The Author
By Tabby
rated: PG
~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Buckaroo Banzai stared at the screen. He couldn't believe his eyes. He could not believe what he had just read. How could someone write this?
"Hey, boss." Reno greeted as he walked back into the bunkhouse.
Banzai didn't respond.
Which wasn't all that unusual when he had his head in some research thing or another, so Reno didn't think anything about it.
New Jersey glanced up from where he was working out a tune on the piano. "Soda?"
"Is that all I am to you? A snack mule?" Reno demanded, pretending to be hurt.
"You got my soda?"
Reno held up the desired drink. "And your banana chips."
"Then, yes." Jersey answered with a smirk.
The writer frowned. But, alas, being a good little snack mule, delivered the snack to his friend. Then he started back to his computer to continue his own work filing the odd bits of fan fiction from their internet site.
It was then he noticed that Banzai was sitting at his station.
"Um, hey, boss.." he greeted again. "Whatcha up to?" he wondered.
Banzai looked up at him. His face was a pale mask of shock.
Reno seriously frowned now. Dropping down in the seat in the next station he asked "What's wrong, Buckaroo?"
Hearing these words, New Jersey stopped his playing. He only needed one glance to tell him something was indeed very wrong with his friend. He came to his feet and started across the room toward them.
Banzai blinked. "Who wrote this?" he whispered.
"Wrote what?" Reno rolled his chair over so he could see the computer screen. It took only a moment to see that it was just more fan fiction. A moment longer told him what it was that had probably upset Banzai.
It was a fan fiction piece called `The Picture' about a rather private moment between Buckaroo and his, now, deceased (or at least missing since the body had vanished and the rumor that she was still alive was heard) wife, Peggy Simpson Banzai. She had been assumed dead when Banzai, himself, had found her lifeless body on the floor of their suite, moments after their wedding. She had been poisoned by Banzai's life long enemy, Xan.
Banzai had yet to get over it.
Best anyone could tell, he never would.
Reno sighed. "It's just fan fiction, Buckaroo." he attempted. "It means nothing. Just some kid with an over active imagination. You shouldn't..."
"Who wrote it?" Banzai repeated. The shock was gone, replaced by determination.
Reno glanced up at Jersey. He didn't like this.
Wanting to help, Jersey spoke: "Buckaroo, it's fan fiction written by fans. They don't mean any harm. Just trying to be apart of the adventure.
Reno added "Yea, Perfect Tommy was just in here and he..."
Banzai's fist slammed down on the desk, silencing them. "WHO! WROTE! IT!"
New Jersey was concerned enough not to be bullied by his friend. "Why?" he asked, his own determination coming into play.
Banzai glared for a moment, then his sharp blue eyes softened, and the shock began to show itself again. "Because..." He paused to try and control his breathing. "Because.... it's real."
Reno and Jersey glanced at each other sharply, before Reno asked "Real? Sir, this is fan fiction. The only way any of them could write something real is if they were there. And, since it's a scene between just you and..." The writer stopped. His eyes went big. His jaw dropped.
New Jersey frowned, tilting his head to one side. "Are you sure, Buckaroo?"
Banzai huffed. "That happened!" he insisted. "I know! In case you haven't read it, I was there! Peggy was there! We were the only ones there!"
"Did you tell anyone about... it?" Jersey wasn't sure how exactly he should discuss... it. A sex scene was not something they generally talked about.
"Of course not!" Banzai snapped. He turned back to Reno. "Who wrote it?"
Reno was understanding now what Banzai was upset about. And, now, he too was feeling the urgency. "It's only signed by a handle... But, maybe, Billy can track down the writer..."
"Get him on to it." Banzai ordered. Standing, he looked at the screen one more time. "Reno, you've got to find her. That author could be... You've got to find out. Find that author." As if unable to stay in the room in front of that story, that memory, any longer, Banzai spun about and hurried away.
New Jersey and Reno Nevada looked at each other one more time. Then they each leaped in separate directions: Jersey going to the comm and calling in the computer staff; Reno going back to the computer to find what he could about `The Picture.'
~~~~~~~~~~
