OOC: This post takes place after the post, "Past, Present & Future". Marcus and Anna on small vacation. I'm back, and thanks again for all the emails I got. I still read them.

"Precious Moments" Pt. 1

Lt. Commander Brianna "Anna" O'Shea
Chief Engineer / Liaison SCE
USS Galaxy.

Ens. Marcus Slayton
Engineer, USS Galaxy.

The transport vehicle dropped the three of them-Marcus, Anna and Peckerwood who was being held by Anna-in front of a location and Marcus kept her eyes covered as they got there. When they finally got out of the transport, he kept his hands over her eyes, saying it was to keep where they were going to stay a surprise.

"you ready to look yet?" Marcus asked softly in her right ear.

Peckerwood began to bark, wiggling, wanting down. Anna held tight to him as they walked. "yeah... I smell... salt water.." Anna said, as a smile began to form on her lips as they now stood there.

Marcus took his hands away from her eyes and when she did look, she saw the Caine family home. The Caine's home was at Oasis which was a small Oceanside city about an hour and a half away from the city of New Capirca. The house was built on a cliff with an amazing view of the eastern ocean. The light from the star that Rhodes Colony orbited shone brightly down on the water, making it almost appear to be like blue glass on the bright day.

Anna let Peckerwood down, but held on to his leash as he began to sniff around. She couldn't believe the amazing view of the ocean, looking at Marcus she grinned and then walked over closer to him and took his hand. "You must have some very good friends." She said, then turned back to look toward the water.

"Yeah, one of my friends is letting me use his house here. You remember Jacob Caine right, one of both of our friends from the academy?" Marcus said

Anna nodded, of course she remembered him. "We'll owe him a lot for this one." Anna said, grinning and was about to kiss Marc when Peckerwood tugged on the leash and was soon running from Anna. Turning she yelled at him, "Peckerwood!" She said, then began to run after him.

Marcus chased after the two of them, leaving the transport driver to snicker somewhat loudly as he watched them.

"Peckerwood.. get your ass back here!" Anna said, trying to grab the leash but the little Scottish terrier jumped into the small pool and began to swim around. Anna began to laugh, as she stood there watching the little dog.

Marcus smiled at her and Peckerwood. "I'm going to grab our bags from the transport and I'll be right back, okay?" he said to Anna then quickly kissed her on the cheek and headed to the front where the transport was

"Okay.." Anna said, grinning as she finally got the dog out and stroked his wet body now. "You silly little dog." Anna told him, as she got the leash off since the place looked enclosed.

A few moments later, the sounds of the transport leaving could be heard and Marcus returned to the poolside area through the house it's self with a large fluffy blue towel which he handed to Anna. "if you want to try and dry Peckerwood off." he told her and then he took a deep breath and smiled. "Even though my dad is only an hour away, it still feels good to be home again."

"Yeah.. about that.. does he know your here?" Anna asked, as she took the towel and dried of the dog some and then let him go explore on his own. Knowing he wouldn't go far. "I mean, he going to show up?" She asked, standing.

"No, me and my dad haven't really spoken since the war. He won't show up because he doesn't know that I'm on planet." he told her with a smile on his face

"Good.. so it's just us then." Anna said, grinning.

"Yep, unless you want to go and see my folks." Marcus said as he walked over to her and gently took one of her hands into his and ran his thumb over her knuckles on that hand gently.

"Not hardly... don't think they like me cause of my political views." She replied, then grinned. "So.. now that you have me, what do we do?" Brianna asked, as she liked the way he took her hands and ran his fingers over her skin.

"I don't know, but anything is possible right now. I mean it is our vacation after all, true?" he said as he gently brought up his other hand and stroked the side of her face loveningly and softly.

"True." Anna said, then brought her hand to caress the back of his. "So how about a tour of the house?" Anna said, then grinned.

"Sure, if you'll follow me madam?" Marcus said as he gave her face one last caress before leading her inside. The door that he had come through to get to the poolside area was in fact the kitchen. Not the kind of kitchen that was a replicator built into the wall but an honest to god or gods kitchen

"Oh wow.." Anna said, softly as she hadn't been in a kitchen like this since her last visit home to Ireland.

"Yeah, Jacob's family for the most part are either cooks or private sector people. But for the most part they really enjoy their cooking hence nothing unless they absolutely need to is made by hand." he told her as he lead her over to a refrigerator built into the wall and opened one side of it and moved so that she could look into it.

"So you brought me here to cook for you, huh?" Anna said, knowing Marc would remember she loved to cook and was quiet good at it. "Which I will do very nicely." Anna said, as she leaned against him and grinned.

"No, I'll cook for you. Jacob made sure that the fridge and everything was fully stocked for us." he said to her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and then gently kissed the back of her neck once before saying softly "how long has it been since I kissed you last?"

"To long."Anna whispered, then turned her face toward his and kissed him just under his ear. She then pulled back and smiled. "How about the rest of the house?" She asked, not moving from his grip on her.

Marcus showed her the rest of the house, it had two floors and was well maintained despite that it's owner was almost always out on the rim or doing things for Starfleet's Special Operations branch of Starfleet Office of Naval Intelligence. It had a large number of comfortable things that made it separate from what was considered to be modern with a few things that harkened back to the days of James T. Kirk among many others. One of the things that caught many people's attentions was the "wall of honor" which had a number of items that was considered to be close to Jacob Caine and on it had a Vulcan Lirpa, two old Starfleet mark four phaser pistols and a framed photograph that was slightly old with age.

Anna moved around the room and smiled as she looked at the items around. "You don't know how much I needed this, needed it very much." Anna said, as she turned and looked toward him with much affection.

"Yeah, I guess knowing what the person that you love needs is one of the most important things in a relationship." he said softly as he gently cupped the side of her face. "so, do you want to continue the tour or what?" he asked

"You love that much?" Anna said, walking over to him as she smiled.

"Anna, when I told you that I loved you, I wasn't lying or kidding. You mean more to me than anything. I just wished that Aya hadn't been a bitch all of those years ago, otherwise I could've given you one hell of a present that day." he said with a smile while blushing

"Good things come to those that wait." Anna said, caressing his face then kissing his lips softly. She then put her arms around his neck and hugged him. Letting his hands run over the soft feel of the pants suit she wore, rather then her Starfleet uniform.

Marcus hugged her back and then kissed her on the lips as he let his hands run up and down her back as he started to deepen the kiss with her permission.

Retuning the kiss, she then pulled back and smiled. "Let us not speak again of Aya..." She told him as she kissed the end of his nose and then smiled.

"Okay, but do you want to see the really cool thing about the house right now or do you want to wait?" he asked her quietly "No.. we can go see it now." Anna said, as she turned to walk with him.

Marcus lead her to a door on the second floor and opened it for her then stepped to the side so that she could see in. It was the master bedroom with a large wrought iron four poster bed that looked very comfortable and the sounds of the ocean was coming through the partially opened window

Anna couldn't say anything, the view was more then she could say anything to make sense. She then looked at Marc and smiled, the appreciation for all this showing in her eyes.

"Sorry if it seems a bit corny, but I figured that if this was going to be our vacation then we should get the biggest bed in the place, true?" he said with a smile on his face while looking at her

Grinning she turned and looked at the bed, "I think you achieved that." Anna replied, then grinned as she felt him walk up behind her, hands resting now on her hips.

Marcus gently reached up and moved some of her hair from behind her neck and then he gently kissed the back of it while wrapping his other arm around her waist and gently stroked her stomach through her clothes gently

"I love you..." She said, turning her head slightly so she could see him. Resting her hands over his on her stomach, she interlaced her fingers with his. Liking just having him close to her.

"I love you too, you have no idea how much hearing you say that means to me." he said kissing her behind her right ear gently and then nibbling on her earlobe for a second. Laying next to her in bed or just holding her like this meant to him that he was a whole person again. He loved the feel of her body against his not in the sexual sense but of the sense that she meant so much to him that it felt like a piece of him was once more apart of him.

Brianna slowly grinned feeling his warm sensual kisses on her neck. "This have something to do with the fact my birthday is coming up?" Anna asked, smiling as she closed her eyes, feeling his other hand now on her torso.

"I guess you could say that, my love." he said quietly as he gently ran his hand up and down her torso, every so often bringing his hand to just below her breasts but not going any further up before sliding back down.

"Can't wait this time to have my birthday, sharing it with you, getting some sun and relaxation." She said, then smiled, as she turned to face him now. Her hands resting on his side.

Marcus reached up and gently caressed her face before looking into her eyes and smiling. "I think that you may get really embarrassed when I give you one of your presents this year for your birthday, Anna. it's a present that I wanted to give you years ago but well, we won't go into that right now. there is one thing that I want to do right now, if you'll let me." he said quietly

"If it's my panties back, keep it." Anna said, teasing him as she tickled his sides.

"No, but it involves your clothes right now though." Marcus said as he gently ran a finger from her forehead down to between her breasts and lower past her stomach and then back up slowly

"Oh?" Anna asked, as if she had not idea what he was getting at.

"yes, you see that time that we spent in the Galaxy's holodeck was a bit rushed and I think that we should take it a bit more slowly this time, mostly because I want to explore any and all new spots on you." he said as he gently stroked the right side of her rib cage

Anna nodded, turned but before she could move any farther, she felt his hands hold her softly against him. As his hands snaked under the hem of her shirt, allowing his finger tips to caress the softness of her skin.

Marcus gently slid his hands up the inside of her shirt and stroked the skin directly below her breasts as he leaned down and gently kissed her neck. He kissed his way up her neck to her right ear and whispered "do you know how much like an angel you are, Anna?" before he nibbled on her ear gently, stopping to suck on her ear lobe gently every few seconds as he caressed the skin of her chest gently and loveningly.

"Only to you." Anna whispered, then leaned her head back onto him. Feeling him, unbuttoning her shirt, she knew soon he'd have it off her. When the shirt slid off her shoulders and left her there, topless infront of him, she smiled when he soon kissed her now exposed shoulder.

Marcus brought his hands up to her breasts and gently held them and caressed them at the same time as he kissed down her neck to her collar bone, stopping only to lick and suck on her neck gently before working his way back up to her ear. "true, but you're an angel none the less. the kind of angel that they painted grand paintings about in holy texts and wrote sonnets about, but yes you are an angel. One that I love deeply and wholly." he whispered in her ear as he pulled her closer to him as he caressed her.

Brianna titled her head and then shook it softly. "No.. just a woman... not an angel, not a goddess, just a woman." She replied, not really sure she could be called anything but that. Turning to him, she caressed his face, letting her fingertip run along the lines of his nose and onto his lips. She then brought her other hand up, ran her finger over the scar on his face and then down onto his neck, following the lines of his collar bone.

Marcus gently kissed the finger tip as it went past his lips. He looked into her eyes and said softly "there was something that I wanted to ask you once but I was afraid of asking you, afraid that you'd pull away from me if I did ask all of those years ago, Anna. I wanted to give you a sign of how much you mean to me now and then. but it's something that's scared me because I was afraid of loosing you." with a small look of fear in his eyes as he continued to hold her and caress her again slowly, gently and lovingly.

"You should've known that you could have told me anything." Anna said replied. She then lead him over to the bed and sat him down, before kneeling down on the floor before him. "Give me the fear in your eyes... tell me what it was you wanted to tell me." She said.

"okay but I need you to stand up with me okay?" he said quietly.

"Alright." She said, standing up with him.

"You have no idea how long I waited to do this, Anna." Marcus said as he went down on one knee before her and held on of her hands in his. "Brianna Catherine O'Shea, you are the only person that I have ever loved in my life and though as a starship's engineer we are supposed to be married to the ship that we keep flying but in this case, I ask you if you would marry me." Marcus said as he looked into her eyes. "I've waited through war and peace and sectors of space that kept us apart to ask you for your hand in marriage." he finished, the fear in his eyes was still there.

Looking at him she had a brief inclination of what he wanted to tell her, but it didn't play out like this in her mind. It was no big deal in her mind, but now with her there and him kneeling, looking and waiting for an answer that she honestly was ready to make. She'd made it years ago. With his hands holding hers, she had to sit down on the bed, as her eyes darted from his hands to his eyes which held fear. Anna realizes that it was fear of rejection, water filled her eyes and soon silent streams ran softly down her face and leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth, before leaning to his right ear. "I said yes.. a thousand times in my mind. I've wrote it thousand more when we where at the academy. It never sounded so.... so.. beautiful as hearing it from your voice... yes... yes, Marc... you can have me in marriage... but most of all.. you can have me for life." Anna whispered to him.

Marcus let go of her hands long enough to pull out a small black box and he gently slide a small ring onto her hand then he brought that same hand up to his lips and he kissed it gently, namely the knuckle of the finger where the ring was. "I love you and I'm sorry that I waited so long to ask you that." he said as he pulled her to him and gently kissed her on the lips as he wiped away her tears.

Holding him tightly, her nails softly dug into his shirt. "Don't be sorry... be happy for us." She whispered to him as she kissed him, as she began to smile now. She then looked down at the ring, which was very beautiful.

"hard to believe isn't? the night of the gala, I was going to ask you that but things happened. But that doesn't matter now, Anna. What matters is what I'm doing right now and that's holding you, the only person that I have ever been with that made my heart stop every time you entered the room who is going to be my wife, in my arms." Marcus said as he held her

"You want to know something, was going to ask you that night myself. Before.. " Anna said, trailing off not wanting to mention Aya's name. "Looks like good things come around again."

"So, what do you want to do now?" he asked with a smile on his face, not the kind that one would have when they were expecting sex or anything of the like, but an honest smile that came with the realization that the one thing that he always wanted in his life was going to be.

"How about we change into our swim suits, go out and get some sun?" She asked, "cause if I have you in this room much longer gonna want to get you undressed, on this bed with me." Anna said, then grinned.

"or I could just help you with what you just thought" he responded with a grin of his own as he leaned in and kissed her while entwining her hands with his gently

"Then the challenge as been given." She whispered as she pushed him back and kicked her shoes off then crawling up on the bed. "You want on this bed... got to pay the toll... the charge is... all your clothing off... do a little... then we'll make a little love." Anna said, then grinned as she sat on her knees.

Marcus smirked a little and slowly removed the shirt that he was wearing while he kicked off his own shoes. He then got a really wicked smile on his face and did a little dance as he slowly removed his pants much to her giggling

Anna began to snap fingers at him, so there'd be a little rhythm for him to fallow. "Oh yeah, baby... strut it..." She said, standing up now, gripping the wrought over head she grinned. "When you get yours off.. the reward will be.. to help me remove mine." Anna said, then grinned as she stood on the bed.

Marcus climbed onto the bed and helped slide the rest of her shirt off of her upperbody stopping long enough to gently lick slowly down her spine before he reached around and undid the fasteners of her pant suit and pulled it slowly down her legs. He did it in a way that he trailed his thumbs down the back of her hips past the inner curve of her thighs and down the back of her legs slowly.

Once her pants was off she turned to him and smiled as she knelt down in front of him. "So... given an idea on when you want to be officially have me as your wife?" Anna asked, as she massaged his chest, running her hands up to his neck.

"No, I figured that would be something for both of us to decide, not just one or the other, true?" he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. "We could do it here on Rhodes Colony, but then how would we explain it to everyone?" he said, trying to make a joke

"Look at the souvenir I brought home?" Anna replied, with a mischief laugh. "I want to be married on the Galaxy... the ship I'm Chief Engineer of." Anna said then.

"Alright, then be married on the Galaxy we will be." Marcus said as he gently kissed her softly

Anna laid back, pulling him with her until she was looking up into his face. She then smiled and looked at the ring before smiling at him again, "let us promise that if we fight, and I'm sure we will, never go to sleep in anger."

"agreed, however I don't think being angry at each other would be the reason for either of us going to bed angry. People shooting up your ship, yes." he said as he gently stroked the side of her face

"Agreed." She replied, then smiled.

Marcus leaning down, he kissed her gently on the lips as he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to him. Gently stroking her back as he kissed her.

Marcus now on his back, and Anna sitting astraddle his waist she looked down at him. "Have a feeling though you'd like to write your own vows." She said, as he kissed shoulder, massaged her back.

"Only if you get to also but then again I wonder what they'll be like. Nobody knows that one side of you, you know that side of you that waxes the poetic." he said with a smile on his face as he gently started to massage from her hips to her breasts and back.

Brianna laughed. "Yes, they'd expect me to tell you and the Captain.. asses and elbows.. lets see them moving." She said, since that was her catch phrase she yells a lot.

Marcus reached down and gently pulled on the ties that held her panties onto her and pulled it aside along with the panties. He then gently kissed his way to the slope of her left breast and gently licked and bit there

Anna moaned and arched her back slightly as she laid there. Taking her hand, she slid it down his body, enjoying the feel of his skin as she let herself just exist with him.

Marcus started to kiss/lick his way down her breast while he used his other hand to cup her other breast and started to massage the right one as he worked on the left. He wanted to take this slow, allow for a build up to make up for all of those years that they spent apart

As he moved, Anna found herself more and more letting him do what he wanted. Resting her hands now on his head, she slipped off his glasses and massaged his scalp as he caressed her skin so intimately.

Marcus kissed his way between her breasts and slowly licked his way down to her stomach and back up to the valley of her breast. He stopped long enough to look up into her eyes. "Is there anything you want me to do right now, Anna?" he asked softly.

"Never stop loving me." Anna whispered then leaned down and kissed him passionately.

Marcus kissed her deeply and passionately back as he gently took her hips into his and moved her just enough so that he would be resting against her. Not wanting to do anything more as it was a pleasurable pressure against him as he kissed her.

Anna smiled and cradled him in her body, as they slowly began to make love. As the time passed, each continued to kiss and speak softly of their love for the other. After a long two hours of loving each other, Anna laid down, resting on Marc's body as kissed his chest, nipping at his skin softly as they held on to each other, having finished expressing their love.

"So, when do you think we should tell people" he said as he gently took her hand with her engagement ring on it in his and intertwined his fingers with her's.

"Soon as we get back.. I won't deny you anymore." Anna said, smiling. "Never." She told him then smiled as she sat there looking at the ring. "You did amazing picking it out."

"Yeah, I had it custom made. You remember that trip that I took to Kyoto during our last year at the academy?" he said to her while he gently held her close to him, sharing his warmth with her. "Yeah, you won't believe me if I told you who helped me get the ring either." he said with a faint smile.

"Who?" Anna asked, curious now.

"My mom, she was the only one of my parents that I told and plus, she knew where to shop." he said as he gently stroked her hair, slightly damp from the sweat.

"Your mom liked me?" Brianna asked, then grinned. "Didn't think she would."

"She adores you, it's my dad that had issues with you. Hell, you remember my adopted little sister, Chani?" he told her with a smile on his face

"Yeah.. what about her?" Anna asked, looking at Marc's face as she sat there, atop him still. "How is he doing?" She then asked.

"She's doing fine but she kept asking me when she would be able to call you her big sister." he said smiling at her

Anna smiled. "Speaking of that... when should we make the date?" Anna asked, watching him as he played with her fingers. She could hear Peckerwood barking outside the window on the ground floor.

"I don't know, I want to give people time to be able to make the wedding and we both know our parents will want to come to it, true?" he said to her as he played with her fingers

"Oy god... my dad." Anna said, then moved to sit on the side of the bed. "He'll come... most likely to ask me now that I'm married am I retiring from service." She said as she sat there.

