The following is a short vignette based on my uber story Shattered Time. It was originally written for an author’s challenge a few years ago and hasn’t seen the light of day since.

Ronan Lee, a police detective for the Order, stood up in frustration. Dragging a hand through her long blonde hair the willowy woman stared down at the pictures on her desk. For two months a serial killer had run rampant in the streets of Berlin, mimicking the slaying of a 20^th century American actress.

In 2375 the era of the New World Order was dark with violent crime and the odor of the unwashed homeless masses. A virulent contagion of society. Even Mother Nature seemed to have given up on humanity; the skies were a constant dull gray with moisture heavy in the air. Many times Ronan thought the police and military were the only ones fighting against the mindless crime, and casual disregard for human life. Although it was their job, it would have been nice to have some help once in a while.

She looked again at the photos on her desk struck by the beauty of a woman that had lived more than three hundred years ago. Kate Williams must have been in her late thirties when she was killed. In the photo her shoulder length auburn hair captured the sunlight and her blue-gray eyes twinkled in merriment. She had been a small woman, no more than 5’3 and very slender. Ronan’s fascination with her when she began researching the case had quickly turned into obsession.

This is ridiculous, she thought. How can I be in love with someone that I’ve never met? Someone who is dead?

But she was. She was also stumped by this case. In frustration she slapped the folder closed and looked up at her partner, Martin Angstrom.

"I’m taking a break," she informed him. "I think I’ll take a walk around the block."

From the signs of strain around her eyes Angstrom decided that some time off would do her good. She had been working almost around the clock and maybe some rest would help clear her mind. "Why don’t you just take the rest of the day off?" he suggested in the perfect German of an educated man. "Some sleep will help you see things more clearly, and I can keep the lieutenant updated in your absence."

It took only a moment for her to nod her in agreement.

She still needed the release of exercise and opted against the public transportation. Her apartment was only a few blocks from the Establishment. Lost in thought she walked past the shops, ignoring the trash billowing through the streets and the humidity that plastered her hair against her scalp.

Ronan stood in front of the window for long moments before she realized she was standing in front of an antique shop. A Tiffany lamp had caught her wandering eye and she glanced around the deserted street before stepping into the shop.

Everything was covered in a fine layer of dust including the bare boards on the floor. A narrow strip of old-fashioned fluorescent lights dimly lit the single-room store. Ignoring the smell of damp rot she wandered throughout the room touching a knickknack here and there.

When the bell sounded in the back letting him know that a customer had entered, the shopkeeper quickly walked out front. Business was slow even as cheaply as his merchandise was marked. The sight of his customer caused the stooped and palsied old man’s heart to quiver in excitement. From the looks of this one she had money!

The stranger was almost six feet tall and very slender. Her pale features, blonde hair and blue gaze belied her as a true Teutonic Valkyrie; one of the elite. Nothing about her was dark, sly or suspect. Icy eyes turned to regard him passively, almost like she wasn’t really seeing him.

"May I help you with anything?" he asked hoarsely as he rubbed his twisted hands together.

She casually brushed off the hunched figure that reminded her of Quasimoto by saying, "Just browsing."

She forgot about him instantly when she reached the back of the old shop. Books and junk alike filled the shelves that covered the walls there. Most of it was broken, twisted or completely useless, but one thing did catch her eye. Reaching through the heavy veil of cobwebs Ronan ignored the spider that scurried away and picked up an old A.M.P.A.S. Award statue. The Oscar® was heavily tarnished, obviously quite old, and she could barely make out the words on the small plaque at the base.

"Best Actress in a …Leading Role." She made out through squinted eyes. Then the name etched below caught her attention and she gasped aloud in surprise. "Kate Williams?"

It can’t be! Turning the figure over she noticed the ridiculously low price marked on the object and knew she had to have it.

Ronan pressed a bill into the shopkeeper’s greedy hands without looking to see what it was, but she knew she had greatly overpaid by his astounded look.

Heading straight for her apartment Ronan didn’t notice anyone or anything other than the object she held. As soon as she walked in the door she dropped her keycard on the hall table and headed for the reclamator. The device would clear the centuries of tarnish and grime from the object making it shine like new.

