigy prompt of “OCs.”

----

Lieutenant Frasier was the lowest-ranking dentist on board.

Which was probably why he’d ended up doing a root canal on a Klingon targ in the middle of ship’s night. Still, it wasn’t all bad. The patient was completely anesthetized, so it wasn’t complaining, unlike so many of his more bipedal patients. And at least it had a good reason for its injury. Self defense and all. Or its best shot at self defense, anyway.

“Guess it won’t do that again,” he murmured.

“Nope,” agreed Lieutenant Hamata, the lowest-ranking anesthetist on board.

“How’s the kid, anyway?” asked Frasier.

“Feeling bad for the targ,” answered Hamata, “but otherwise fine.”

“No damage?”

“None.”

“Gotta love that particular physiology.”

“Yep.”

“And hopefully she learned something too.”

Hamata snorted. “Yeah. Don’t get gored by the wildlife.”

“Even if you’ve got rocks for skin.”

“I’m just glad she wasn’t hurt, and that we can fix this easily enough.”

“Yeah,” agreed Fraiser. “All’s well that ends well.”

“Yep. Two lessons in one. Or something like that.”

“Exactly. And I’m done here. You good?”

“Sure,” said Hamata, “I can wake him up any time.”

Twenty minutes later, the targ was awake and had been transported back to the wildlife refuge where it lived. Shortly after that, Lieutenants Frasier and Hamata were back in their bunks, soundly asleep.

The next day, they’d have a story of a targ that made the very bad choice to try to gore a Brikar, and a kid who learned to respect wildlife, as it has no respect for you, in the very luckiest way possible.

They’d give lots of details that would be embellished with each retelling, of course, but it all boiled down to two points. One, don’t try to eat rocks. And two, never get too close to a sleeping targ.

----

A/N: It used to bother me that doctors on Star Trek ships treat animals. Where are the veterinarians? Trust me, you do not want a physician treating your pets. Then it occurred to me that Trek doctors already treat multiple species due to treating Humans, Vulcans, Tellarites, Klingons, etc. So, perhaps they’re already qualified? Perhaps they aren’t really physicians at all, but essentially veterinarians? Which leads to the whole head canon I have explaining that, as it doesn’t make sense given the current trajectory of human medicine and litigation matters. If things kept going as they are, by the 24^th Century, doctors would treat just your pinkie toe. There would be separate people for every part of you, never mind every species. So, something had to change. In my mind, suffice to say it involves WWIII and targeted weapons. Yeah, it’s a whole thing, but I do believe there aren’t enough doctors in Trek to go around. They have to be all things to all species, like vets, because they have no choice. That’s the only way to make it less offensive, so it works for me. Oh, and there’s no way a higher-up is getting up for this.