Marcus moved so that he sat behind her with his legs on either side of hers as he started to give her a shoulder massage. "trust me, we'll get a free show as your dad tries to prove how much bigger than mine, true?" he said, trying to get her to laugh

Brianna laughed. "So in a couple of months then.. we'll do it." She said, as she turned slightly to look at his face and smiled at him.

"Only if you want to get married in a couple of months, I'm not going to rush it because every moment that I spend with you is heaven." he said softly as he smiled back at her before kissing her

"We'll see how things go.." She replied then smiled and kissed him in return. She then heard Peckerwood barking. "Come on, we need to go check on him... I want some sun." Anna said, pulling him off the bed to get dressed in some swim wear and soon, they headed down to find her dog.

“Not Dead Afterall"

Principal Characters

Lt. Ella Grey
Lt (JG) Victor Krieghoff

****

Trill
Akula Impact Zone
Sector Seven

Yawning, Ella sat down on the ground and took the pins out of her hair. The headache that had been firing torpedoes in her skull for the past two hours seemed to lessen somewhat as she shook her hair free of the bun and gave a tired smile at the release of pressure.

She probably should seek out a medic for some pain medication, get something to eat while she was at it, but she was nearly done and wanted to finish before she beamed up to the ship for a much deserved twelve-hour nap. Putting the pins in her pocket, because if she set them down she'd never see them again, she yawned again and surveyed the area once again. It still looked like it did yesterday; like some lunatic had decided to crash a ship on it, but it was getting better. Most of the bodies were gone at any rate.

Ella was about to pass over the small tents set up for the real do-gooder Starfleet types that wanted to sleep on the planet while they fixed it up when her eye caught a dark figure.

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, suddenly sure that she was either very tired or very malnourished.

****

Trill
Akula Impact Zone
Approaching Sector Seven

It was as bad as he'd known it would be.

Victor could feel the dead all around him as he picked his way through the ruins of what had once been a shining city full of life. They were still here, the thousands who had been crushed by the rubble, their bodies destroyed but their spirits never set free, pressing in on him like a great weight, as if he were under water.

He'd seen the news reports as he'd finished his convalescence at the medical facility the Attendant had transported him to, and returned to the Xellos System with the attendant and the Shabradnigdo. His Aunt's - no, it was essentially *his* planet now, thanks to the documents they'd drawn up without telling him - had been just as they'd left it, the Cardassian patrol just as prompt, albeit somewhat less nosy than before. Victor supposed that meant that Dal Halvalek still believed that he was an operative for the Obsidian Order, which, if nothing else, meant that Xellos II was going to be well-protected from now on.

He'd dropped the Attendant off at a mid-space rendezvous with a B'rel scoutship on the way to Trill, and had pushed the runabout as hard as it would stand the rest of the way there. To Trill, once a shining home to two species and millions of lives... and now a planet still reeling from the destruction of its greatest city, and the loss of more lives than it would ever be able to count.

He'd had few problems at the starport once he'd landed. No one cared that he was out of uniform, having not bothered to replicate once before his return. Lots of Starfleet personnel had arrived without them to help the Trill Recovery Program, many on their own time. No one cared that he lacked a comlink, or real identification - people often left the former aboard ship when on leave, and the latter had been easily established after a few seconds at an LCARS panel and one scan. Few even cared that he was what he was. The Trill were, in general, still so shell-shocked that they didn't notice, and the rest were so overwhelmed by the stench and presence of death that he was lost in it.

It was, he decided, after one look at the ruins of Trill's greatest city and his first hints of the dead pressing against him, not the way he would have chosen to become ordinary.

Now, closer to the center of the devastation, with the dead pressed so tightly against him that he almost couldn't breathe, he was haunted by the feeling that there was something he should do, something he *needed* to do - but didn't know what it was.

Three steps later, when he saw the burned, skeletal remains of a child's arm protruding from a pile of rubble, and felt another individual join the ranks pressing against him, he knew.

****

Trill
Akula Impact Zone
Sector Seven

She stared. Couldn't seem to help it really. Even pinched herself to make sure she wasn't imagining it. But, one would think, that if she was imagining this that the first thing that he would see would be her.

His eyes were for the dead.

Ella couldn’t really blame him for that. She'd been around it for days now. It was all becoming oddly familiar. She wondered if that made her as bad a person as she often thought she was.

She stood up and calmly started to walk towards him.

Well, calm enough at any rate. She found that she was shaking, hands trembling.

Knock that off, Ella, she told herself sternly.

But she couldn’t seem to.

Behind him now, Ella reached out a cautious hand (because if he was real and she really surprised him, she imagined her arm would be lying next to her feet) to tap his shoulder.

It wasn’t Victor that turned around.

The thing wearing Victor’s face like a mask stared at her for a moment; head tilted to the side in the Victor tilted his at times, the way that reminded her of a great cat studying something to decide if it were prey or not. “Not dead,” it finally said softly, the words slipping under her skin like icy needles.

Ella's eyes widened and her hand froze, although she felt the need to snap it back as quick as possible. It was Victor, although this was a side of him that she rarely saw, the thing that most other people did see when they looked at him. She felt her heart kick up another notch but made herself draw her hand calmly back. ~~You either.~~

“Not dead,” it repeated, the words losing none of their impact, and then turned away and continued to look around as it had been doing when she arrived.

~~Taking a holiday?~~ Ella inquired, referring more to his current persona than Victor's absence over the past few months. She'd deal with that later.

There was no answer for long enough that it seemed there would *be* no answer. Then, without warning, there was a word slipping under her skin again, digging talons for fear into her spine. “No.”

Ella pushed that fear aside. ~~What's wrong?~~ When he didn't answer she, bravely- Ella thought - walked around to face him.

“They’re still here,” came the answer from Victor’s lips in that same, terrifying voice.

~~Who?~~

The thing wearing Victor waved a hand at the devastation around them. “The Trill.” It looked around, as if it could see something that Ella could not, something – or some *things* - that stood all around them. “They’re still here.”

She looked at the man in black leather in astonishment. ~~The dead?~~

Not-Victor looked at her as though she had said something in Tholian. “Yes,” it finally whispered and looked away again.

Ella tilted her head, trying to understand. ~~I don't think the others are ready to let them go. It's still too fresh in their memories; they still need to mourn.~~ She frowned. ~~Don't hurt them, Victor. They've been through enough.~~

“No one can hurt them now,” it whispered, the cries of Trill’s lost dead intertwined with its words, “except themselves. That’s not what I do.”

She lifted an eyebrow. ~I've heard your funeral speeches before, remember?~~ Ella reached out for his shoulder, a braver move considering that she felt her body icing over. ~~Please?~~

A frown crossed Victor’s face as the thing using it looked down at her hand. “That isn’t what I do,” it repeated after a moment.

~~What do you do?~~

Ignoring her question, it turned away. “They should go. This isn’t their place any more.”

She started to reply but he began walking. Frowning after him, Ella decided to follow. She doubted she'd be able to keep him out of trouble but Victor could hold his own. She was more concerned for anyone who got in his way.

Ella wanted to ask him where he'd been all this time, wondering if he'd even answer her, but it was difficult to use sign language with a person who wasn't looking at you. She decided against calling out to him with her new voice. That might just be a trump card to play if things got bad.

Then again maybe Victor wouldn't care.

Shrugging, ignoring her headache, she continued to follow him up the slope that he was now traversing. She understood immediately why he was going up the thing; a better view of the total damage. Ella only could hope that he wouldn't start shouting down among the masses that the dead citizens of Trill were taking up too much space. She was really too tired to try to defend Victor from a mob of angry live Trills.

Then again, it was better to have an elevated position in a battle, wasn't it?

She grunted, mechanically, when they finally reached the top, not that Victor heard. Rubbing her temples, Ella sat down and looked down with Victor at the devastation caused by that psycho Thomas.

The ruins of the Akula were still there, at the center of the destruction, her reinforced hull sections having survived if not intact, then at least in recognizable shape. All three sections had impacted within 500 meters of each other in a roughly triangular pattern at the center of the city, the primary hull being the closest to the underground symbiote pools. The buildings closest to the impact point simply… weren’t, not any more. They had been pulverized into the dust that clung to everything and stirred with each footfall, along with what – and who – ever had been within them.

Next came the buildings that had been leveled by the shockwave, toppled and sheared off at varying heights to smash into still other buildings like hammers and missiles wielded by gods. They were more recognizable as former structures, but only just, and only because the components that made them up had not been totally destroyed, only fractured into pieces.

Further out were the structured that had remained mostly intact, although only in a structural sense, often being little more than a reinforced series of structural supports with some internal and external structures still remaining. The concussive blast, hurled debris, and fires had seen to the rest here.

Finally came the furthest arc of devastation, the structures that were merely damaged by the shockwave, debris, fires, or some combination of those. Power had been restored in some areas, but not all, and a few of the structures were showing signs of occupation, at least on some level.

Beyond those buildings, the city appeared to be as it always had. It wasn’t, of course, and it was doubtful that it ever would be again, but for now, for the Trill, the appearance was all they had and they clung to it like drowning people thrown a rope, holding on to keep their heads above the miasma of death and despair that clung to the ruins like the blanket of dust that was all that remained of so many buildings and citizens.

Through the whole of the ruin that had once been Trill’s pride and joy, hundreds of small vehicles moved here and there, participating in the cleanup process that moved on around the clock. Thousands of smaller dots also moved through the ruins, individual people working and grieving and sometimes just wandering, lost, as they searched for something that they could anchor a memory to, a horde of multicolored ants swarming in aimless patterns in the dust.

For several moments he – or it, Ella wasn’t certain which was more appropriate - stood there, silent, and merely looked down at the destruction. “In the way,” it finally whispered, the cries of Trill’s lost souls edging the words.

Ella raised a tired eyebrow.

Not-Victor waved a hand at the ruins around them. “They are.”

~~The Trill?~~

“No.” He turned to look at her, head tilted back in the way that Victor often did. “The dead.”

Ella frowned. Creepy-Victor was also impossible-to-reason-with-Victor. ~~Well, there's nothing you can do about it.~~

Wordlessly, he turned back to study the vista below them for a long moment. “Yes, there is.”

~~How's that?~~ Ella's fingers snapped. ~~Going to bring them back?~~

Ignoring her words, he frowned in concentration, took a deep breath, and whispered a single word that seemed to use up all the air he’d just taken in. “Go.”

For a moment there was nothing. No sound, no movement on the peak of rubble that had once been a building. Then, suddenly, a hot, dry wind whipped up and over the ridge of ruins, caught Ella’s hair and pulled at it, and then swirled around Not-Victor, as if it were doing a dance centered on him where a thousand thousand fingers picked at his hair and the leather of his pants and jacket… and then was gone.

He stood there, a smile on Victor’s face that was not Victor’s, for a long moment, and then said a single word. “Better.”

Ella found herself swallowing and tried to hold back the shudder that wanted to break free. For a moment, she could almost imagine the dead had really been moved by a single word from Victor.

She shuddered. ~~Can we go now, Tiger?~~

He studied her with that same tilted head look again, frowned, shook his head once, negatively, and then started for her silently.

Ella found herself scrambling up and backwards as he moved towards her. ~~Victor?~~

He took another step forward and raised a hand, reaching for her. “You’re not dead,” came that horrid voice, as if that fact had finally registered on the speaker.

She knew that it was Victor, *knew* that she shouldn't fear him, but he was looming over her like a specter of death and she had had a long day. She played the card.

"Stop it." Ella whispered in a voice that was not a whisper. The implant tried its best but all it could manage was a slightly quieter tone than normal.

Not-Victor froze, the expression on his face transitioning to Victor’s normal, controlled one – and then to something that might have, for just an instant, been shock.

"It's still me, Ti..." She began.

And that was when the rubble caved out from under Ella’s feet without warning and she began to fall.

Ella shrieked as she fell and even that sounded cold and mechanical. She would have been annoyed if she wasn't trying to grab for something.

Rubble skittered out from under her clutching fingers, the world tilted crazily as she started to spin in her fall – and then stopped as something grabbed her arm and arrested her fall. For a moment everything was still again, and the sound of her breathing was like thunder as she hung there, suspended, and watched the rubble she’d dislodged in her fall bounce down out of sight.

It was a hell of a way to end a shift.

“I’ve got you, Grey,” Victor said in his annoyingly flat voice above her as he pulled on her arm to get her turned back around and facing the lip of the ruin she’d just fallen from. “I won’t let you fall.”

That's good, Ella thought as she felt him pull her up, her dangling feet finally touching ground. He moved them away from the edge and Ella decided that was good as well.

~~Thank you.~~ She signed.

He nodded once, as though he plucked people back from falls off precipices every day.

~~Is it gon...how do you feel?~~

Victor frowned. “How am I supposed to feel?”

Ella starred at him for a moment and then flew over to hug him tightly. She felt the tears begin and decided what the hell; she was due some good old fashioned female antics. He had been gone so long that she had thought that he might not he coming back and where the hell had he been anyway? She pulled back before he had a chance to remember to wrap his hands around her.

~~Where the hell have you been?~~

“Away.”

~~Elaborate.~~ Ella signed, cranky.

He shook his head. “I can’t tell you.”

The look on her face didn't need to be translated.

“Because, Grey,” he said as if it explained everything, “I promised.”

And that did it.

"Well, isn't that swell!" Ella exploded. She was sure that her facial expression and body posture made up for the missing inflection in her voice. Angry, she shoved him and *that* was about as effective as it ever was. "I worry over you for months and you just show up one day all Death Incarnate and you won’t give me any explanation and I'm just supposed to sit here and nod my head and go 'Okay, Victor. I understand you promised so that makes *everything* okay.' You know what, Tiger, you can just take your promises and shove them."

He flinched – well, the skin around his eyes tightened, which Ella decided was what a flinch looked like on Victor – and nodded once, slowly. “If that’s what you want, Grey.”

"If WHAT'S what I want?"

Victor didn’t respond to that, just stood there and looked at her for a moment. When he finally spoke, it was just to say, “All right, Grey. I’ll go.” He turned and started to walk away as if nothing important was happening.

"For the love of all that is...." Ella began, completely exasperated.

After three steps, he’d reached his bag, brought all the way up here by his inner self, and bent to pick up said quietly, “Did the Klingons let you look at their engines on the way home?”

"Engines?" Her voice said in a monotone which was an interesting contrast to the shade of red her face was turning. She switched over to sign, kicking a rock at him so that he'd turn to notice her fingers. ~~Engines?! I'm sorry, Victor. I was too busy going through a trauma to notice their engines.~~

In fact, she had been too preoccupied with thinking about him, about one of the only things that had gotten her through the ordeal on the desert planet. Not that she was going to tell him now.

~~And you just march yourself right back over here, Krieghoff.~~ Ella's fingers flew. ~~I am not finished with you yet.~~

“You don’t have to say the rest, Grey,” he offered evenly. “I understand that you’re not my friend any more – I’ve been waiting for you to tell me.” He paused, and then added, “It’s all right, you know. I told you I wasn’t good at this.”

Well, that just about deflated her totally deserved righteous anger.

~~Oh, Tiger~~ Ella signed while she rolled her eyes. ~~Just because I'm pissed off, and with good reason mind you, doesn't mean we're not friends anymore.~~

Victor’s head tilted to the side as he studied her. “I… don’t understand.”

~~Haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying? I'm angry because I've been worried sick about you. There's no way you're leaving me now.~~

And because she'd been denied several months, she hugged him again.

After a moment, he dropped his bag and, awkwardly, held her back.

That's a bit rusty, she thought. They'd have to work on that.

Several minutes passed where he said nothing, and then he broke the silence with, “What did you do to your voice?”

Sighing, Ella pulled back. ~~I found a way to be able to communicate in a crisis and still retain control. What do you think, Tiger, does it suit me?~~

“No.” He shook his head. “It’s… not real. What will you do when you meet the One? How can you say the things that you’ll need to then, real things, with… that?”

Ella blinked and then laughed. ~I've missed you, Victor.~~

He nodded. “I knew you’d be back, Grey – I didn’t give you permission to die.” Victor looked at her for a moment after that with his blank expressionless eyes, and then added, “Renkert didn’t understand that.”

"No, I suppose she wouldn't."

“Did you get your things back from my storage area?” he asked abruptly in a change of subject.

Ella nodded. She almost felt sorry for Victor for having to go through all that. She was a clothes and shoe-a-holic, afterall.

“Good. Renkert was worried about you not being able to find them.” He paused. “I took your ship, the Voyager, the one with the broken nacelle.”

She tilted her head. ~~What for?~~

“Because it was yours,” he explained. “I knew you’d want it back, to fix it.”

Ella smiled. ~~You were right.~~ She'd probably give it back to him when she finished repairs though.; that he'd thought of it made her almost giddy, even though she knew that wasn't his intent.

He nodded, and picked up his bag, the muscles in his arm moving under the leather of his jacket’s sleeve. “I’d tell you if I could, Grey.”

Ella blinked in confusion. Sometimes the man switched topics even faster than she could. And she could be the queen of evasion if she chose.

“Where I was. What happened.” He frowned. “But I promised not to, if she’d send a Klingon ship in under cloak to find you. She kept her word, so I have to keep mine.”

Ella ignored whoever this 'she' was and focused on the gratitude. ~~Thanks for that, Tiger. I don't think I could have lasted much longer on that planet.~~ She shrugged and gave a small smile. ~~Well, it’s more important that you’re still alive at any rate. Do you want to go get some dinner? I'm starving.~~

“I need to report in, but there’s no timetable for that.” He nodded. “Food would be good.”

"Oh By The Way, I Brought A Kid Home"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineer

Ens Branwen London

Saia Juis (APC)

LOCATION: Nara and Bran's Quarters

Nara walked in followed by Saia. Saia looked around and looked at Nara, "You live here?"

Nara nodded, putting her PADD on the table, "As long as I'm on the Galaxy. I live in that room." She pointed to one of the rooms, "And Branwen is in the other one." She nodded to the couch, "Have a seat. What would you like to eat?" Saia shrugged missing the unintentional poem. Nara sighed, missing it as well. She didn't care much for food either. They had to eat something though. She knew that much. Nara wondered if Saia had even had a shower. It was then she realized Saia was in different clothes. Dr. Wert must had done that. Nara sat in a chair opposite of Saia seeing Saia had perused the PADD again apparently sketching one of the plates on the table that held fake fruit.

Nara picked up her own PADD and looked over the information. She looked at the time it was now. She slumped. "We have to eat and get you in bed soon for school tomorrow."

Saia let her arms drop the PADD in her lap. She had hoped she could skip school while she was there. Apparently school was going to follow her anywhere she went. "I don't need much sleep." It wasn't a lie. Her parents sent her to bed early but Saia would stay up past that drawing on a toy she traded a teddy bear with some alien kid for.

The toy was a black surface, but when you drew on it with the stylus it activated some crystals to make light. It faded, so she would add to the faded lines making numerous doodles never to be seen. Saia slumped realizing she lost that toy forever. She started drawing again, "I'm not sleepy."

"But I am."

Saia frowned and looked at Nara, "I'm sorry."

Nara smiled, "It's ok. It's been a rough several weeks. We just have to find some kind of routine until...." Nara sighed. She still wasn't ready to think about the time that would come when Saia would leave. She had to focus on taking care of things now. Making Saia feel comfortable and having a semblance of a home.

She put her PADD back down, "Tell you what. We'll go to 10-4ward and see what they're cooking there." Nara stood, "I'll be right back." She went into her room to change into some civilian clothes. She was glad Saia was obsessed with drawing. You could leave her anywhere and know you'll find her how you left her. Well, that's how it was so far. Saia was still a kid.