Ronan tapped her foot impatiently for the few seconds it took to clean the bust and fairly snatched it from the reclamator when the bell went off. She smiled as she took in its sparkling appearance, turning it over carefully to look for any damage. A small chip on the back of the base caught her attention.

The reclamator must have done it, she decided unhappily.

She pressed her thumbnail into the indention and she felt a small click. Her eyes widened in shock as the base suddenly twisted in her hands and a bright light went off, causing her to slam her eyes shut against the glare.

I have to be hallucinating; she thought when she opened her eyes.

Ronan was standing in a narrow walkway with the sound of thunderous applause was coming from somewhere ahead of her.

Where am I, she wondered walking forward to the edge of a set of steps. They led onto a stage filled with people and standing in front of a podium accepting an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role was Kate Williams.

"I must be dreaming," she mumbled in disbelief, blinking several times to see if the images would disappear.

"Who are you?" a curious, but unconcerned voice asked from directly in front of her.

Kate looked questioningly at the slightly confused younger woman with curiosity. The woman was stunningly beautiful in an arrogant, haughty sort of way. She had high cheekbones, full lips and a slight cleft in her chin. Her black tuxedo was impeccably tailored, the jacket boasting wide satin lapels and the trousers flared slightly over slender hips before coming to rest with only the toes of her shiny black shoes visible. A nametag hung from her left lapel, and Kate read the name Ronan Lee.

Ronan looked around quickly for inspiration and noticed a man standing with his back to her. He wore a shiny windbreaker with a single word in yellow on the back.

"Security," she answered quickly.

"Oh," Kate said simply. Then teased with a gentle smile, "Well, I didn’t realize they’d assigned me my very own body guard."

Kate was floating on cloud nine, tonight was a dream come true. She’d worked hard for the award she was holding in her hands, paying her dues and obeying the rules of Hollywood for years before her determination had finally paid off. Nothing seemed quite real tonight including this vision of a woman standing in front of her.

Ronan was stunned at the force of arousal that shot through her body in answer to that crooked grin. Well, if this was a dream it was one she was willing to go along with. And if it was a dream, couldn’t she direct where she wanted it to go?

She smiled back. "You’re a very important woman, Miss Williams. All I want is to keep you safe."

Something about the answer made Kate shiver with a jolt of electricity. She hadn’t said it’s my job to keep you safe. The answer had been much more personal. Is she flirting with me?

As an actress she’d been around the homosexual community and even enjoyed teasing the young women who had come on to her over the years. But she’d never actually participated in a physical encounter with another woman. It wasn’t that she had never been attracted to one, just that she had always considered herself completely straight.

It came as a surprise that she felt an immediate pull toward this stranger. With all of the magic in the air tonight her guard was down and she felt herself responding.

Kate ignored the heat in her cheeks and asked, "Would you like to walk me to my car?" It was a night for fairy tales after all, Kate reasoned. Wasn’t it? The answer was almost a purr, both of them appreciating the flirting banter.

Ronan nodded and placed a hand at the base of Kate’s back. They walked together like old friends rather than strangers and reached the front of the building.

Kate looked around in bewilderment before the stranger asked, "What is it?"

"My car isn’t here. I guess Thomas didn’t know I’d be leaving so early. Now what?" she said enjoying the challenge.

"I’ll hail a cab," Ronan said quickly.

A few seconds later both women were firmly ensconced in the taxi, Ronan claimed that she wanted to see Kate home safely. Kate didn’t argue and they settled back for the ride. Ronan, working under the premise that it was her dream, placed a hand on the lean, muscled thigh next to her. Kate didn’t protest.

When they reached the apartment building Kate turned to Ronan. "Would you like to come up for a drink?" she asked, surprising herself yet again.

Nodding wordlessly Ronan followed Kate into the elevator and up to the penthouse apartment. No sooner was the door closed than she found her arms full of fiery redhead.

Kate dropped the award statue on the floor and flung herself into the taller woman’s embrace. She wasn’t someone who indulged in one-night stands, but the magic in the air tonight and the pure animal magnetism of this woman were enough for her to throw caution to the winds.