Branwen came back from her shift, deep in thought. She was still getting used to her new boss. That's why she was extra surprised to find the child sitting on the living room couch.

"Hello there." She said gently.

Saia didn't look up from her sketching, "Hi." After a second she looked up confused. That wasn't Nara's voice. Saia stared at the woman, "Are you Nara's room mate?"

"Yes, I am." Bran said kneeling down next to the girl, whom she identified as trill. "You must be a friend of Nara, pleased to meet you."

Saia smiled politely, "Nice to meet you."

"My name is Branwen by the way. I see you are fond of drawing, it's one of my hobbies as well." She smiled.

"Saia." Saia frowned, "It's not a hobby. I'm gonna be in galleries!"

"Can I have a look?" Branwen asked.

Saia looked at Bran a moment, studying her. She slowly handed her the PADD, not sure the woman would appreciate it. Being only 10, she had yet to know how to take criticism and took as simply the person didn't know what they were talking about.

Branwen studied it seriously, it was of course childish yet there certainly was talent there. "You know what, if you keep practicing and get lessons, I really think that could be true. This is good."

Saia nodded, "That's what Mommy and Daddy..." Saia looked down sadly. She pushed the button and set it down, the stylus beside it. She tried not to cry, but looked toward the door Nara had disappeared behind wondering when she would come back.

"It's OK to cry." Branwen said softly. "In fact, I think it is very brave to cry when you are sad." Gently she squeezed the little girl's hand.

Saia pouted at Bran as her eyes welled up. She swallowed and shook her head. She looked to the door again, wishing Nara would hurry. She slid off the couch and looked up at something on the wall, starting to draw again.

Branwen gave the girl some space. It never worked when you pushed them before they were ready.

Nara emerged wearing a light brown pair of pants and pink short sleeve shirt and her hair down. She had tamed the curls enough to make it look decent. That's what had taken her so long.

She looked at Saia. She wondered if she'd ever see Saia like a regular kid. Playing and laughing. She'd been justifiably melancholy or just there. Few times she smiled, only to be reminded somehow and obviously trying not to cry. Being with other children that played and laugh would help her be happier.

She looked at Branwen and shrugged, "I brought a kid back with me." She walked over to Bran, seeing Saia once again consumed in drawing, obviously a distraction from the hurt, which Nara knew all about. "Has she talked to you?" Nara spoke low enough so not to make Saia notice someone was talking about her.

"A little about drawing. What happened to her?" Branwen whispered back.

Nara watched Saia. "Her parents died when the ship crashed. She was allowed to come back with me." Nara looked at Bran, "She can sleep in my room and I can sleep on the couch here. But now we're going to 10-4ward for dinner, if you'd like to join us." Nara picked her voice back up as she invited Bran to dinner.

"Sure I would like to. And then we had better find some bigger quarters. I think this young lady needs a proper room of her own."

Nara nodded looking again at Saia, for once letting herself wonder how long Saia would need to be with her. She found herself also wondering if she cared. Before she got too much into that, she asked, "Well, are we ready to go?"

Saia scowled. She had just got a few lines in before the subtle, yet obvious cue. She nodded, turned the PADD off and stepped closer to the women.

***Moments Later In 10-4Ward

Nara, Bran and Saia were sitting at a booth eating some egg, meat and potato dish. Though, it was eggs from some Vulcan bird, meat from some Klingon beast and a legume from deep inside the bowels of Romulus. There were also mushrooms from a moon that orbited an uninhabited planet.

"How do you like living in space?" Bran asked the little girl.

Saia looked up with a mouthful realizing she was being spoken to. She about opened her mouth, but remembered her manners and took a few quick moments to chew and swallow. She looked at Nara and back to Bran and shrugged.

Nara looked at Bran, "I'm going to guess that means it's better than living in a medical tent."

Saia frowned, "But not better than my house."

Nara nodded, "Of course not."

"How did you meet Nara?" Was Branwen's next question.

Saia wondered why this woman was so curious about her. "The medical tent. She was in a cloak and wouldn't talk."

"And yet you found each other. That is special." Branwen said smiling.

Saia looked at Nara and back at Bran, "She wasn't hard to find. She was the only one in a cloak."

Nara laughed, "For hiding, I sure stuck out."

Branwen laughed. "I should give you some marine training."

Nara raised an eyebrow smiling, "Did I ever tell you I was a commanding warrior in the civil war on Sakaria?"

"No, you didn't." Bran said interested. "Hopefully you will one day." And she really wanted to talk to Nara about what she had planned for the child. Yet she could not do that in front of Saia.

Nara smiled, "I will."

With that, they continued eating. Bran and Nara chatting about work and such. Saia sat listening, but her eyes were starting to shut. Nara and Bran noticed and decided to go on home. Nara enjoyed talking with Branwen, but it was rare they had time.

When they got back, Nara got some blankets and made herself a bed on the couch after making sure Saia was in bed.

Saia tossed and turned a bit. It was a long time since she got to lie in a comfortable bed. This was also the first time she lay down to sleep without having seen the stars in the Trill sky. Occasionally, in her sleep, she heard the shouts and the loud crash. She would whimper, but she and Nara were both too exhausted to be wakened by it.

"Five More Minutes"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineering

Saia Juis (APC)

LOCATION: Nara's room in Bran & Nara's quarters.

"Saia."

She pulled to covers tighter and turned over.

"Saia!"

She and her mom did this almost every morning. Saia knew it was because she stayed up later drawing with her toy.

But she didn't have the toy. She blinked.

"Saia, come on."

Saia frowned realizing it wasn't her mother's voice. It was the voice of Nara. A sudden pang of homesickness hit her. She had thought she was in her room with a canvas in the corner and her paints on the table. She realized, instead, she was surrounded by things they called PADDs and weird statues that had no semblance of Trill.

She felt the covers being pulled, "I've got to have you at the school in an hour." Nara pulled off the blanket and saw that Saia had worn the clothes she had on. The only clothes she had. She sighed, "And we've got to replicate a new outfit for you."

Saia blinked at her, "I can wear this."

Nara shook her head, "No you're can't. For one, it's all wrinkled for being slept in."

Saia fell back onto the bed. "Five more minutes."

Nara laughed. It was a universal kid thing. "No. I have to go to work and it's either school or spending a day in the counselor's office again."

Saia sat up scrunching and pouting at Nara. "Why do you have to work?"

Nara smiled, "Because if I don't, I'll get fired and I'd have to leave the ship."

Saia smiled, "Then we could go back to Trill!"

Nara frowned, "I don't belong on Trill."

Saia cross her arms, "I do."

Nara hugged her and rested her head on Saia's. She was tired too. She wanted a million 5 more minutes. "I know. They're busy there for now and I feel better with you here where I know you're safe."

Saia nodded, "When I go back, will I ever see you again?"

Nara was shocked by the question. She stumbled in her sleepy mind for an answer. "Whenever we come to Trill, I'll come find you." Somehow, deep down, Nara wondered if she even wanted to have to find her. She sighed thinking of the minutes ticking by. "But we don't have to worry about that now. Have you ever used a sonic shower?"

Saia nodded, "I used one before." She liked baths better.

"Well go get one and I'll replicate you some clothes and food."

As Saia sleepily walked to the bathroom, Nara threw the blanket over her bed and pushed the button to close the door as she changed into her uniform. She stepped out and pressed some buttons on the replicator, quickly trying to find some children's clothes.

She finally made it to female, humanoid, 4-5 feet high, average weight. She chose a style and picked random neutral colors, not really having time to choose anything to match. She picked up the clothes and walked over to the bathroom and placed the clothes on the counter. "The point of sonic showers, Saia, is that they take less time. Did you fall asleep?"

"No," came the grumpy reply.

Nara grinned and walked back out to the common area to do her hair. She told the computer to replicate a common Trill meal and coffee. Nara still wasn't hungry. She got like this during the war too. Conzalas was constantly on her about eating. Even threatening to tell her father. They both knew she knew it was a bluff, but Nara ate enough to live. She just didn't eat well under stress.

After her shift, she had a feeling things would be better. She would get Saia and they would come home and Saia could pick out her own clothes. Nara decided they could get her a few outfits without completely depleting her credits. Somehow she knew Saia wouldn't approve of the clothes Nara just put out for her.

Sure enough, Saia padded in pouting, "They're boring."

Nara rolled her eyes, placing the last pin in her hair, "They're clothes, Saia. We'll get your less-boring ones tonight." She took the plate, glass of fruit juice and coffee and put them on the table. "Go ahead and eat."

Saia looked at the plate, "You don't know much about Trill, do you?"

Nara was confused, "You mean the computer. I asked for a common Trill breakfast."

Saia sighed, "Just because it's common, doesn't mean it's good."

Nara raised an eyebrow realizing how profound it could had been had she not been rushing and this little girl was causing catches on every little detail of the morning. "Can you eat it?"

"You can, but.." Saia looked at Nara. There was a look of frustration. She knew she was being trouble, but she was uncomfortable here. She frowned and put the food in her mouth. Everything was dull on this ship. Nothing had any life to it. The clothes were void of color, the walls were all gray and even the food missed something.

Except the food they had last night. That was interesting. That 10-4ward place had life. There were even some people who didn't wear that boring jumpsuit thing. Nara even looked different. After a few bites, she asked, "When can we go to 10-4ward again?"

Nara was sitting sipping her coffee waiting for Saia to finish; thankful she had a change of heart about the food. "Maybe tomorrow."

After Saia had finished eating, Nara put the dishes away and stood. She took a comb realizing Saia had forgotten to comb her hair. She gently ran the comb through her hair, "I can't imagine how painful this all is for you. I'm trying my hardest to make it easy on you." Nara put the comb down. Saia had short hair, so it didn't take long. She sat in the chair beside Saia, "I can only promise that you're safe. I'll try to make you comfortable, but I know this isn't home."

Another thought entered Nara's mind causing her to suddenly become worried beyond what she thought she was capable. She swallowed, "And if anyone hurts you in any way, tell me."

Saia looked at Nara for a moment, "Who would hurt me? You just said I was safe."

Nara shook her head giving a small smile, "I doubt anyone. Promise to tell me. Even if they threaten you. Tell me. I'll protect you." Nara knew that had only a part to do with Saia. Yet she couldn't shake it.

Saia looked at Nara, worried, "I promise."

Nara nodded and heard the computer beep. She sighed, smiling, "Ok. I have to be at work in 15 minutes, you have to be at school in 10."

They were soon walking down the corridor.

"Normal Days Are Here Again"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineer

Ensign Mei Sime (NPC)

LOCATION: Main Engineering

Nara stared at the console. As usual.

Mei stood beside her doing the same. As usual.

George wasn't there. As finally.

He had stopped pursuing her and with the Trill crisis, the rumor had faded to forgotten. Yet, they still transferred him to another shift. She was glad he wasn't there, though. Other than that, it was as it was before Trill.

Mei had a slightly more confidant air about her, but that was a good thing.

Nara's mind wandered as usual too. Wondering when she would get to actually use a tool rather than stare at numbers and charts all day. Daydreaming about Saul only to admonish herself that he was taken. Thinking about how Sakaria will change if it joins the Federation. Yet, now there was something new and it consumed a larger portion of her thoughts. Saia.

They wouldn't stay in orbit around Trill forever. Saia was homesick. It was obvious. Nara wasn't sure what to do with her. With those facts, you'd think she would be glad to have Saia go home. Everyone would be happy. Saia would be home again and Nara could go back to her normal life.

A normal life that consisted of pining after a man that was taken and even if he wasn't, she wasn't sure he liked her. If he did, she wondered if they could stop fighting long enough to learn about each other. If they would let the other in. A man that she wanted to kiss one minute and kill the other. And right now, the switch was on kill.

A normal life of not much going on in her life outside her job. Saia added something to her life. Nara wasn't sure she could be a mother-type right now. She seemed to be doing well with the basic stuff, but Saia felt more like a little sister.

Yet, right now, as scary as it was for Nara to acknowledge, it was all Saia had. Nara wasn't sure she liked the idea of complete strangers taking Saia. The idea didn't set well with her at all. Trill or not, they couldn't be trusted. Background checks were useless. That only showed what people were caught at. If they weren't caught, then that made them even more dangerous.

The computer beeped bringing Nara out of her paranoid, cynical reverie. She smiled seeing a section blink. She looked at Mei, "I'll be back. Have to go work on this panel."

Mei smiled back knowing Nara waited for those moments. The moment she got to grab a kit and open panel and tool around. "I can do it if you want."

Nara smiled, "Heck no." Nara grabbed a kit and walked toward the panel. She hoped it was complex enough to give her a while to concentrate so her mind wouldn't go to thoughts that scared the wits out of her.

"Detention for Creatives"

Saia & Sam (APCs)

LOCATION: USS Galaxy School Suite

Saia sat pouting. All she wanted to do was finish her painting. Yet Teacher INSISTED they do math instead. Saia had hoped it wouldn't be like her school at home, but yup, it was. And even though sitting and pouting got her sent here, she insisted on showing her disapproval for thwarting her artistic endeavors.

Plus she wasn't sure how Nara would react to this, especially this being Saia's first day at this school. She was just getting used to hearing Nara's voice. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear it yell.

On her side of room, Samantha Widdlestein twirled her computer PADD (or at least attempted to, there were some things that even geniuses couldn't do) on her finger. Every so often, the teachers made her sit in on classes instead of doing the work from her quarters.

And oh how she *loathed* going to class. If only these idiots would just understand that she had finished these assignments *ages* ago...

They probably still would have made her do them, Samantha concluded sourly.

Well, if they wouldn't respect her academic growth, since she should have been in the smegging Academy by now, then she just couldn't respect them.

It was an attitude that had gotten her sent to the principal for mouthing off to her teacher.

In Samantha's defense, most of what she had said to the woman in Klingon had been mere gibberish and it wasn't really fair to try and convict someone without knowing what they had said first. At least that's what Sam would work her thesis around after she graduated from the Academy, pre-Law, the bar, and eventually came back to sue the pants off her teacher.

Samantha looked over from her desk to the new kid with the paint on her fingers. At least, that one looked like she could appreciate what it was like to be interrupted in the middle of the creative process. Sam had been into the fifth chapter of her newest Savage romance novel when her parents had made her go to school this morning.

She set down her computer PADD, slyly inched her desk over, stared down the snubby nosed girl that refused to move her desk out of the way, grinned when the brat relented, and parked her desk next to Saia. "So, what are you in for?"

Saia looked over to the slightly older girl. "I put blue paint on the teacher's nose."

"Hmmm.." Samantha pondered. "Simple yet effective. And easier than trying to say warty-faced, toad breath in Klingon. I'm Samantha M. Widdlestein."

Saia looked at not sure what to think. "Saia." She looked at her a moment, "You have a long name."

Sam nodded. "Just something that is as dramatic as I am. You can call me Sam though. Why'd you paint up your teacher?"

Saia looked at Sam curiously. "She told me I had to work on math. I wasn't done painting yet." Saia looked down at her desks, "Adults always take me away as I'm painting. Just ONCE I'd like to finish one from the beginning."

"I hear you, Sister." Samantha said. "They always manage to interrupt me just when I've started to get on a roll in my novel. I find it easier to get the work done ahead of time so that they cant nag me about it later. Do you want the teacher's homework schedule? I can give it to you but she'll probably change it by tomorrow. She always seems to think that switching in on me will do any good. Maybe if her password were something a little more complicated than 'lovebug.'

Saia looked at Sam and smiled, "You're writing a novel?"

"Yup. A tale of true love and unbridled passion in the times of Atlantis."

Sam said. "Or maybe during World War three. I haven't really decided. Hey!

Maybe you could do my illustrations!"

Saia looked confused, "Aren't we too young to understand that stuff? I never seen 'unbridled passion.' I wouldn't know what to draw."

"Hmmm..." Sam said, tapping her desk thoughtfully with her fingernails. "I can see where that might be a problem for you. Well, you could always draw romantic looking landscapes or something. You know, misty hills, flowers, sunsets, storm clou...yes! It's the hour of freedom, Saia. Detention is over!"

Saia smiled as the images filled her mind. She looked at the clock. "I have to wait for Nara."

"Aw, just let the warden know you've gone with me." Samantha said. "We can go to the arboretum and plan our illustrations. I wont take us anywhere nefarious."

Saia looked confused. They weren't in jail so why was she talking about a warden? "Ok, but what's nef...ne..far...?"

Samantha gave her a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry, Kid. Stick with me and you'll be speaking the language like a pro."

"Smells So Good You Woke The Dead "

Nara & Miramon

Nara walked down the hall. She wanted to pay a visit to someone before picking up Saia. She stood at Miramon's door and rung the chime. Her mood had improved somewhat since O'Shea's reprimand, but she needed to see someone who would be, hopefully pleasantly surprised to see her.

Miramon, in the meantime, had just got out of the shower about 20-30 minutes ago and was now sitting down to something to eat, since being down on Trill had pretty much meant that the only food he'd managed on the surface had been the ration packs that had been handed out to keep everyone's energy levels up - good nutritious value, but you could hardly call it food. After all, people were busy with tending wounds or clearing away rubble, so quality home cooking would hardly be something they'd spend time on. And even if they wanted to, he doubted there were any serviceable kitchen facilities anywhere down there right now.

So a good cooked meal wouldn't go amiss - even though he rarely communicated with his parents, he still held to his mother's admonition to make sure he didn't start losing weight. Sure, he'd been around more than long enough to know this by now, but it never stopped him paying attention to good advice. And so, he'd whipped up a pasta dish with cheese sauce and herbs, enough to feed him and probably a small regiment, but then, anything he didn't eat now could be frozen and saved for whenever he couldn't be bothered to cook.

As he sat down, the Bajoran picked up the salt shaker to add a little something to the pasta - he always cooked it in salt to better drain off the water it boiled in, as well as to add some flavor, but it never gave quite the right amount of pep for his tastes. Once he put it down, he picked up a fork to get started when the door chime went off. He almost sighed - a little peace and quiet never hurt, but restrained himself. It was probably one of the kids aboard ship playing a prank, or maybe Jeremy coming over to discuss the department work they'd likely have to get started on over the next few days.

"Come in!"

Nara stepped in and the whiff of cheese and herbs filled her nose. She looked at the plate in front of her friend. "I didn't know you cooked."

Miramon was just about to smile and agree with her statement when the fact that she was in the room hit him straight on. He looked up and stared directly at Nara, his expression showing a mix of confusion and outright disbelief.

"What the...? You're dead!" His tone took on a questioning, contemplative tone. "So how are you walking around in my quarters?"

Nara smiled, "I have feet. And legs. Toes too." Nara stepped closer, "Oh and I'm not dead."

The ensign blinked rapidly, trying to absorb the idea, then shook his head and looked at Nara with an amused expression. "Well, I don't suppose you eat much when dead, so maybe you'd like to join me?"

Nara sighed looking at the plate and drooling. She frowned, "I don't really have time. I have to pick Saia up soon."

Miramon looked at Nara blankly, raising an eyebrow curiously. "Who?"

"A young girl I met on Trill. She lost her parents, so I brought her here for now."

The Bajoran raised an eyebrow in quiet surprise, but didn't care to dwell on that line of thought. As it was, he hadn't thought Nara to be what he would have considered the 'motherly' type, but even the woman had the capacity to surprise him. After all, she had just come back from being apparently dead. He was still having trouble getting around that - he'd not taken the news of her death particularly well, so how it was that she was still walking around confused him. He'd have to ask more about it when she had more time to talk.

"You're becoming unpredictable, Nara. That's really not fair. But still, was there any purpose of dropping in other than to try and scare me out of a good appetite?"

Nara smiled, "Becoming?" She shrugged, "No, just wanted to say hi and see how you were doing."

She thought a moment, "Well now that I think about it, there's a lot I need to talk to a friend about. How angry I feel at Saul because somehow this scheme of his got me in trouble, and while he saved my life, it's odd how he went about it. How scared I am that suddenly I have a 10 year old little girl on this ship and she's MY responsibility. And..." Nara sighed heavily as she plopped on the chair by the door. She put her head in her hand, "So much to deal with suddenly." She looked up and smiled, "But the priority is Saia and..." Nara looked at the time, "I really need to go." She stood and smiled, "Are you surprised that I just laid it all out in 5 seconds and leaving without explaining one iota of any of it?"

"Nope, not a bit. I've given up trying to understand you, just for the pure benefit of my sanity, which is sometimes in danger of rapidly diminishing. And hey, being a parent might be good for you, you know. Anyway, you best go, if you've got to go and pick up your little charge."

"I promise to explain later." Nara said before she left.

Putting his fork down, the Bajoran sighed. For some reason his appetite had completely gone out of the window. Trust things to get complicated right when he sat down for dinner.

"Frail The Principle"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineer

Saia Juis (APC)

LOCATION: Corridor

"Saia?"

Nara was surprised to hear Saia's voice through her commbadge.

"I let her use the comm panel in my office." The principle stated.

"So ok?" She heard Saia's voice pleading.

Nara paused in her walking. "You'll be with Samantha Widdlestein?"

"In the arboretum."

Nara sighed. The principle had contacted her after she left Miramon's and told her that Saia had to stay 15 more minutes for sassing. Nara had gone to 10-4ward for that time thinking of what to do about that. Nara knew she probably should have said no. Especially considering she would be with the ship brat. Yet she needed to be with other kids. She wasn't sure what the principle would think of Nara being so lenient.

Frail the principle.

"Not long. Stay there. I'll come to pick you up. If Sam leaves before I get there, call me. There's a comm panel in there. Ask her to show you where. Then we're talking." Nara stood a moment longer hearing Saia say a quick thanks and the Principle sigh before closing the link. Nara could just see him shaking his head. Whatever. Nara wasn't sure what to do now. She shook her head and headed back to 10-4ward.

ARCHIVER NOTE: This post occurs *before* "Holding The Reins".

"Fury"

Principal Characters

Cpt. Daren M'Kantu

Commanding Officer, USS Galaxy

1Lt. T'Shani Akledorian

Commanding Officer, SFMC Furies

****

USS Galaxy
Turbolift 4
En route to Main Bridge

She couldn't believe she was back *here* again. Oh, Tish just *knew* she was going to catch hell from Rex, once he found her.

~What a cruel twist of fate that Gessekensett would assign me *here*,~ she thought to herself. But as he had explained it, the Furies needed a new CO, and she was already familiar with the ship, its crew, and how M'Kantu ran the whole circus.

As the lift slowed, changed directions, then accelerated again, Tish realized that for all of the time she had spent previously as a fighter pilot in the SFSC's Vanguard Squadron assigned to the Galaxy, she had never once met the starship's Captain, Daren M'Kantu. From what she heard, he was strict, to the point, yet fair. Exactly what she'd expect from a commanding officer, actually.

~Commanding officer,~ she repeated in her head. She was still amazed that the Colonel had wanted her to lead the 188th's Furies Detachment. She was proud to have been chosen, but just wished it had been another ship.

Eventually, the lift came to a halt, swishing its doors open to reveal the darkened bridge. Moving out of the turbolift alcove, she turned left to walk down the ramp that led to M'Kantu's ready room on the port side, drawing silent stares from the on-duty crew. It wasn't every day that an exotic-looking Andorian female dressed in Class-A dress Blacks and maroon beret walked onto the bridge of the USS Galaxy. She didn't mind however, even if some of the men were more interested in her ass, than her uniform.

Expectantly, she looked over to the command seat, her hearts hoping to see Cass sitting there. She really wanted to see him again, especially after her unexpected departure from the Galaxy, last time. She was let down a little when all she saw was a young Trill woman, staring back at her in slight disbelief. Standing up, the woman - girl, really - moved towards T'Shani.

"May I help you," she paused, studying the single silver bar on Tish's collar.

Obviously, she wasn't familiar with Marine ranks.

"First Lieutenant Akledorian, reporting to Captain M'Kantu, as ordered, 'Commander," Tish said, indicating in her voice that she didn't really want to be kept waiting.

Squinting her eyes in suspicion, the girl walked over to the command seat and depressed a button on the arm console. =/\="Captain M'Kantu, this is Lieutenant Commander Janx. There is a First Lieutenant Ankeldor--"=/\=

"*Akledorian*," Tish corrected.

=/\="Er, yes, Akledorian here to see you, Sir."=/\=

~Krav, whatever happened to discretion?~ Tish thought as she stood there, waiting.

****

USS Galaxy
Deck 1
Captain's Ready Room

No matter what the incident Daren had encountered in Starfleet, no matter how bizarre or outré, Starfleet had a form that had to be filled out regarding it. In his career, Daren had seen - or thought he had - just about any Starfleet Report Form imaginable. Temporal incident to report? You needed an SFR 87-TIR-52. Evil clones of your command staff try to take over the ship report? Just fill out a SRF BXX-7889-1010. Energy being wanting to marry, settle down, and have 'voltlings' with one of the crewmen report? Simple, that was the SRF KL7-ISIWC-87. One of your shuttlecraft develops sentience and applies as member of the crew report? Hunt up a SRF 3E-SFMDS-99. Alien worms plot to overthrow the Federation report? (He made a mental note that he still owed Jean-Luc for dragging him into that mess.) Fill out the SRF ICK-FATP-01. The list was endless.

So, it was no surprise that there was actually a report form that had to be filled out that covered 'crewman sabotages ship at behest of disaffected, traitorous parent.'

In actuality, the SRF 61-CUI-58W form covered a multitude of reasons of influence that might lead a crewman to sabotage his own vessel, from alien mind control to radical political leanings. One just selected the appropriate additional suffix - it was AFB in this case - and carried on with the report.

He'd just gotten to the part where he was explaining why Commander Corgan had felt it necessary to smash the crewman's head into a video pickup repeatedly to punctuate a conversation - frighteningly, he was cribbing language from a report filed on a similar incident from the service record of Victor Krieghoff - when the comm interrupted him.

=/\="Captain M'Kantu, this is Lieutenant Commander Janx. There is a First Lieutenant Ankeldor--"=/\=

=/\="*Akledorian*,"=/\= a clipped feminine voice corrected in the background.

=/\="Er, yes, Akledorian here to see you, Sir."=/\=

The new CO of the Furies, then. Daren checked the chronometer and nodded. Marine precision was still what it used to be in the old days. =/\-"Send her in."=/\= Daren was interested in meeting the woman that had been on and off the Galaxy so many times without once having to see him.

As the doors slid open he found himself unsurprised that she was in Marine Dress Blacks. With Marines, one expected a firmer stand on tradition than in the regular fleet. "Lieutenant," he nodded as he stood. "Welcome aboard the Galaxy again."

Tish paused, for only a moment. He was shorter than she thought he'd be. Still, he had an air about him that radiated respect and authority; a calm that hinted at the immense reserve of power and prowess behind his deep, dark eyes. "Captain, it is my pleasure," she said quickly, retaining her Marine decorum, standing at attention.

"At ease, Lieutenant," Daren nodded. "You're just here to talk, not get dressed down. I just want to go over a few things with you and then I'll let you get back to Marine Country where you'll feel a bit more at home." He picked up both of the empty coffee cups from his desk. "Can I get you something to drink? Coffee perhaps?"

Tish relaxed her posture, nodding assent to Daren's offer.

Daren nodded, recycled the mugs and replicated new ones complete with beverages, then offered one to Tish on his way back to the desk. "Have a seat, Lieutenant, and I'll try to get this over with as painlessly as possible." He waved her to a chair.

~So far, so good,~ she thought to herself, as she took a seat opposite M'Kantu.

He seemed to be a pretty squared-away Captain, not unlike some others she had heard of. Tish eyed the cup of coffee, then looked to Daren, who was silently scrolling through something on his LCARS terminal. No doubt, her service history, which was sure to raise some questions. Silently, she sighed to herself, while leaving the proffered coffee mug untouched.

One sip of the coffee and a glance at his desk's inset LCARS panel later, Daren looked up and nodded. "You have a long covert service record, Lieutenant. Do you think that will pose a problem adjusting to your new spot in the command structure?"

"No, Captain M'Kantu. I do not. That part of my life is, to say the least, over." And she was glad that it was. As much as she lived for adventure and the unknown, she also was beginning to finally get used to what other people called 'normalcy' and even 'routine'. Al'indal had poked fun at her a little, in good humor, over the change of her course of life.

But it *had* been her decision. She knew that she never would have made that leap if it wasn't for serving on the Galaxy. Even though she knew she had been a thorn in Rex's spotted ass, she had finally felt as if she were truly part of *something*; something bigger than just herself and her revenge.

And... there was Cassius. What *was* it about him? She was always asking herself that question. The two of them were completely opposite! She, Andorian. He, a Pinkskin. Her, aggressive. Him, passive. Her, glass half-empty, him...well, you got the idea.

"Colonel Markay'd'in said as much when I spoke to him earlier," Daren said before taking another sip of his coffee. "He was sorry to see you go - but pleased that you had, if you understand my meaning."

Tish wasn't surprised that Al'indal had already spoken with M'Kantu. No doubt, Gessekensett had done so, as well. Tilting her head forward in agreement, she simply replied, "I do, Captain."

"Good." Daren set the coffee down. "Now how do you feel about being back aboard Galaxy?"

~How *do* I feel?~ she asked herself. So much had happened in the eight months since she had left. The Battle at Havras (which she was still disappointed that she missed), the redesign and refit of the Galaxy, the disaster at Trill... life never seemed to be truly 'normal' on board this ship. "I feel fine, Sir. I am anticipating improving what Lieutenant Hayes started here."

"Fine?" he shook his head. "When I was about to assume my first real command position, I think 'nervous,' 'worried,' and perhaps even 'privately terrified' were closer to what I felt." He smiled slightly. "All of which are, so I'm told, perfectly normal things. The trick, you see, is to learn to make decisions without letting nerves, worries, and private terrors influence those decisions." He looked at Tish for a moment. "Wouldn't you agree, lieutenant?'

Tish smiled, just a little. He was good. "Under normal circumstances, I'd have to agree with your assessment, Captain. However, my service to the 'Corps has been... 'unique', shall I say. I can honestly say that there isn't very much that surprises me, anymore."

M'Kantu shook his head. "Oh, to be young again." He leaned forward and smiled. "A word of advice from an old officer to a younger one, Lieutenant: there are things that it is best not to say aloud, because the universe is listening. That's one of them - because there's always something that will surprise you headed your way."

Tish realized that he was trying to give some light-humored advice. But instead, it gave her a chill down her back. She had had too many surprises, especially recently. Strangely enough, managing a space-air-ground battle was much preferable to her than some of her former 'missions'.

"Understood, Captain," she replied. "I have learned that, as well." Then, changing the subject, "Captain, as you most likely know, I will be reporting to you during normal duties, and in missions that assist your crew and Hazard Team. Otherwise, if we are deployed on a major mission, Colonel J'Genthk will be my CO. I hope this will not cause any problems, Captain," she said, while trying to keep her voice even and neutral. The last thing she wanted was to sound patronizing, especially to M'Kantu.

"I'm aware of the somewhat unusual command-chain you're at the end of, Lieutenant," he nodded. "I once spent five months attached to a small-ship deep-space reconnaissance team that consisted of myself, a Romulan Centurion, and a T'K'Lank'in - an insectoid race that looks like a human-sized Terran preying mantis with nine eyes. Each of us reported to someone different in our respective fleets, we all started out distrusting and disliking each other - especially the Centurion and I - and we wound up having to vote on command decisions. Now that was a tangled chain of command." He smiled. "Speaking of the Rhihannsu, are you doing all right with your sessions?"

Tish shifted uncomfortably. She had hoped that this topic wouldn't have come up, but she realized that M'Kantu would have access to her record, and would bring it up.

"I have completed several rounds, Captain, all to - what my therapist has called - 'good effect'," she stated simply, not wanting to give away any details that he might use to command her to take *more* of those dreaded sessions.

"Good." He sipped at his coffee. "You know I have to take sessions too, don't you?"

T'Shani was caught off-guard; she hadn't expected to hear that. Tilting her head to one side, while arching an antenna, "No, Captain, I was not aware of that."

"They're required by Fleet Command for all officers in command positions above the Department Head level," he explained. "But I'd be assigned the sessions regardless."

"Really? Why?" She asked. She knew it wasn't really any of her business, but was curious, nonetheless.

"Because my wife divorced me after Wolf 359 when I wouldn't resign my commission," he said quietly. "And because..." he hesitated, and then slowly and deliberately finished, "I lost my only child, Bahyiah, in the raider attack on Tevron VII that destroyed the colony."

"I...I'm sorry, Captain. I didn't know."

"No reason you should," he said with a sad smile. "I haven't told anyone currently aboard the ship except the counselor I see. I'm telling you for two reasons: One, because it helps to know that you're not the only person doing something; and Two, because both sides of you command chain feel that it would be good for you to continue yours." He offered her a padd.

"I understand, Captain," she said as Daren handed the padd to her. Though she wasn't wild about undergoing sessions again, she'd do what was asked, behave, and maybe get herself excused early.

Looking at the padd, "Am..mana..lyn Ly..whyn," Tish sounded out the counselor's name. Looking up, "A Daeydryn? I've heard about their race, but I've never met one."

"She one of the few to leave her planet," Daren confirmed. "If you don't mind the suggestion, I'd do a little reading on her people before you have your first session - it might help a great deal."

"I will do that," Tish replied, still a little uneasy about the whole counseling deal.

"That's actually all the bad news I have for you, Lieutenant - with one exception: I have assigned one of the civilian dependents aboard to your Lieutenant London as an aide in an effort to straighten the girl out. She's to follow Lieutenant London's order and Marine discipline while she's there - but she not, under any circumstances, to enter a combat situation or live combat zone no matter what her protests. If, in your opinion, Ms. Widdlestein becomes a problem, then I will rescind that assignment. All right?"

"Understood, Captain."

"Then I think we're done, Lieutenant... unless there's something you'd like to ask me?"

Tish stood up, forming to attention, nodded her antennas once and replied, "No, Captain. Nothing further. I'm glad to be back on the Galaxy."

“And I’m glad to see you back aboard, Lieutenant,” Daren nodded. “With any luck we can keep those surprises to a minimum for you this time around. Dismissed.”

"Aye, Captain," she said before turning on her heel, and walking back onto the bridge.

HERETICS

OOC: With this post, the next mission, entitled "Heretics" begins. We'll be in transit to Starbase 212 for a couple of days. You should post your characters coming back to the ship, and en-route to 212. I'll try to have us leaving 212 by Monday.

"Milk Run" - Part 1

Primary Characters:
Captain Daren M'Kantu, Commanding Officer
Commander Cassius Henderson, Executive Officer

****

Main Bridge,
Deck 1,
USS Galaxy

The USS Galaxy sailed along smoothly in her geosynchronous orbit of the planet Trill. Below them, dust clouds and fires, direct results of the impact of the USS Akula, were slowly beginning to die away. The process of healing had begun over the month since the defeat of Commander Thomas and his crew of terrorists.

Cass Henderson arrived on the bridge fifteen minutes after leaving the surface. Glancing out the viewscreen, he was pleased to see the USS Demeter taking up its position in the center of the formation of starships currently dedicated to the relief effort. Galaxy had only recently vacated that position, he realized.

From the conversation that he could overhear on his way to the ready room, most of the crew had already been recalled. A few of the work crews that were in the middle of a project had been allowed to remain until they had completed their work.

Cass continued past the tactical arch and rang the chime to Captain M'Kantu's ready room door. Sparing one last glance at Trill, he had to admit, he was ready to be far from the place. As beautiful as it was, there was a part of him that wanted be far from the memory of what had happened. He could only imagine what Corran Rex was going through. Tragedy didn't even begin to describe it.

"Come in, Number One."

Nodding to himself, he stepped into the ready room.

****

Captain's Ready Room,
Deck 1,
USS Galaxy

The dark-skinned Captain of the Galaxy was obviously haggard from the events of the last month. The casualty toll had eclipsed a quarter million beings already, thankfully only a small percentage of being fatal. The infrastructure could be recovered in time, but the psychological cost to the planet and its peoples would be a long road to travel.

His always present cup of herbal tea having lost its steam long ago lay cold and dormant on the mahogany desk, much like the emotional state of its owner.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Henderson?" He rose to meet his XO, tugging down the sides of his jacket half-heartedly.

"Just got back. I was wondering if our official orders come in yet?" Cass asked, sitting down across from the captain. "Captain Larkin mentioned that we're to be ferrying Admiral Proctor from SB 212 to Deep Space 5."

"Yes, they have. I was planning a briefing with you in an hour's time, but now will do. Sit." He gestured to the vacant seat across the desk as he again settled into his own.

Cass gratefully took his seat. He'd been up and about for too many hours.

"Admiral Proctor is due to arrive at 212 within the day. Legate Curran is with her as well, having returned from his leave of absence." He adjusted the terminal to display the flight path and order jacket for Cass' full view.

"Deep Space 5 is undergoing its routine command relief. As you are likely aware, the close proximity of the station to Hydran, Romulan, and Breen space makes for long communication delays, morale issues, and inherent dangers. Our patrol route takes us near the station once a year for supply and personnel changes. Starfleet Command has increased our schedule to deliver the Admiral and her staff to replace Commodore Jerdberg immediately. We are to accord her every courtesy while en route." He raised his hand slightly before the XO could interject.

"She is not taking command of the Galaxy, Commander. The Admiral is strictly a passenger."

"Oh, I'm quite aware of the protocols involved," Cass replied. People like Proctor made him more than a little nervous in chain of command situations. Livia Proctor herself was a downright danger to the ship. "That's not to say that she won't try, given the right circumstances."

"Are you familiar with the Admiral? Your background and nature of previous tasks would suggest you are. What can you tell me about her? Don't leave anything out."

"I've only met her once, but it was enough to leave an impression," the Executive Officer nodded as he thought back. "Her full name is Olivia Marie Proctor, but everyone calls her Livia for a reason. It was actually started by Irene deMercereau at one of the Admiralty dinners, I'm told."

"You see, Proctor has a son, who she has spared no effort to advance in life. It's largely by her doing that she's gotten Ryan Proctor a ship. Consequently, there's something of a parallel between her and the historical Livia, wife of the Emperor Augustus, who maneuvered Tiberius into position to take the throne after Augustus' death. Proctor allows it because she thinks it's a comparison to Livia's power and control."

"As to her capabilities... She's a member of the Hawk faction. A fairly skilled administrator, but an extremely weak tactician," he continued. "Unfortunately, she fancies herself a strategist. If you want my opinion, the Hawks have placed her in command of DS5 because it requires a good administrator, and it's proximity to the border allows her to imagine it's a strategic command. Unfortunately, she may be right."

"That's a mighty dangerous prerogative made. 'Imagining' yourself a tactician and being one is a fine line when placed in a strategic position. We've already lost outposts along that stretch; we can ill afford to lose another. There's more to this than meets the eye, Commander." Daren leaned back into his slipseat, steepling his fingers. "Tell me your hypothesis on the assignment, Number One. I'd be interested in hearing your notions."