Ronan eagerly crushed the smaller form against her searching for wine-shaded lips with her own. Her hands slipped over Kate’s evening gown, slid over the silk shirt and mapped the flesh and bone beneath. Kate’s fingers laced through her hair and pulled her head closer as her lips parted and their tongues began to duel.

Their hands clawed at restrictive clothing and Ronan shrugged out of her jacket before pushing the straps off Kate’s slender shoulders. The gown pooled at her feet as Kate walked backward dragging Ronan with her. They bumped into a low table, ignoring the crash of a vase hitting the floor.

Kate grunted as her hip struck the table and turned with her eyes closed pushing Ronan toward her bedroom. The other woman’s full lips left her mouth and burned a searing trail on her neck, biting and sucking at the tender flesh before pulling an earlobe into the moist heat.

Sharp desire tore through Kate making her groan. "I want these clothes off." She croaked pulling at the white shirt.

Only too ready to comply Ronan started to undress Kate first. She needed to see all of her. The bra gave way under talented fingers and the sight of the small breasts captivated Ronan. She slowed abruptly and reached out trembling hands to cover the mounds of flesh, feeling the nipples harden against her palms.

Kate, suddenly shy, looked into the spellbound eyes. "Do you like what you see?" she whispered.

"Yes," Ronan whispered. "I have wanted you for so long…"

Ronan didn’t finish the sentence; instead she found Kate’s lips in another searing kiss. Before she knew what she was doing she pushed Kate backward onto a queen-sized bed. Kate lay back and Ronan pressed hard against her. A thrill shot through Ronan, her hands exploring Kate’s body. Ronan needed naked flesh; undressing became a priority and clothing was quickly discarded onto the floor. Then Ronan was back on top of Kate whose legs still dangled off the side of the bed where she lay overwhelmed with desire.

Ronan sat up and straddled the slender hips. She pressed their centers together as she undulated against Kate, their eyes locked.

Then Ronan shifted to straddle one of the muscular thighs as her hands continued their downward caress. Her own body was responding with a rush of moisture and she couldn’t resist pressing herself to the thigh, rubbing gently and creating delicious friction.

Ronan leaned forward and pressed against Kate’s slender body, placing gentle kisses against the tender flesh. Her tongue eased from between her lips and she drew it down the length of the torso tasting smooth skin.

Respiration heavy, heat flashed through Kate in sharp arousal. "Ronan," Kate gasped softly and pressed upward against the bold exploring hands.

Fire burned through Kate’s body as Ronan began to slowly make love to her. The realization that this was the only time they would have hung heavily over them both. Neither wanted to rush. Tomorrow would come soon enough with the repercussions of their actions.

At first Kate had wanted Ronan to go faster, then she wanted it to never end. She forced herself to lie still under the burning touch, knowing the reward for waiting would make the experience more intense. A strong arm eased around her and Kate responded, moving up in the bed so that Ronan could lie fully against her.

Ronan stretched over Kate and pressed against her breasts while her fingers never ceased caressing the other woman. Ronan’s breath was hot against Kate’s ear as her tongue explored the sensitive flesh. Kate turned her head seeking the hot moisture.

Their lips met almost roughly and their tongues explored greedily. Then Ronan’s fingers dipped into Kate’s center; heat and moisture soaked them immediately. Slowly Ronan drew the moisture up to the hardened nub and swirled over the bundle of nerves before finding the source again. Kate gasped in hunger and her hips bucked wildly.

"Tell me what you want," Ronan whispered, easing back from the sweet mouth.

Kate’s nipples hardened impossibly at the blatant sexuality of the question.

"I want you in me. I want you to be a part of me," she gasped hoarsely.

Ronan smiled against the velvet cheek and sought out the sweet kiss again as she eased her middle finger into the velvet-heat of the clasping flesh. Kate groaned and held on tight as she thrust in sharp counter rhythm to Ronan’s touch.

Spurred on by the gasps of pleasure Ronan pushed roughly into Kate, surprising herself with the passion raging through her body. From the sounds she was making Ronan knew Kate was close to physical release and concentrated on pushing inside as deeply and quickly as she could. She was rewarded when Kate shuddered and cried out in sharp release.