Cassius set his jaw against his fist, leaning forward. "I'm not entirely sure. If you mean Proctor, I think the Hawks wanted one of their own in the spot. I find that doubtful, though, seeing as they already have Admiral Valerian in the region, commanding 10th Fleet. If you mean us... I think, respectfully, that they're still waiting for you to pick a side, sir.

"Do you fancy yourself a Hawk or Dove, Mr. Henderson?"

"I'd love to say 'Dove', Captain, but I'd be lying. Honestly, I think 'Hawk' and 'Dove' are both a little too extreme," he replied. "I follow Admiral deMercereau's line of reasoning. We have to be vigilant, but at the same time, we can't loose sight of why the Federation was founded. Both factions are a little too reactionary for my tastes. Not enough balance."

Daren nodded, without giving away his own ideals. Best to keep his Executive officer on alert in the event he was reporting to other more facetious commanders. This wasn't the time to let one's guard down in these times, even if the current President is a Dove herself. Perhaps even more so.

Many of Starfleet's upper Admiralty supported the Hawk factions. Daren was an explorer through and through. He'd seen enough of war, and knew it was not an option if it could be avoided. Unfortunately, those same Admirals did not believe in the same methods. Could it be that the Federation is sinking into the theoretical concern that ran rampant on Vulcan and the Security Council in 2379? It would be a twist of fate indeed if the Federation and Rihannsu Star Empire switched ideals.

Nan Bacco came from a war-torn world freshly raised anew over the last century, so even if she hadn't experienced the holocaust dealt by the Gorn all those years ago, she at least understood the nature of war and its inevitable conclusions. It was all politics, and something he was content to not be a part of.

"Let us hope that others share your ideas as well, Commander. Times are becoming perilous, and allegiances being drawn in the sand. We may one day have to declare one or the other, even if both sides are only reciprocating the others mandates for spite. Do not let yourself be baited by Admiral Proctor into revealing yourself for any reason. We'll let our Diplomatic Liaison take care of matters with her needs." Releasing his fingers, he reached over with one calloused finger to activate the communications console.

"Flight Control?"

[Aye, sir.] The carefully enunciated vocals of Miramon Terrik floated back.

"Set course for Starbase 212. Full impulse until we leave the system, maximum warp when we do. We depart in an hour."

[Aye, sir.]

"Ms. Tarin."

[Aye, sir?]

"Recall all personnel from the planet's surface immediately, regardless of actions. The Demeter and its relief convoys have arrived and we must depart. I'll confirm our departure and express wishes to safe reparations with the Trill government before we leave."

[Aye, sir. Orders dispatched.]

Keying the channel closed, M'Kantu turned his attention back to Henderson.

"I am sensitive to your situation, Number One, but I'll need a report on personnel before we arrive at Starbase 212. We have several new crewmembers joining us, and some concerns expressed by others as it relates to certain members of Intelligence and Engineering. I want to leave no stone unturned to give the Admiral a record on our efficiency."

"Gimme My Blade Back"

Commander Cassius Henderson
Executive Officer, USS Galaxy

1st Lieutenant T'Shani Akledorian
Commanding Officer, SFMC Furies

with... Lieutenant JG Rima Pennington, Tactical Officer

****

Outside Commander Henderson's Quarters,
Deck 8,
USS Galaxy

Tish hadn't bothered to change out of her Dress Blacks, mainly because she hadn't bothered to visit her quarters, yet. It certainly drew attention, as most 'Fleeters weren't used to seeing a Marine in full dress. But Tish didn't really care. She had something she needed to do, before turning in for the night.

Reaching her destination, she reached out to the door's 'Call' button. Hesitantly, she paused before depressing the pad. ~What are you afraid of, Tish?~ she asked herself. Was it that she still had feelings for the Commander? Was it she felt he might have forgotten her? Or was it the still-powerful memory of her last visit to his quarters?

"Ah, screw it," she muttered under her breath, while stabbing the button.

****

Commander Henderson's Quarters,
Deck 8,
USS Galaxy

The lights were off.

Cass rubbed his eyes. He'd been staring at the monitor for too long.

Pennington was asleep on the couch. She was starting to crash at his quarters more and more often, complaining bitterly about her roommate. After living alone as the ACTO, Rima couldn't get used to living with an overweight young woman who spent her days in operations pushing papers that were unimportant enough that she could be trusted with them, and her nights drunker than three Tellarite asteroid miners on shore leave.

He glared down at the most recent reports from his field agents. That was the benefit of being an SFI Agent as well as the Executive Officer of a ship of the line: You didn't necessarily have to do your own dirty work. In fact, usually you had to delegate.

Usually the reports were fairly bland.

Tonight, however, that was changing. His agent on the IKS Gor'Naq seemed to have stumbled onto something. For a Klingon, Bazra was a pretty good operative. And the number of times the Gor'Naq had crossed the path of a Cardassian trading ship known as the Golkor was, as Bazra pointed out, suspiciously high.

He was considering the wording in the return message when the chime rang.

~Shit. Rima's going to wake up.~

As if on cue, a groan came from the couch in the far corner of the room, and he could make out the lithe form of Rima Pennington rolling over.

Reaching over, he pressed a button to simply open the door. As the figure was silhouetted in the door, he raised a finger to his lips.

"Quiet."

Tish perked an antenna at that greeting. Pushing past him, into his quarters, she turned around to face him, not seeing Rima on the far couch.

"Really, Cassius. This isn't a super-secret rendezvous. It's not like I'm handing over the Valkyrie, again."

"Yeah, I think he gets that. However, unlike some people, he's actually slightly concerned as to whether I can stay awake at the weapons console tomorrow afternoon," Rima griped, rising to a sitting position on the couch, her unbeknownst presence surprising Tish.

Cass shrugged and shut the screen off, "Well, there you have it. What are you doing on board, T'Shani?" She couldn't possibly be the new CO for the Furies. BUPERS had told him it would be some guy named Grimes. Not that the bio file for Mr. Grimes had been particularly spectacular.

Tish's brow creased, and her antennas flared back just a little in mild annoyance. " 'What are you doing on board'?" she mimed back sarcastically. "Gee, nothing like, 'Nice to see you again, Tish'," she flailed one blue hand into the air, "Or, 'How have you been doing, Tish?'," she flung out the other, "Or, 'Glad to see you didn't get killed on that mission that I destroyed the Valkyrie in, Tish.' "

Rima gritted her teeth. ~Sleep. I need sleep. Not a melodramatic Andorian marine picking a fight with Cass. Sleep.~

"T'Shani, it's four in the morning. I should be asleep, let alone Rima or you," he replied irritably. "And for that matter, what happened to the Valkyrie can hardly be called 'destroyed', especially given that I was facing a Hydran Battlecruiser. There's plenty of time for those questions..."

She cut him off, while ignoring Pennington. She was visibly angry that he seemingly hadn't really cared that she had gone, after all. "I'll tell you what I'm doing here, *Commander*," she said, her golden eyes flaring while catching a glint of light from the object she had come to retrieve.

Marching over to the indented alcove on the small wall, she reached up and yanked the meter-long wicked looking, multi-pronged sword from its holder, all the while silently fuming at his apparent lack of being happy to see her again.

"T'Shani," he barked, "Are you ever going to calm down and stop acting like a child?" Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Pennington recovering herself with the blankets and holding the pillow over her head.

Flipping the blade once in her hand, she turned back, facing Cass. "Just gimme my blade back, Cassius, and I'll be out of your way. I'm going to need this to teach my Furies how to hand-to-hand properly."

He sighed. Trying to reason with her had never been the most possible of things to do. And it was late. "Yeah, I suppose you will. Congratulations on the new command."

She ignored him *and* Rima - whose skinny little Pinkskin ass *she* had helped save - too steamed to stop and listen. Instead, she plowed past him again, chaka sword in tow. "I'll see you at the Masthead, tomorrow morning *Commander*," she said icily, letting the door shut in front of her as she backed into the hallway.

Cass pursed his lips in frustration, and let her go. T'Shani would calm down eventually, just like she usually did. If not, it wasn't his problem anymore. Unless she was still doing Intelligence work, which he strongly suspected.

He walked over and sat down next to Rima's curled up form. "It seems like every time she shows up, my life gets complicated," he said, relaxing into the couch.

"Yeah," Rima sat up and wrapped her arms around the XO's shoulders. The first time, when Akledorian had convinced him to join her at Rel'kessan, Rima had run away from Starfleet. "And I haven't really helped that at all. For what it's worth, I'm sorry about that."

"I know... It's okay. What's done is done," he replied, pulling her close. Neither of them had really broached the subject of their feelings for each other. Instead, they'd settled back into their old habits. "I guess we'll see how badly I've pissed her off tomorrow."

Rima laid her head on his shoulder. She was exhausted. The relief efforts on Trill had taken her energy. "I should know better than to try to sleep here."

"Where else would you go?"

"True."

****

Outside Commander Henderson's Quarters

"ZHUCK!" she yelled out loud, after the door had closed. She struggled to not lift the deadly chaka blade above her head and impale it in those infernal gray doors.

Instead, she slowly turned around, told herself not to break down crying, and quickly walked down the corridor, glaring at a yeoman that tried to ask if she was 'okay'.

~NO! I'm *not* okay,~ she wanted to yell. But the combination of a deadly look, and the deadly steel tremoring in her right fist, convinced the young Bolian girl to move along, question unanswered.

~How could he not *care*?~ she asked herself. ~He saved my life, and he doesn't even *CARE*!~ She couldn't take it anymore. Tears started to appear at the corner of her eyes, as she ran to the nearest turbolift, rushing in, and commanding it to deposit her near her quarters on deck 10.

As the doors closed, a muffled sob could barely be heard.

"Why Men are Stupid"

Lt. Jasmine Heloi XO, Vanguard Sqdr. CO, Science Dept.

1Lt. T'Shani Akledorian CO, 188th Furies TSS Dtc.

== Ten-Forward ==

<Moments after "Gimme My Blade Back">

The red haired science chief and executive officer of Vanguard Squadron regarded the data on her PADD thoughtfully as she reached for her drink. Truthfully, she should probably be handling her science related duties in her office (be it her chief's office or her XO's office) but she preferred being right where she was. After all, despite the replicator present in her office or just down the hall, there was something different if not more special when it came to sitting in ten forward.

Jasmine Heloi sighed softly as she put down the PADD. She needed to think more on how she wanted to handle the various requests for lab space and experiment approval. She also needed to consider how and when she wanted to start her own experiments. Jazz had a theory about enhancing the energy output and precision of the OMS thrusters on the fighters but she wanted to prove the science behind it before she tinkered with her own fighter. Biting her lower lip, she picked up the PADD again and began scheduling time for the labs.

*SWISH*

The paneled-oak doors that led into the Ten-Forward lounge parted to reveal a tall, blue, and royally-pissed looking Marine in full Class-A Dress uniform. The small crowd that was assembled near the doors quickly parted... it wasn't wise to be in the general vicinity of an angry female Andorian, unless you were an Andorian male looking to mate.

After storming away from Commander Henderson's quarters, she had managed to return her chaka to her own suite, thankfully without stabbing it through a corridor panel.

Huffing, antennas arched forward, Tish simply pushed past the onlookers, not caring if she was drawing attention to herself or not. ~I just need a drink,~ she thought. ~A *real* drink.~ She moved to the far end of the bar, hoping to just be left alone. She couldn't believe it: not even four hours on board, and she already wished she had turned Gessekensett down on this offer. ~Why the hell did I come back here?~ She motioned for the bartender to hurry up and get the hell over to her end of the bar.

Jasmine had, at first, not noticed the dramatic entrance. But the surge of anger that struck against her mental shields definitely caught her attention. Wincing slightly as she strengthened her shields, the Betazoid turned to determine just who was feeling the anger. Ever since her experiences on the freighter, her mental abilities had seemed to be more sensitive. Then again, being a passenger in her own body while some other entity 'fed' upon her tended to leave an impact. Unexpectedly, the fighter pilot's lips stretched into a smile as she finally spotted the woman who was raising such a mental ruckus.

It had been a long time since she had last seen the Andorian, or, at least, it seemed like a long time. In that space of months (or was it weeks, she really couldn't remember) it was obvious that time had not been as kind to her as she had hoped. "Tish!" Jasmine called, ignoring the confused looks from the others at the bar. She suspected that if she lowered her shields a hair their thoughts would lean towards her being 'insane' for wanting to associate with the Andorian.

T'Shani's left antenna perked in the direction of the call. No one called her "Tish", unless it was someone she considered a friend. And right now, there weren't many 'friends' she considered to be on the USS Galaxy.

Whoever it was, the person had managed to piss her off, even more. Turning quickly to her left she stood, ready to confront whoever it was... only to quickly drop her hands from in front of her, it was Jazz.

Heloi smiled even though the waves of anger emanated from the Andorian belied the friendliness she was trying to project. "T'Shani, it's good to see you," the Betazoid said warmly.

"Yeah, good to see you too, Jasmine. Oh," she stopped, eying the double-bars on Jasmine's white collar, "I should say, *Lieutenant* Heloi. What did Rex finally get sent to the loony bin?" she smirked, while sitting down again on her barstool, while pulling out another at her side for Jazz.

Jasmine laughed as she sat down next to her, placing PADD and drink in front of her, "No, Corran's still around and kicking. Though these," she pointed at her rank pips, "Did come as a bit of a surprise. I'm filling out two different positions now. I'm still the Squadron XO but now I'm moonlighting as the Science Chief. Sometimes its hard to keep everything straight up here." She tapped the side of her head and smirked, "When did you get back on board?"

"This morning," Tish deadpanned as the bartender brought both of them a colorful, blue and yellow swirled drink, each with a lime wedge on the rim of the glass. Tish slid one towards Jazz. "Here, help me drown my sorrows in fake alcohol."

"That bad?" the Betazoid whistled through her teeth, "Wow. To think, only a morning back on board and already you're searching for the faux alcohol."

Tish finished sipping her drink, thought a moment, then replied, "Men are so stupid, Jazz. You think they'd be happy to see you again, after months and months of being gone, but they just are like," she changed her face to look very serious, " 'Oh, it is you, what are you doing back here', ya know? No 'I'm glad to see you again', or 'how are you doing', right?" Tish stopped her rant, resting her chin in her hand. "Sorry Jazz, I didn't mean to unload on you like that. Rhooz, I'm such a basket case."

"Bah," she waved off Tish's apology, "What're friends for? I'll share a secret with you, Tish. Men are stupid. It's a fact of life. Generations of women just like you have come to that conclusion and generations after us will do the same. But, *who* exactly are we talking about?" Tish paused, for two reasons. First, was the obvious: Jazz had called Tish a 'friend'. Even though she had been absent from the Galaxy - and thus, Vanguard Squadron - for nearly six months, she *had* missed Jasmine's calming influence. She really *was* a good friend.

The second reason was more pragmatic: Tish wasn't sure she wanted to yet divulge her secret affliction for Cass. The last thing she needed was for it to get around the ship that the Wild Andorian Woman wanted to get her freak on with the XO.

"Mmmm... someone, Jazz. Just... someone." She hadn't meant to be rude to Jazz, but she wasn't even comfortable with what she still felt for the Commander. ~If only I had a power-rope, a bed, and two or three hours at my disposal... I could change his mind...~ her thoughts wandered. Inadvertently, she was getting herself excited.

Jasmine arched an eyebrow slightly as she looked at her friend. It looked, not to mention felt, like she was more than a little infatuated with whomever this 'someone' was. Though she was alive with curiosity, she said nothing to push Tish into revealing her 'special friend.'

Quickly changing the subject, "So, how about Wes? You still jockeying his flightstick?" She grinned wickedly, while feigning 'doe-eyes' of innocence, before quickly taking another long haul on her drink.

Jazz snorted, "Good grief, Tish! And, well..." her cheeks flushed slightly as she smiled, "Yes, we're still an 'item' though I haven't seen him for a few months. We chatted for a bit a few weeks ago but it just isn't the same. Long distance relationships can be stressful sometimes, but good things come to those who wait. Or however that saying goes."

"Well, if you ask *my* opinion, Jazz - which I'm sure you would anyway - you and him would have cute kids. You should convince him to fly with the Vanguards... I'm sure he could help you keep Rex from performing another Kamikaze run."

The Betazoid's smile faltered slightly as she shook her head, "Somehow I doubt that Wes could discourage Corran from doing much of anything. Hell, having the two of them together for any length of time is inviting trouble. They might end up daring each other into doing ever more stupid things until one of them either gives up or gets themselves killed."

"I know," Tish said, finishing her drink. She felt a little more relaxed now. "Sometimes I wonder if that crazy drunk in his head - Vorrin - doesn't still take over."

She finished off her drink and signaled for another, "You know, it wouldn't surprise me. Then again, having Vorrin shouting at you for any length of time would probably taint you...especially if its all mental."

*CHITTER-CHIRP*

Tish reached up and tapped her commbadge. "Lieutenant T'Shani here," she spoke aloud.

[Lieutenant, you have a Priority Three message from Starbase 212.] a soft, rolling (probably Caitian) voice informed over the commlink.

Heloi's eyes widened slightly at the words 'priority three.' While, obviously not as important as a Priority One or a Priority Two a Three was still rather impressive. Vaguely she wondered just what Tish had gotten herself into before squashing that thought firmly. It was none of her business unless Tish made it her business.

"Understood, I'll take it in my office," she said while closing the commlink, before the other voice could confirm her order.

"Well Jazz," she said while standing up and pushing her barstool back in, "I guess I'm *important* now. It's probably just my CO calling in to make sure I haven't killed any of the Marines yet." She wouldn't be surprised if that was exactly what J'Genthk was calling for, as there were a couple Marines in the Furies that shouldn't be... like Donut.

Jasmine smiled, "I'm sure it is."

"I'll see you 'round, Jazz. Oh, and don't tell Rex I'm here. I want to... *surprise* him," she said, just before the doors closed behind her.

The Science Chief waved at her friend, bemused. Corran would certainly be *surprised* to see the Andorian again. Something told her that life was about to get interesting again and she was looking forward to seeing the fireworks.

"The Meeting of the Illogical Half-Vulcan and the Naive Marine Shrink"

Ensign Branwen London
Ensign 8-ball Hunter

The yo-yo went down and then back up. Down and then back up.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

8-ball walked around her quarters as she played with her newfound yo-yo. She was sort of bored, but in a good way, a way that meant that she didn't have to go play with annoying children or kiss Starfleet ass or pretend to care about anything the science department found fascinating. She had a day of freedom, all to herself, to do whatever she wanted. So of course there was nothing to do.

Down. Up. Down. Up.

One of the kids at the school had given her the yo-yo because they actually liked her; 8-ball kept it because she found it amazing that at least one of the children liked her, and also because she was currently bored with kicking around Eptgac. So she played with the yo-yo now, and while it was true that she would rather be partying with Ella and Indigo or flirting with some guy or even flirting with some girl, she was relatively content with her yo-yo and the peaceful silence of her quarters, of not having to deal with anybody.

The door chimed.

8-ball shook her head. She should have known better. "Come in," she said.

Branwen stepped inside.  "Good evening, I am Branwen London, marine psychologist.  I was wondering if you have a moment to spare for me.  I would like to talk about Samantha."

8-ball blinked at her. There was a marine psychologist in her room. That took a moment's worth of adjustment. A marine psychologist in her quarters was every bit as likely as a blond bodybuilder with a smart brain, good heart, and an engagement ring in her quarters. Figures that she'd get the army shrink.

Once her adjustment period went through, 8-ball realized who this Branwen was talking about. "Samantha? Samantha Widdelstein? Oooh, baby, yeah I could have a moment, maybe an hour, maybe even a decade to talk about that little demon. What did you want to know?

"I have time."  Branwen smiled.  "The captain's report said that she was to be punished for something that happened when she was with you.  Can you tell me more about it, are you friends?"

8-ball started laughing; she couldn't help it. When she had air to breathe, 8-ball said, "You're a funny one, Bran. No, Sam and I aren't friends. We are so emphatically not friends that you could even call us deadly enemies." 8-ball frowned. "Hmmm. My arch nemesis is a teenage know-it-all. That's sort of pathetic."

"Anyway," 8-ball said, "I ran into Samantha in the corridor where she was setting up a headshrinker booth. . .no offense, sorry.  . .and I told her I wasn't interested. She tried starting a riot in the hallway to get other passing people to hate me, and then dragged me into the messhall where we sort of got into a food fight. A massive food fight. I haven't been in one that huge since the Academy. It was actually sort of fun, until getting called to the principal's office and getting sent to detention with even more children." 8-ball shook her head. "I am so sick of kids I could scream. Anyway, that's what happened with Sam. Why are you looking into it?"

Bran sat there wiping her eyes.  "That is very funny.  I had a feeling I shouldn't underestimate the little girl.  The captain has appointed me her mentor.  I have to teach her about being a marine and a shrink.  And I don't think he did me a favour.  How come you ended up her first victim, pure chance?"

"No, he most certainly did not do you a favor," 8-ball replied. "As for me. . .yeah, my encounter with Sam was pretty much all bad luck. If I had been paying attention, I maybe could have avoided walking directly into her path, or if I could have just made up some innocent little lie about being beaten by my mother or something and pretended I had deep psychological issues, then maybe it could all have been avoided, but as it is. . ." 8-ball sighed. "Lady Luck is not with me these days. I need to go back to Risa. Anyway, did you want to know anything else?"

"Lucky you, that you have no psychological issues."  Branwen said.  "Maybe I could ask you for advice once in a while, about Samantha. I Am still getting to know the people on the ship, and making friends."  She finished a little shy.

8-ball raised an eyebrow. This was a shy, sweet, marine psychologist. . .there had to be maybe three in the whole universe. Most shrinks had nasal voices and got their kicks out of making your statements into questions, just to be annoying. And most marines were ball-busting, gungo-ho, Rambo types, even the women. This Branwen was something else all right. 8-ball thought she almost kind of liked her, in the way you almost kind of liked your dumb little naive sister. . .you want to protect them, sorta, but it's fun to get them in trouble too.

But 8-ball figured she could play nice. As long as Branwen wasn't trying to delve into her psyche, 8-ball didn't mind her. She could be, you know, friendly. It was possible at any rate.

"Sure," 8-ball said. "I don't know I'd be a lot of help with Samantha, but you're welcome to try me out. And you could always come over and hang and talk about life and boys or whatever. God knows I don't have tons of friends on this boat either. So, yeah, that sounds cool."

"That sounds great."  Branwen smiled broadly.  "Let's see when we both have a night off, and organise a girls night.  Movies, food, and no men!"

~Peppiest marine I ever met. . .~ 8-ball thought to herself. Outloud, she said, "Okay. Well, this weekend is pretty clear for me. . . I could be into a junk-food-movie-no-men night." Then she grinned. "Any specific man that we should have fun hexing, or is it just men in general that are annoying?"

Branwen blushed profusely.  "Just general."  She mumbled.

Well, THAT certainly wasn't true. Anybody who blushed like that obviously had feelings for somebody. But 8-ball wouldn't pry. Yet. That'd be what the girls night was for. Because while whoever Bran liked probably wasn't very important to 8-ball's life, 8-ball was like most people: she loved ship gossip. It was fun, knowing who was dating who, who wanted to murder who, and so on and so forth. There had to be SOMETHING to do on a ship flying through space, didn't there?

"Okay," 8-ball said. "What about we do something on Saturday? Get a few girls together, hang out, and no men allowed. Sound cool?"

"Saturday is fine by me."  Branwen said excited.  She had missed stuff like this growing up.  And even at the Academy had not made for great deal of friends.

"Neatsy," 8-ball said. "Saturday it is." 8-ball smiled at her yo-yo and wondered what trouble they could get into and how much fun they could have.

"Let the good times roll," 8-ball said, still smiling.

"Settling In"

Ensign Eytan, Medical Officer

Eytan heaved a sigh as he stepped into his quarters for the first time. He glanced around the sparsely furnished room and ran a gloved hand through his hair. "Home, sweet home," he mumbled as he tossed his bags on his bed, pulled his gloves off, and began unpacking.

"Computer," he stated, smiling slightly at the familiar chirp, "let's hear some music." He paused in thought, and then suddenly grinned. "Mahler's Symphony Number One," he said, and nodded as the symphony, a sentimental favorite of his, began playing.

He thought back to the day that he first heard it, the day after Kathryn Janeway had fooled Kashyk, the Devore investigator sent to discover Eytan and the other Brenari refugees hiding on Voyager. Ever since he found out about how Janeway had the computer play it on the bridge to "help Kashyk relax" after finding out he'd just been duped by Janeway and Voyager's entire crew, he'd had a soft spot for it.

When he pulled out a picture of himself and Dr. Mazrin Nox in Leran Manev, just weeks before the Akula crashed into the capital city of Trill, he frowned and sat down on his bed. Even though he'd only known the Trill doctor for a couple of months, Mazrin was about the closest thing to family Eytan had had in six years. Knowing that he was gone, along with the Nox symbiont and all the memories and experiences of its previous hosts, left an empty feeling in Eytan.

~Well, almost all of Nox's memories and experiences, at least,~ Eytan reminded himself as he rubbed his temple. When he'd taken Mazrin's hand in his own as the Trill was dying, his telepathy had flared up and some of those memories were transferred over to Eytan's own mind. He wasn't sure how long they'd be there, though he doubted it would be permanent, but the idea of having the memories of a woman, one of Nox's hosts from the 23rd century, still weirded him out.

Eytan set the picture aside and stood up, walking over to the viewport and looking out at Trill. Leran Manev wasn't in sight, which was both a shame and a relief. In a way he wanted to see how bad it looked from orbit. "Probably nowhere near as bad as it looks on the surface," he muttered, his hand clenching into a fast. Eytan was glad that the Galaxy was able to stop whoever it was that did all of this, but he wished he'd had a chance at the bastard first himself.

Eventually he wandered back to his bed and lay down on it, staring up at the ceiling before grabbing the picture and looking at it again. He thought back to happier times, to the many lessons Mazrin had put him through, and Eytan grinned as he imagined the old doctor's voice in his head, berating him for something or other as always, but somehow always managing to find a way to compliment his skills as a doctor.

The First Movement of Mahler's Symphony came to an end, and the computer quickly began the Second Movement. "Computer, increase volume fifteen percent," Eytan ordered. As the computer complied, he brought his hands up underneath his head and closed his eyes, smiling as the music filled the room.

"Precious Moments" Pt. 2

Lt. Commander Brianna "Anna" O'Shea
Chief Engineer / Liaison SCE
USS Galaxy.

Ens. Marcus Slayton
Engineer, USS Galaxy.

It's early in the afternoon when the sunlight and sounds of the ocean come creeping through the windows of the house where Anna and Marcus are staying at for their vacation. Peckerwood is climbing onto the bed and onto the couple that are sleeping, the covers slightly askew from the events before they went to sleep. Peckerwood starts to lick Anna's face

Anna first thought it was Marc licking her, then began to laugh when she opened her eyes and saw it was the black Scottish Terrier. "Peckerwood... you nasty little thing... don't lick me, you lick your butt.. god.." She said wiping her face, as she laughed.

Peckerwood looked at his owner and promptly walked over to her chest and laid down on her, his head laying between her breasts and wagging his tail alot. Marcus was still asleep next to her but in a position that would make most Vulcan's actually go "owie!"

Looking down at the dog laying there she shook her head. "You weirdo." She said, then stroked his head. "You know I'm getting married.. your going to have to make room for him," Anna said, gesturing at Mark beside her. "He's going to be worse then you... yes, at times he might even smell worse then you do.. you've got to learn that there's another going to be in our lives." Anna said, talking to her dog as if he was her baby.

Marcus turned over in his sleep, draping an arm over both Peckerwood and Anna and pulled them close to him. Marcus muttered something about angels before going quiet again

"I'm sure after the wedding he will want to give you his last name... so you'll be called Peckerwood Slayton.." Anna said, grinned when Peckerwood titled his head and looked at her as if he thought, you are so stupid.

"Hey, I 'heard that." Marcus said as he opened his eyes and looked at Anna and Peckerwood with a smile as he gently petted the small dog before gently kissing Anna on the lips. "Morning, how'd you sleep?" he asked

"Good... great even." Anna said, as she looked over at him. "How about you?" She asked as she rested her hands on his arm over her and the small dog.

"great, especially since I woke up to the two of you." he said smiling

"So you slept bad for all these years, after sneaking into my dorm room at the academy, huh?" She asked, grinning. "What are you doing today?" Anna asked, as she caressed his arm.

"No, I slept bad for all those years I wasn't able to wake up to your beautiful face." he said grinning back at her. "I thought that we might go and see my mom. I found out from Chani that my dad is still up at the Baron shipyards working on his project for Starfleet." Marcus explained. His smile then got bigger. "Plus, my mom can cook a good lunch for us." he said as he heard a stomach growl

"Why do I think your more happy about her cooking then seeing her?" Anna said then grinned. "Sounds fun though... I'd like to see your mom again." Anna said, then smiled. "First.. I need a shower and then find something nice to wear."

"Mind if we share a shower?" Marcus asked with an innocent look on his face but there was a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Sure... one false move and killer here will bit you in your boom boom." Anna said, then grinned as she sat up and sat Peckerwood over on the bed to lay down.

Marcus nodded with the grin never leaving his face as he got up also, stopping long enough to give the small dog a good scratching behind his ears before following his future wife to the bathroom

As Anna came out of the bathroom, Marcus rolled a towel and zapped her in the behind, making her yelp and laugh as they walked into the bedroom. Grabbing his arm, took the towel away and rolled it and zapped him this time in the side, with a hard crack of the towel.

"Shit!" Marcus shouted as he rubbed the sore spot on his ribs which caused him to mock-glare at Anna for a second which caused Peckerwood no end of confusion. "Okay, you win. I know that if I try to retaliate that would mean no certain little thing that we do for fun for a couple of nights possibly." he said with a wink as he went over to his bag and pulled out a pair of pants.

"Couple of nights.. talk two weeks minimum." She said, then grinned as she moved to put on some panties and bra, before moving to choose what to wear. "Think I'll leave Peckerwood here while were gone... he looks a little tired."

"okay." Marcus said as he watched her dress, there wasn't anything erotic about it but a simple thing of the simple pleasures in life. He smiled to himself and shook his head before going back to getting dressed. He put his comm-badge into a pocket just in case someone needed to reach him.

Stepping out of his sight she flipped through the closet of things she'd brought. Deciding on a dark red wrap dress, she put it on and wrapped it around her, and tied it before slipping on a sterling silver belt that seemed to drape on her hips. Slipping on some red heeled boots she then stepped out and turned to him, as she stood there, the wrap dress give a illusion of slit up the dress to show her leg. She then smiled and walked over to find her commbadge, then her jade bracelet she always wore.

Marcus sat down on the bed to put his boots on but he stopped when Anna came back into his sight. He let out a low whistle of appreciation before he dropped his boot on the foot that didn't have a boot on it yet. It took him a few seconds for his brain to go "wait, that hurt" and he winced and grabbed his foot.

Turning she looked at him. "What you do?" she asked, moving over to him to check on him.

"I dropped a boot on a one of my feet." Marcus said, blushing hard

"You klutz." She said, then grinned as she shook her head and then turned to go fix her hair. She knew he liked her hair down, so she looked at him. "Ponytail or French braid?" she asked, then turned back to the mirror.

"Pony tail for right now, French braid only if mom insists on doing something crazy like taking us out for lunch." he responded as he finished putting his boots on and then picked up peckerwood and petted him as he watched her.

Lifting her arms up over her head she quickly had it up in a ponytail. "I really should get it cut off and short..." She said, knowing how he'd protest if she did. "Something more manageable." Anna said, as she turned. "Ready when you are."

Marcus nodded and stood up, setting the small dog on one of the big pillows where Anna had rested her head the night before. Then he lead Anna outside and called for a transport which arrived promptly. The transport took them over the top of New Caprica which was really amazing a view from the air. When the transport landed, it landed at 1313 Bateson and he helped her out of the transport.

Taking his hand she smiled as the ring glistened in the sun. "Your mom, expecting us?" Anna asked, as she stepped down out of the transport and soon felt his hand on her back as they began to walk.

"Nope, that is what is going to make this funny." he said to her as he gave her cheek a kiss as he lead her up the drive.

Looking over at him she grinned. "Think you want to tell her before I come into the house?" Anna asked, not wanting his mom to have a heart attack or something.

"Sure." he said as he lead her up to the front door and knocked. A few seconds later a young teenage woman with short red hair and the nose ridges of a bajoran opened the door. She was wearing the standard issue sports bra and jogging pants of the SFMC. Her eyes opened wide when she saw the two of them.

"MARCUS, BRIANNA!!" she said as she grabbed the two of them up in a big hug

Anna jumped back slightly haring her scream, then was hugged by the woman. Laughing slightly she grinned. "Hi Chani." She said then looked over the girl. "Love that short hair... should get mine done like that."

Chani's eyes sparkled with joy. "Oh the hell you don't, Brianna. If I wasn't in the core, I'd have my hair like yours." she said with a natural flair to her movements. Then her face took a slightly confused look. "So, what are you two doing here?" she asked confused

"Well... um.." Anna said, not sure how to say it if she should but then just lifted her hand up and showed the ring as she grinned. "Your brother finally asked." She said then grinned.

Chani smirked and slugged Marcus very hard in the arm. "About frelling time, you frelling idiot of mine." Chani said with a smile on her face. "I suppose that you want to talk to mom now, huh?" Chani asked with a smirk on her face.

Anna grinned. "Yeah, think that's what he's wanting to do." She said then smiled. "She doesn't even know yet that we are working together, let alone engaged." Anna said.

Chani nodded and lead the couple through the house to where Marcus mother was working on a painting. Chani quickly got Anna out of site before she took Marcus over to their mother. "Hey mom, look who finally came home to visit!" Chani said and Morgana Slayton turned to face her adopted daughter which brought a smile to her face when she saw her first born son.

"Marcus, it's good to see you again." Morgana said as she took her first born into a hug.

Staying quiet, Anna stood there and listened to them talk. Smiling when she heard him clear his throat, she knew he was trying to find the right words. She didn't know how his father would handle knowing his prized son, would be marrying the woman he hated, and his superior officer at the same time.

Marcus gave his mother a hug back and when he stopped, he took a step back with a big smile. "Mom, I brought a guest. Anna, can you come over here please?" he said with a huge smile on his face and a look of surprise on his mother's

Looking down as if she was going before the judge and jury she looked up and smiled. Morgana looked even more lovely then last time she'd seen her. "Ms. Slayton... pleasure to see you again." Anna said, resting her hands behind her in a Starfleet relaxed stance.

Morgana smiled just a little. The two women were both in Starfleet but since she was assigned to the starbase here, she didn't stand on prompt and circumstance. "At ease, Miss O'Shea. I'm only a commander, nothing important." Morgana said as she took the younger woman up into a hug for no apparent reason than she was happy to see one of her children's friends again. If anything, Morgana Slayton's reputation for being an open and honest person was well founded and respected.

"Please.. Anna will be fine." She replied as she stood there and relaxed her stance some.

"So, what brings the two of you all the way here to new capirca?" Morgana asked as she took a step back, her smile not leaving her face.

"You want to tell her?" Anna asked, as she looked at Marc.

Marcus shook his head and gestured towards Anna which left his mother quite confused.

Anna didn't say anything, but just raised her hand toward the light so the ring glistened and then she smiled.

"Precious Moments" Pt. 3

Lt. Commander Brianna "Anna" O'Shea
Chief Engineer / Liaison SCE
USS Galaxy.

Ens. Marcus Slayton
Engineer, USS Galaxy.

Morgana smiled as she looked at the ring on Anna's hand and then she turned to face her son. "Of course, you know that I approve of her." Morgana said to Marcus and then she turned to say something to Anna but before she could say anything, the front door opened and then slammed shut and a few moments later, Commodore Andrew Slayton walked into the room. He was running a hand through his short white hair and was going over something on his padd then looked up to say something but he stopped when noticed his son and Ann standing there in the room with his adopted daughter and his wife.

"Commodore..." Anna said solidly. "Last time we met I was a young faced ensign..." She said, then nodded. "Lieutenant Commander Brianna O'Shea."

Commodore Slayton squared his shoulders back and looked at her. "If you're thinking that you can get on my project looking like that, you're crazy, Lieutenant Commander." Andrew Slayton said with a hint of strange accent to his voice

"I don't know, Sir. My plate is pretty full being Chief Engineer and Liaison Officer to Starfleet Corp of Engineers... on the USS Galaxy." She replied. "Course, did have enough free time to tell your son I'd marry him." Anna said then grinned.

Andrew Slayton nodded and then looked right at Anna and asked "By the way, how is Dina?"

Anna looked at him wondering where he was going. "Working for Starfleet Intelligence, she's doing very nice for herself. Last I heard she's third in command on the USS Archangel." Anna said as she stood there.. Wondering if he was going to go at her or not.

"No, I think you didn't understand my question, Brianna. I hope you didn't think that she was acting alone." Andrew Slayton said with a twinkle in his eyes

"Sir? I don't believe I know what your talking about." Anna said as she stood there, still slightly defensive after their last conversation.

"Miss O'Shea, come with me please." the commodore said as he walked towards a den like room that was a few feet away.

Anna looked at Marcus, then excused herself and followed him as if she was in her engineering. Once there she rested her hands on her hips and waited for him to say something, just soon as she did she was going to tell him something.

Andrew closed the door to the den/office and moved to stand in front of Brianna. "miss O'Shea, I owe you an apology. I owe you a large apology for my actions all of those years ago." was all that he said.

Brianna looked at him for a moment, "My mom says one should apologize unless they really mean it. So if you don't mean it, please don't, Sir. Apology said without heart is waste time..." Anna said as she stood there. "What does this have to do with Dina?" Anna asked.

"Your friend Dina isn't on board the Archangel anymore, she's in fact in orbit above us serving as the temporary captain of the starship for my project. After you and her talked the last time, she chewed me out as did my own wife. So, have you noticed any good conspiracies lately?" he informed her, ending on a question

The Irish woman wasn't getting what he was. Thinking for a moment. "You and Dina are working together, that couldn't be a good thing." She said, before ginning. "If she working with you, I didn't get the memo about hell having froze over." Anna said then grinned. It then hit her, "Wait... you and her are the ones that Marcus to the Galaxy?"

Andrew nodded then walked over to her and gently placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her. He seemed older than she'd ever could remember him looking old. "Brianna, you are afraid of me not approving of you and Marcus getting married but I do approve of you not because of your talents or any shit like that but simply because he loves you as much as you love him back, yes?"