No words were spoken as Ronan pressed tender kisses over the eyes and cheeks of the stranger lying under her. She didn’t want to break whatever spell this was, content to wait for Kate to gather her wits as she ignored her own sharp desire for the moment.

"I don’t understand what’s happening to me," Kate whispered. "I’ve never done this before, especially with another woman."

Ronan placed a long finger against wine-shaded lips and said softly, "Shh, it’s a dream."

Suddenly Kate captured her lips in a tender kiss and turned Ronan over on the linens. Thin, sensual lips licked and nipped down Ronan’s throat to the breasts that had been demanding her attention ever since she’d removed the starched, formal shirt. Kate swirled her tongue over a nipple before sucking it gently into her mouth. After a few moments of lavishing attention to it her mouth wandered over to show the same affection for its partner. Her hands slowly caressed Ronan’s torso and discovered the softness and curves of another woman. At the same time Kate committed the sensation of flesh to memory.

Kate left her breasts and began working her way down Ronan’s body, kissing a trail toward the waiting heat. She could hear Ronan’s ragged breathing and felt fingers in her hair encouraging her lower. Ronan raised her knees, baring herself to the scorching touch of her lover’s lips.

Kate took an experimental swipe with her tongue and found the taste not only palatable, but unexpectedly salty-sweet. Whatever had been holding her back from experiencing this?

Then Kate buried her face in the curls between Ronan’s thighs.

"Kate!" Ronan gasped as Kate’s slender arms slid around her thighs to hold her firmly.

Kate kissed the quivering bundle of nerves beneath her and felt the other woman twitch. Hands firmed against her head; demanding more. Slowly and deliberately, Kate drew her tongue down the shaft of Ronan’s clitoris and closed her lips around it, sucking it into her mouth.

Ronan’s hips began to rock urgently against Kate and she eased her middle finger into her lover, hearing a grunt of approval. She stoked deeply in and out of Ronan, harder and harder as Ronan thrust against her. Her hips moved faster and Kate held on waiting for the imminent explosion.

"Oh!" Ronan cried out and then the sensation took her, shaking her helplessly as Kate guided her gently through the orgasm. Finally she was still, but it was only for a moment and then she looked up into blue-gray eyes that shone with impossible tenderness. Ronan reached out; her hands cupped both sides of Kate’s face and pulled her down for a soft kiss.

Ronan had no idea how she came to be in this woman’s arms, but if this was the only chance she had to be with Kate she would not waste it. They made love for hours. The smell of sex heavy in the air, she fell asleep amidst tangled sheets only as dawn began to light the sky.

Kate looked down at the exhausted woman and reached out to smooth a lock of blonde hair behind an ear. She leaned down to plant a small kiss on the woman’s cheek before she stood up and walked to the bathroom. Sometimes things just happened, she thought philosophically and decided not to think about it too much for now.

Afterward she walked into the living room, completely nude and stretching luxuriously when she spotted a shadow on the floor next to the entryway. Her award.

Kate picked up the award and looked at it in the dim lighting. She frowned as she noticed something on the back of the base. Squinting closer at the spot she realized she must have chipped it when she dropped it the night before. She pressed her thumb into the indention she heard a small click like a mechanism releasing. The base turned slightly and she twisted it right again.

Not overly concerned she placed the statue on the table in place of the vase that had fallen over when the passion-filled women had bumped into it. Then she walked back into the bedroom and stopped dead.

Ronan was gone.

*************************************

Stretching like a cat Ronan smiled and raised her head from the pillows. Turning to search for Kate’s lips she froze when she recognized her own bed. Ronan looked around in confusion. She was in her own apartment and there was no sight of the actress. Had it all been only a dream?

She got out of bed feeling sore in places she had forgotten about and walked out into the living area. A trail of clothing led from the doorway to her bedroom, but there was no sight of Kate. The tarnished Academy Award™ sat on the floor by the entry still covered in age-old grime.

Depressed and confused Ronan walked back to sit on the edge of her bed. It had felt so real. She could still smell Kate on her hands, in her bed. It couldn’t have been a dream, she thought burying her face in her hands and inhaling deeply.

Suddenly Ronan raised her head, her eyes lighting as she rushed for the front of the apartment. She picked up the award and turned it over searching for the small indention in the rear of the base.

The End?

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