"Yes." She replied, but she felt confused with all this. Part of her was wondering if she and Marcus had both been played as pawns in a larger game.

Andrew took his hands off of her shoulders and walked back to his desk and sat down. "I think that you probably assume that you've been a pawn or something, correct?" Andrew said

"Your past is littered with pawns... it hard for me to forget and not feel that way, Commodore." Anna said, standing there. "I'm sure you would feel the same in my position."

Andrew nodded. "This isn't any attempt at trying to make you and him into pawns, Brianna. I..made a mistake and helping get Marcus aboard the Galaxy was my way of trying to make things right. If you don't want me to come to the wedding, I won't." he said

"That's not how I operate, nor is it my decision. I would say talk to your son for once and see what he wants." Anna said, as she stood there. "Talking to your son troubles you, I believe, sir."

Andrew nodded. "I was at best an absent father to him as I always put my career first and him second. As my first child, I wanted him to be the best in the service. I wanted him to be like me and join the security or tactical divisions but instead he found his way to the engineering branch. The thing is that I tried to make a elite out of own flesh and blood. Hell, I haven't talked to Marcus hardly at all and Chris stopped talking to me after I told him that I didn't like his wife. So, I'm trying to get my children back because I made mistakes and want to fix them." he explained

"At the same time he has become what you yourself never could, and he is what you fear at most." Anna said. "His own man, fueled by his own thoughts, I used to hate you for what you did to him. Now I feel nothing but regret for what you've done, I pray that you can make amends with your children, Andrew." She said, using his name for the first time since they had known each other.

Andrew looked at her for a few minutes, a look of pure anger for a person below him in rank using his first name to a look of understanding but he finally settled on a smile and he nodded. "I think you'll fit in around here, Brianna. I won't stop you or try to do anything to sabotage your wedding to Marcus. I promise and if it's one thing that you should know by now is that no Slayton goes back on their word. True?" he said not in his usual commanding tone or anything but a softer, more understandable tone.

She nodded and turned to leave his den, then stopped and turned slightly to look at him. "You should know that O'Shea's always repay their debts, we are bound in honor as you. One thing about our families is for every action taken against our family, there is a counter action." Anna said, her way of saying if he tried to sabotage anything with her or Marcus, retribution would rest on his ashes when she was done with him.

Andrew nodded, then grabbed a padd and inputted some info into it then walked around his desk to her and handed it towards her. "This will get you past the special operations security detachment at the dock yards in orbit if you want to talk to your friend, Brianna." Andrew told her

Nodding she took the padd. "Thank you." She said, then turned and began to leave the den. "Always interesting, Commodore." Anna said leaving the old man to his thoughts.

He nodded back and then went back to his desk as Anna left him. Marcus and his mother was no longer where she left them but instead they were sitting in the living room looking through some holo-images. They were of Marcus' younger brother Chris and a attractive cardassian woman with a beaming smile on her face.

Anna stood just out of sight, listening to Marcus talking with his family as she held the padd in her hands. She didn't let her presence be known just jet, listening to the talk.

"Chris is currently in transfer to the USS Relentless as a member of their Hazard Team. I'm actually happy that he finally got out of the marines, that was not a safe place to raise a family and Aalya argeed. If you and Anna are going to be still on planet in a couple of days, you'll probably get to meet your niece in Juri." Morgana Slayton said with a smile on her face at her son. She then snapped her fingers and got up, leaving the room for a few minutes she came back with a box that she put on the table in front of him. "I found this while I was going through the old family home on Braal." she said, gesturing for him to open the box.

Anna walked into sight and smiled as she moved to sit down next to Chani, who was sitting near by. "Chris.. your wife is beautiful... I should feel sorry for her having married you though." Anna said, teasing Chris as she began to caress the ring Marc had placed on her finger.

Chris looked at Anna and smirked. "yeah, yeah. But at least I'm not marrying mister I'm so in love with Anna O'Shea that I can't tell her." Chris responded while smirking at Anna and Marcus

"Don't make me ask your wife to smack you for me." Anna said, taking Marcus' hand. "Hope to see you before we leave..." She said, then looked at his wife and nodded to her before looking at Morganna and Marcus. "I'm going to step outside let you all finish... be out back." Anna said, then smiled and stood and then left the room to give them some privacy. It was hard at times for her to be here, hard for her to get past what Andrew had said those years ago, in time she would.

A small orange and tan cat came walking over to her and began to rub it's head against Anna's leg purring. A separate building sat nearby and several vehicles flew over head which Anna easily knew as runabouts and type 11 personal shuttles taking people to and from the local SFMC and SFSC (Star Fleet Starfighter Command) bases on planet.

Sitting down on a bench, she leaned over and picked up the tabby cat and sat it on her lap as she looked out over the Starfleet Port. Anna then closed her eyes as she took in the scent of the lilac bush near by, the fragrance reminded her of home.

After a few minutes, the sound of four Valkyrie-class Fighters roared overhead in a tight formation, the small cat didn't respond apparently used to the noise by now. After she watched the fighters do a formation, there was a presence behind Anna.

Anna knew someone was there. "The hills of Ireland call to me even now. On a day like this, I can still catch the fragrance of lilac and instantly be taken back there to Belhara. The gentle sound of the wind riding like a unseen presence over the glens." She said, "foolish how one remembers such things. At the time wanting nothing but to escape it and now longing to return there." She said.

A pair of gray camouflaged arms cross over her shoulders and neck and gives her a hug. "I understand, Anna. Maybe we should take our honeymoon on Earth then?" Marcus said gently

"No... can't return to childhood dreams." She said, then kissed the side of his face. "Home isn't there anymore..."

"Still, I hear San Fran is going to be beautiful this year. But we've got time before we have to plan for the honeymoon true?" Marcus said as he gently kissed her back. "So do you want to see what was in the box, love?" he asked

"Didn't you open it?" Anna asked, then looked at him. "You should open it, gift from a mother to her son." She said, then smiled, as she stroked the cat.

"Oh, I did Anna. Would you like to see it?" Marcus asked with a hint of mischief and pride in his voice

Turning she looked at his face, then down at his hands and as she did her eyes widened as she saw the object in his hands.

Marcus was wearing something that people didn't see anymore but an actual MACOs uniform worn in the early 2100's. The name flash on it marked it as "M.Slayton" and in his hands he held a small black felt box out towards her. "My mom wanted me to see if you would like this ring." he said with a smile.

"Its.. beautiful... but I can't accept such generosity." Anna said, then looked at him. "Where did the uniform come from, and why?" Anna asked, uncertain about it.

Marcus blushed a little before looking at Anna. "This is my ancestor's uniform. It was kept in vacuum storage on my dad's home planet of Braal for the last several years. It was the uniform that my namesake wore and my mom wanted to see me in it, something about having a giggle at giving her son a piece of his own personal history. The ring." Marcus said as he opened it and held it out to her. "Is something that she thought you should have back, don't you remember it?" he said. The ring inside of it was a single silver band, simple with Celtic knotwork on it.

"The ring..." She said then looked down at it and ran her fingers over it. "Why give it back to me now?" Anna asked, as she looked at Marcus. "I give this to her many years ago."

"Because, she feels that it has a better spot." Marcus said as he gently took it out of the box and slide it onto Anna's hand, on the finger opposite next to the engagement band. "She says that she would feel honored if you wore it again." he said looking into her eyes

"Celtic band of eternity..." Anna said softly. "You believe your father?" She asked. "Says he has changed his ways."

"It'll...take a while before I can forgive him for what's in the past. But I'm willing on believing him if you do." he said softly, looking into her eyes still

She nodded, then looked at the cat as he jumped down and walked off. "How things have changed and yet the pains remain." Anna said, then smiled slightly and kissed his lips. "Love me, always Marcus." She told him.

"I could do no less, Anna." he said as she wrapped his arms around her, brought her close and kissed her.

"That's all I ask from you." She said, then smiled once the kiss broke. "All you need to give me." Anna said then smiled once more.

"Then it shall be." he said smiling while he gently brushed her hair out of her face before kissing her again quickly. "So, what do you want to do now, Anna?" he said as he still held her close.

"How about we take a walk?" She asked, as she stood up and then took his hand.

"Sure, but do you want me to change out of this." he said gesturing with his free hand at the uniform he was still wearing.

Anna looked over at him. "Not me that everyone be looking at, love. It's you in the uniform of the past that they will stare at." She said, grinning.

"Then wear it I will, simply because it'll freak people out and after that talk with my dad, you could use all of the humor you can get." he said to her with a smile on his face before bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it.

"Humor is subjective." Anna said, then grinned, as they began to walk down the path from the back of the house.

"Midnight Rendezvous"

by
Lt. Jasmine Heloi

Chief Science Officer & Vanguard XO
USS Galaxy

& Cmdr. Wes Hammond
Rogue Fighter Group Commander
USS Miranda

----

Wes switched off the news broadcast. The news of the terrorist attacks on Trill and on the USS Galaxy had left him a little concerned for Jazz' safety. Seeing her and Rex interviewing with Emmett Bregman had relieved that concern. Though he was sure that she could take care of herself, he always wondered.

And of course, Corran's stunts didn't help the whole confidence thing. Not that the latest, a suicide impact on the bridge of the traitorous USS Diis, had been at all unexpected.

Glancing over at the clock, he made sure that he had a couple of hours more that he could afford to stay awake, then placed a call to one Jasmine Heloi, Lieutenant, Chief Science Officer/Vanguard Squadron XO, USS Galaxy.

"I *told* you, Ensign, you can get your experiment completed without my observation. It's my sleep cycle, and if you call me again I'll..." Jasmine blinked sleep fogged eyes as she focused on the face in the viewscreen. Mortification flashed over her features before she rushed, "Wes! Oh goodness, I'm so sorry. There's this Ensign who won't leave me alone. He thinks that he needs my approval over anything he tries to do with his grub worm experiment. I mean, grub worms! How boring is that? Give me a nebula or a supernova any day! Those, at least, have some sort of energy or explosions associated with them. They're not worms..." Her voice trailed off as she smiled sheepishly, "Hi."

"Hey Jazz," he grinned, taking a moment to appreciate her features before continuing. "Sorry to wake you, though it sounds like your department does a good enough job of that as is. But anyway, I saw you on the news a few minutes ago, and couldn't resist a quick call... I've missed you. That Bregman guy is a real piece of work."

"That was on?" Jasmine asked as she rubbed her eyes, "Damn. I wanted to record that for my parents. Anyway, yes, Bregman is a piece of work. A slimy piece of work that belongs on the opposite side of the ship from me. But a piece of work all the same. As for waking me, well...like you saw, right now there's this one Ensign who won't leave me alone. While enthusiasm about science is commendable, enthusiasm *in* science to the exclusion of everything else is definitely not. But I'm preaching. Or maybe I'm babbling...it's late." Jazz finished lamely, "I've missed you too. How are you? What's been happening on the Miranda recently? I've been so busy recently I just haven't had a chance to read up on the latest."

"I'm more or less none the worse for wear, though I just got out of sickbay. Things have been pretty crazy over here... I'm not sure if you'd believe me if I told you," he replied, "We're on deep space exploration right now and... we seem to have discovered the lost city of Atlantis."

Heloi was silent for a moment as she attempted to overcome her shock, "Atlantis. Fabled city on Earth that was sunk by the Gods due to its inhabitant's overwhelming pride. Homer's Atlantis. *That* Atlantis?"

"In a way. It's actually a space station that we believe was on Earth for a time, and spawned those legends. How much do you know about the Preservers?" Wes asked. With her science background, she might know something that could make explaining the situation easier.

She released a whistling breath through her teeth, "Well, what just about everyone knows. The Preservers are credited with taking dying races from their homeworlds and seeding them across the galaxy in an attempt to 'preserve' that lifestyle before it disappears forever. Approximately twenty-two worlds are acknowledged sites of Preserver intervention with hundreds more being possibilities. Very few artifacts have been found of the race, let alone any indication of what their society was like or their appearance. To be honest, I learned more about the Preservers from one of my former co-stars on Starfire than I did in any science text."

"Well, according to the station AI discovered by Commander Mitchell, the station we discovered was once the city of Atlantis, a Preserver outpost on Earth," he said, "Unfortunately, one part of the station... Did I mention that it's several miles long?... was breached by T'Kith'Kin forces, who have been using it as prison camp."

"The news gets better and better. Let me guess. The prisoners were still alive and kicking," Jasmine said as she leaned towards the screen.

"Well, in one case, that's a good thing. We found a Starfleet officer who's been missing for a couple of months. She was a little skittish initially," Wes replied, then pulled off his shirt to expose a jagged scar across his shoulder where the T'Kith'Kin had bitten him. "Unfortunately, I got bitten by a deranged T'Kith'Kin prisoner while I was chasing her through the bowels of the station, trying to calm her down."

"Oh no, you're sure you're okay? That looks nasty," Jazz asked, concerned.

"Well, he took a nice chunk out of me before Colonel Darion could 'take care' of him," he shrugged. "I'm a little weak from blood loss at the moment, but I'll be back on duty tomorrow. Until then, Anton can hold down the group. So... I guess the question on everyone's mind is when you need have leave time?"

"On *everyone's* mind? Really, Wes, I didn't think our relationship was generating that much gossip around the Miranda," Jazz laughed, "Actually, my next leave time is scheduled for next month. You have something in mind?"

"Everyone in this conversation, anyway," he chuckled in response. "I do have something that I think you'll enjoy. Remember that trip to Betazed that you wanted to take me on, but that we couldn't take because somebody decided to 'gift' me with command of a fighter group?"

"Yes..." she replied, sounding slightly suspicious, "I'm warning you, Wes. If you're getting another 'gift' I'm going to have to see if keel hauling is possible in space."

He shrugged, teasing her. "Sounds fun, if I can get an EV suit with that. Are you sure that's not a sport somewhere? No, I doubt I'm up for any more unexpected gifts. I don't think Miranda can fit too many more."

"I'd make sure to send you out in your skivvies, Wes," Jasmine chuckled, "And heaven can only hope."

"Oh, come on, Jazz. It's cold out there," Wes laughed, "I'm told there's some really great orbital skydiving on Betazed, though."

"And I know all the good spots, too," the Betazoid replied, grinning, "Does that really mean what I think it means?"

"Yeah, definitely. I have some leave time built up, and as soon as we're done at Earth for Federation Day, I'm sure I can beg off a couple of weeks for us to go explore our relationship. We never really got the chance to, and I think I have just the remedy."

"I'm looking forward to it," she assured him with a bright smile.

"I am too," he replied, then yawned sleepily. "Okay. I need to rest and recover. You probably ought to as well. Hopefully your ensign friend will let you sleep. If he doesn't, you let me know. I'll be happy to refresh his memory about the proper protocols."

Jasmine laughed, "Not to worry, I have plans for that Ensign...and believe you me, he'll stop if he knows what's good for him." A flicker of mischievousness appeared in her eyes as she rubbed her hands gleefully, "I'll tell you all about it after the fact. Get some sleep, Wes. And...I'm glad you're okay. Keep it that way for me."

"I will, promise. Take care of Corran for me. Sounds like he needs it," Wes nodded, "Sleep well, Jasmine. I'll call you in a few days to work out details. See you soon."

"Sounds good, night," she nodded, blowing him a kiss.

"Goodnight," he replied, raising his hand to kiss his palm and press it to the screen. With that, he turned off the computer, and headed to bed. Federation Day wouldn't come soon enough.

"All hail the All Father!"

With Captain Darren M'Kantu (High Muckety-Muck of the USS GALAXY), Lt. Commander Raven Darkstar ( who now hangs his head dress in Tactical for those of you not paying attention), and Ambassador Leo Streely (newly appointed liason to Rear Admiral John Q Bhrode himself!)

Location: The Bridge of the USS GALAXY

Time: Moments before the arrival of the USS DEMETER as detailed in Francis' post "Milk Run" part one.

"Mr. Darkstar, what is that?" Captain Darren M'Kantu asked, pointing a finger to the long, thin line of white smoke that was wisping it's way along the far edge of the view screen.

"It appears to be smoke, sir." the Indian replied from behind the Captain's chair where he stood at the tactical arch.

M'Kantu nodded patiently. He was still getting used to the former Security officer's matter of fact demeanor.

"I am more concerned with the reason white smoke is trailing away from this ship, Mr. Darkstar than I am in knowing what it is."

"But you DID ask what it was, Sir." Darkstar said.

Darren rubbed the bridge of his nose and for the first time, felt he knew exactly what Jean Luc Picard felt when he first worked with the android Data.

"I would bet credits on Streely." the Indian voiced.

"Believe me, there is nobody aboard this ship who believes that man is nothing more then a nuisance. However at this time, we have to respect StarFleet's orders and as such we cannot instinctually blame....Ambassador Streely for every quirky happening that we come across." M'Kantu said stately.

"Sensor sweeps indicate that the source of the smoke is coming from the 10 Foreword."

"There. You see, Mr. Darkstar." M'Kantu said tugging at the hem of his tunic. "No doubt a simple explanation rather then another 'Streely Conspiracy'.

He snapped open the comm from the armrest of his chair.

"M'Kantu to the 10/4. Sensors indicate smoke coming from your area."

=/\="Yes, sir. That would be due to Ambassador Streely." =/\=

"Shall I scramble the HAZARD TEAM?" Darkstar asked in a tone that gave no hint as to weather he was speaking in jest or was in fact serious.

M'Kantu rubbed his forehead. It then donned on him that this was precisely the sort of situation that had lead to the birth of the throbbing vein on Bhrode's forehead. He took another moment to feel for a vein of his own sprouting up and satisfied that he had no such new distinguishing feature, he allowed a moment more for his blood pressure to lower, then returned to the conversation once more.

"OPS, Can you bring up the Security network's video feed from the Ten Four and run it through our viewscreen?" M'Kantu asked.

Over at the Operations Station, Lt. Tarin Iniara thought about it a moment, then her fingers danced across the control board as they rerouted the images to the view screen.

Darkstar grunted when he saw Leo bedecked in long white robes and a tall, odd shaped head piece. The little man was carrying a long walking stick and was waving at the gathered crowd in the lounge. A large gold ring could be seen on his hand.

Bosco could be seen standing to the man's right, smiling a feral grin as Leo laid his hand upon the forehead of a red headed female and appeared to mutter a prayer while leering down her low cut blouse.

"M'Kantu to Bosco. What is going on down there?"

=/\= "Ambassadorrr Strrreely called togetherrr his flock to celebrrrate being chosen as 'Holy Fatherrr' by Brrrhode, Captain." =/\=

"And the smoke?" Darkstar rumbled in a voice that sounded more like a boulder tumbling down a mountainside.

Bosco coughed repeatedly and absentmindedly patted his own pockets.

=/\= "It's not mine. I neverrr saw the stuff. What you must be smelling is just ...ahh..catnip. We picked it up from Trrrill." =/\=

"The white smoke, Lieutennant. What is it's origin?" M'Kantu ordered.

=/\= "Its from the Ten Forewarrrd's emerrrgency dump chute. We filled it with some old cooking aprrrons and set them on firrre. It's an old Earrrth custom, Leo says. The smoke denotes the election of a new leaderrr." =/\=

Behind them, Leo had placed a long drinking vial into the woman's cleavage and laying on the floor where the woman was.

"Mr. Bosco, I want you to dump the refuse immediately. I cannot have items burning on this ship. Further more, would you please inform the...Ambassador that he is not permitted to set fire to anything while aboard the USS GALAXY. M'Kantu out!"

Darren paused a moment, praying the Demeter would arrive soon so he could recall Commander Henderson and take a few moments to relax.

He took a deep cleansing breath.

He could feel his blood pressure go down.

He felt the stress start to melt away.

"Leo has also requested Ambassador's quarters. Sir." Darkstar deadpanned.

"Waiting at a Shuttle Station"

Dr. William Giardini, Ph.D, M.D.
Ensign T'Ashaya, Vulcan Tsunami and Veterinarian

The transporter grid on the Trill home world still wasn't up. It would likely be another day or so before it was fixed and the young looking ensign in a Starfleet uniform trimmed in gold needed to rendezvous with the Galaxy. She waited for the next shuttle in a small waiting room on small Starfleet base located on the Trill home world. The shuttle pilots had been working double shifts. If she had more pips on her collar, she might have rated a priority to come aboard, but T'Ashaya of Vulcan, despite her doctorate in veterinary medicine, was only an ensign and an ensign assigned to Operations, at that. In the grand scheme of things, it meant she would get to practice her already well developed patience and wait until they got around to shipping her to the Galaxy, like so much unwanted freight.

T'Ashaya quietly sat in the waiting area, holding an old fashioned book in her lap. Her red gold hair hung loose over her shoulders as she looked down at the book, obscuring her Vulcan features from casual passers-by, but she did not actually read the book for as intensely as she stared at it. Hair of her color was unusual in a Vulcan, unusual enough that if people didn't see her face, they would assume she was not Vulcan. Hair her color made it impossible to travel without falling under uncomfortable scrutiny. It made her distinctive, memorable.

Memorable enough that people who didn't normally pay attention to things like the Federation's Olympic games remembered her. Who could forget the picture of a strawberry blonde, blue eyed Vulcan holding a surfboard inscribed with a hand drawn in Vulcan greeting, the gesture that stood for the philosophy of infinite diversity in infinite combinations?

Apparently no one.

T'Ashaya found it nearly impossible to travel via any sort of public transportation without being mobbed by people looking to meet, to touch, the nearly legendary Vulcan Tsunami. All told, it was better to wait here than endure that sort of scene. Here, she was just another uniform in a room full of uniforms waiting for their turn. Here things were much more logical.

William was relaxing and sitting back in his chair waiting for the shuttle to arrive. Feeling the breeze of the cool air on Trill made him smile. This would be the last breeze he would feel for a while. His tenure at Starfleet Medical was over. He earned a degree in Counseling and was ready to come back to his home.

William left the Galaxy a year ago to the day to head back to Starfleet Medical. Now, a year later and with an even greater appreciation for medicine, he was returning to the Galaxy, this time to serve under Karyn Dallas in the Counseling Department. He took a breath in and exhaled out. He was a little nervous. It had been a while since he had served on a starship and he didn't know if he would be able to readjust.

William perked his head and opened his eyes. He saw a strawberry-blonde haired Vulcan sitting on the other side holding a book. He had to look twice because he couldn't believe what he had seen. A Vulcan with strawberry blonde hair. William smiled and stood up and started to walk over.

"Anyone sitting here?" he said to the woman as he motioned to the seat next to her.

T'Ashaya looked up and considered the man, his solidly black eyes betrayed his race as Betazoid. As a telepath, he'd know how to keep his feelings to himself. While growing up on earth taught T'Ashaya to swim in the seas of emotion at an early age, so much so that she considered a certain level of that sort of background noise "home," she still knew how to appreciate a calm day.

"If you are taking it now," she stated, giving a shy, friendly sort of smile, as she closed her book. "then it would seem that it is taken."

She set the book to the side on a nearby table. The cover, which he could now see, read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Someone had added to the cover with some kind of permanent marker; the words "DON'T PANIC" appeared across the entire cover in a large, friendly scrawl. The Vulcan woman shifted her bags, making more room for the newcomer to put his things down by them.

"If you would care to, we could make small talk now," T'Ashaya offered. "If you would prefer otherwise, please do not feel it necessary to engage in it. Some people prefer it more than others. I find the weather quite pleasant, however, and most agreeable as a topic for conversation in these cases. Do you not agree?"

William smiled and sat down next to T'Ashaya. His solid black eyes changing to a clear sky blue. "So tell me, do all Vulcans have blonde hair these days or are you special?" William laughed and put his bag on the ground. "Counselor William Giardini, pleasure to meet you."

William studied the Vulcan, not noticeably but discretely. She was attractive, sitting there with her book on motorcycle repair. He smiled and leaned back and closed his eyes. "So, where you headed?"

"It is not a fashion statement, if that is what you are asking? Light hair colors, such as blonde or red run in certain families, usually ones from the polar regions of Vulcan," T'Ashaya explained, without going into details about the prominence of those families or their heavy involvement in politics. She cocked her head and flipped her hair back away from her face in the same casual sort of dismissive gesture that any Earth-girl/beach bunny might make. "It is considered noteworthy, but not aberrant."

She turned slightly, angling herself toward her new conversation partner and offered her hand for a handshake in an all too human way. Inwardly, T'Ashaya mildly scolded herself for such a typically human gesture, but little else could be expected from one who had spent more years among humans in her childhood than most Vulcans would spend in the rest of their adult lives. Besides, some kind of touch greeting was polite in most cultures and it was always logical to observe appropriate levels of politeness.

"I am called T'Ashaya," she replied, offering her personal name to the Councilor. "I'm a veterinarian by trade, certified in cetacean psychology, amongst other skills, though I am currently assigned as an ensign in operations. Should I ever manage to get a shuttle, I'll be stationed aboard the USS Galaxy as an ensign in operations. I have been told that assignment will maximize my interaction time with the Cetacean crew members." She sounded hopeful as she stated the last, though that might have been a trick of inflection.

"Where will you be stationed, Doctor?"

William smiled his award winning smile. "I'll actually be stationed on the Galaxy as well. You see, I've previously served on the Galaxy and it will be nice to head back home where I belong. I'm coming back as one of the ship's counselors. It should be a pleasant and worthwhile experience. If there is anything I can do to help you get adjusted to ship life, let me know."

William stretched and yawned. "I wish we could get to the ship, I'm itching for a fun mission."

"If you could request access for me to the holodeck for surfing sessions, I would appreciate it," T'Ashaya replied. "Also, I will need permission to override some of the normal surf-program safety precautions. I have no desire to turn the safeties completely off, but the session will not be appropriately recreational with the typical safety levels on. They make the surf all buggery." She glanced over at her surfboard, which was leaning casually against the wall. "I can assure you that I am capable of handling more intense surf conditions than the average surfer."

William smiled. "I think I can handle those requests. Consider them done."

A computer voice began reading off names. Dr. Giardini's name was among them. T'Ashaya's was not.

"I believe you have gotten a place aboard a shuttle," T'Ashaya prompted with a hint of a smile. "It was nice to have met you. I am certain I will see you aboard, Doctor."

"I'm sure we will. After all, I do do psych evaluations on new crew members. I expect you to make an appointment when you are settled." William said sternly but jokingly.

T'Ashaya watched her fellow crew being leave. As he headed toward the shuttle loading area, she gave him a quick wave, before settling back to wait. She picked up her book again, flipping it open to what appeared to be a random page, and resumed her 'reading.'

William stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder. Heading towards the airlock, he laughed. He found a new playmate. Oh yes, coming back to the Galaxy would prove to be fun.

"Something for the Rumor Mill"

Major Corran Rex
Ensign T'Ashaya

OOC: Shortly before departure from Trill

--------------------
The Officer's Club
Leran Manev, Trill
--------------------

T'Ashaya wandered into the Officer's Club, more by accident than by design. What she was looking for was the temporary officer's housing, which she had no idea where to find it. What she wanted was some serious down time, some meditation or barring that, some real sleep. She'd been on the go from the moment she graduated and her orders came through, in order to try to make some kind of rendezvous point with the Galaxy, her first post.

The quartermaster had hastily told her to go "Across the base, near the battery, can't miss it," before he ran off on some errand or other, trying to help put to rights the recent disaster on this world.

Scuttle, which T'Ashaya only listened to because it pointed to salient information, said some captain or other had gone completely insane and rammed his ship into the Capital, in some insane attempt at genocide against the Trill symbiont race. She doubted that synopsis told any real portion of the story at all. Normally, she would have cared enough to attempt to ferret out more information and deduce a more probable, and complete, scenario, but she lacked the energy.

She leaned her surfboard gently against the wall, then set her gear down next to it. It seemed counterproductive to haul her things through the crowd. Her father would have called it 'an illogical waste of limited resources.' T'Ashaya used a more succinct phrasing to explain it: dumb.

The tall Vulcan woman pushed a lock of strawberry blonde hair from her face and allowed herself the smallest frown. All the water on the Trill planet had set her hair into an ill-controlled mass of waves. All this water and T'Ashaya's rendezvous schedule wouldn't allow her time to surf a drop of it. Which of the two annoyed the Vulcan Tsunami more? T'Ashaya couldn't say. Both were equally illogical, in her book, and thus equally irritating.

At least here, in the cantina, she should be able to find someone familiar with the base who could point her in the right direction to find at least semi-private quarters and a bed. She scanned the room, watching the body language of the individuals, looking for someone who seemed confident and at home. The spotted individual at the dom-jot table with the confident swagger seemed the most likely choice. He appeared, to T'Ashaya's eye at least, to be a native of the Trill planet. That gave him a greater probability of actually knowing his way around the base. He was, in all ways, the most logical choice.

She approached the table quietly and waited until a break in the action. "May I interrupt?" she asked.

"Rolling the terrik straight nines.." the Trill said, ignoring the startled look from his opponent at that move, still feeling like was flying high. After the battle, and his debriefing and the joint interview with the "wonderful" Mister Bregman, he'd decided to head dirtside again. After all, he had a house in Leran Manev, not too far from the Starfleet base in the capitol. He hadn't been there since he'd signed aboard Galaxy, but the place was still his.

Corran had found his home unlit, but intact. A maintenance subroutine utilizing droids kept the place clean, even if one could tell upon entry that the occupant didn't spend a lot of time there. Rather than sit quietly, he'd decided to go out and look for company. The local Officer's Club had been the closest place, and after a few drinks, he'd found himself congregating at the dom-jot table.

Though out of uniform, Rex still donned his flight jacket, mostly because it was still the most comfortable jacket he'd worn in five hundred years. His current opponent - the fifth such this evening - was a young kid who had to be on layover awaiting his first assignment out of the Academy.

Corran almost felt guilty taking his credits. But, given how much of a mouth the kid seemed to have, not overly so.

Making his shot, he cocked an eyebrow to the woman who'd spoken to him, and discovered, to his surprise, that she was Vulcan. A blonde on at that, and surprisingly, with a bit of a tan. Well now, that had potential.

While he wasn't even looking, the terrik - what'd be called a cue ball in pool, though it was the eight ball, too - bounced off the series of straight nine rings, each sending a small repulsor pulse that, unerringly, cleared Corran's remaining balls, and sank itself into the center corner of the table's vee-shape.

Holding a hand out for the kid's credit chit, Corran turned to face the newcomer. "No need for an interruption, now. My name's Corran Rex. What can I do for you, Miss - ?"

"Ensign T'Ashaya, Major," she clarified, recognizing the oak leaf on the man's flight jacket. "Or Doctor T'Ashaya, would also be appropriate, as I have earned medical degrees. Or simply T'Ashaya, if you prefer less formality. I need some assistance, if I may bother you for a moment. I'm here on a layover on my way to my ship and I'm afraid the quartermaster's directions to the temporary officer's quarters were lacking in any degree of precision. Can you direct me to the nearest appropriate domicile available for officer housing?"

The Trill's mouth cocked in a half-smile at the question. "Oh, I could.." he started.

"Excellent," T'Ashaya interrupted enthusiastically. "If you could give me more detailed directions, I will cease interrupting your game."

"Well, They're easy enough to find." he said, flagging over a waiter. "Give me a firestorm. What'll you have, Doctor?"

T'Ashaya considered a moment. Obviously there was a politeness issue here. While she was unaccustomed to bars, having avoided them on Earth due to the potential scandal it might cause her parents, T'Ashaya understood a certain amount about them. One ordered beverages in them and engaged in recreational games and conversation. Certainly it would be impolite to refuse to participate in the consumption of beverages and the conversation, and it was always logical to be polite, so . . .

"I will have whatever the major is having," she stated confidently.

Rex gave a brief nod, and the waited headed over to the short bar, that, as luck would have it, wasn't too terribly far away. He returned with the dual drinks, a bright red and orange concoction that made it easy to see where it derived it's name from.

"Well, like I said, they're easy enough to find." Corran replied, sipping the drink he had quickly brought back. "But you don't want to stay there."

T'Ashaya tried to cover her distaste at the smell of it. She braced herself and took a large swallow of the beverage. It tasted worse than it smelled, but the Vulcan woman managed to choke it down, though the attempt lacked in the characteristic stoic grace notable in her race.

"I don't?" she gasped, when she could breathe again.

"Nope." he replied with a grin, trying not to laugh at her reaction to the drink. Firestorms were sort of an acquired taste.

She set the beverage politely aside. Perhaps she should find out what kinds of beverages they served and find something more to her liking. Perhaps the major would forget that she wasn't drinking.

"Because, frankly, I wouldn't spend the night there if you paid me. I don't think the bedding's been changed out since Trill joined the Federation." he said quite honestly. It was true, too - the temporary officer's housing wasn't well-maintained at all on this particular base, mostly because the hotels in the are were cheap, but much, much nicer.

"Certainly there must be something more appropriate," she stated and attempted another swallow of the beverage. Numbed by the first swig, the second swallow went down easier.

"Well, that depends." he said. "On if you're looking for a quiet evening alone, or to have some fun." he said, and then gave an acknowledging nod to her pointed ears. "Well. As much fun as a Vulcan has, anyways."

"I can assure you that Vulcans are capable of a great deal more 'fun' than most other races give us credit for," T'Ashaya replied. She was already feeling just a little fuzzy. Perhaps she should find out exactly what went in to making this firestorm beverage. "I like fun a great deal. I find it intellectually relaxing and periods of intellectual relaxation serve a valuable role in priming the mind for greater efficiency during periods of intellectual activity. What kind of fun did you have in mind?"

"That, I suppose, is up to you, T'Ashaya."

T'Ashaya shrugged, a very human gesture indeed, and considered her drink a moment. "This 'firestorm' is rather agreeable, once one gets used to the intensity of the beverage," T'Ashaya finally stated. "I have no plans, save attempting to rendezvous with the Galaxy. I am supposed to be on the first shuttle out, but I have already been bumped twice because of the emergency. I doubt I will need to report to the shuttle area before nine. However, I am in need of relaxation and an activity that is not terribly physically demanding. Pareses squares, for example, is right out. What would you suggest?"

"Well, tell you what." He started, finishing the drink. "About the most fun thing to do indoors is sex - I'll admit, that's what I came out looking for tonight."

The Vulcan woman managed not to choke on her drink again, as she had been drinking when Corran made his statement. She blinked twice before finding words. "That was surprisingly honest," she blurted out.

Corran inclined his head. "Might as well be honest. It's only logical after all, no?"

"Logic is not something I generally expect from most races," she stated, trying to save face. "It is," she paused, looking for the correct word, "refreshing."

"As you may have noticed, I do happen to be from around here. I've got an apartment not too far away, and a bed that's much more comfortable than anything in temporary officer's housing. Then tomorrow, I'll give you a ride back up to Galaxy in my fighter. Win-win for everyone. You can prove to me just how much fun Vulcan's are capable of having, and I'll make sure you have a relaxing evening."

She turned a shade of bright green and looked to the floor, as if the appropriate answer to Corran Rex's proposition lay somewhere in the tiles. "There are some who would find the logic of your offer appealing, however I believe your logic is flawed. I am certain that you would not find me a suitable partner for recreational sex," T'Ashaya started slowly.

Unabashedly, Corran turned his head slightly sideways in an obviously appraising look. "I somehow doubt that."

"I am not," she paused again. On Vulcan, one would never talk of such things. On Earth, such talk was only appropriate among one's closet female friends. Idly, she wondered if the euphemism she had in mind would cross the cultures. "I am not experienced in such matters, Corran Rex."

That brought a quick blink from the Trill, who was honestly surprised by the admission. "What? Seriously? You made it through the Academy without at least once- ?"

She wondered how much information Corran wanted. Did he want to know of her private shame, that the bond mate that her parents selected for her had rejected her as unsuitable and chose another over her? Would it be enough to say it was simply logical that they should not marry? Could she even begin to explain why she had agreed not to announce the decision not to go through with the pairing to their respective families? T'Ashaya settled on the simplest answer.

"I am not married, Corran," she stated. "The partner for my arranged marriage did not find me suitable. I am wasting your time and I do not wish to do so. Please forgive the intrusion."

He felt his heart go out to the young Vulcan - who would no doubt find such an impulse illogical. "No, hey - T'Ashaya, wait." he said, and started to put a hand on her arm before confidently remembering that Vulcans were touch-telepaths. Which made unasked-for touching a big no-no.

His hand hovered a moment near her arm. She glanced toward it and waited, but his hand withdrew.

"Look, I'm sorry - honestly, I had no way of know. I thought you all went through pon farr during adolescence and had to mate or die or something like that. Apparently I was wrong." Corran said, an apologetic expression decorating his face. "Look - the offer for the bed's still open. You don't want to have to try to find somewhere else."

"It is possible to survive pon farr without mating. It is also possible to survive pon farr without sexual intercourse, if one has the stamina and the appropriate levels of mental conditioning," T'Ashaya explained as neutrally as her feelings on the subject would allow. She could hear the ocean of her blood rushing in her ears. She focused on the rhythm, letting the sounds of sea was over her.

"I am not interested in a," she stopped before the slang term for what she thought he was offering her came out. "I am not interested in your pity, Corran Rex."

"I do have a guest room. No strings, T'Ashaya. Shelter for the night, and in the morning, I'll give you a lift up to the Galaxy. Sound fair?"

"I must be very tired, because I cannot find a logical reason to turn down your hospitality," the Vulcan woman replied. "I find it agreeable."

That brought a laugh out of the Trill. "Well, let's get going then."

OOC: Thanks, Oded! This was fun. ~Lori

"Our Own Battles"

Commander Karyn Dallas,
RN Chief Counselor/Second Officer

Lieutenant J.G. Saul Bental
Intelligence Officer

***Leran Manev, Trill***

This was supposed to provide closure, Karyn thought to herself as she moved down the streets of Trill's capital city. Naturally they were all still reeling from having yet another traitor in their midst, and while the old Karyn would have spent the better part of her leave berating herself for missing any sign a member of her crew could do something like this, the new Karyn was learning to accept, truly, that she didn't control her universe known as the USS Galaxy - A. She didn't. No matter how much she wanted to, and no matter how hard she tried.

It was something she was learning to confront in her sessions with Counselor Sabriel, the Starfleet Medical counselor for "impaired practicioners" that Karyn had been seeing for several months now via subspace conversations following her assault. Dallas had decided "impaired" was too polite a word for what she had been going through, and while she had blamed Victor for her complete tailspin, Sabriel had helped her to see that being beaten by him while he was under Mudd's pheromones was really just the icing on the cake.

Her big revelation? The galaxy was not a nice place. She would never get back the piece of herself she'd given away to become Jarol, the Tal Shiar persona she'd assumed on Romulus (along with Elaithin Jii, Kent Peterson, and Lee Price) to save the Federation. She would never be able to go back to lanjep and undo the damage she'd done to diplomatic relations or take the shot that left Lee paralyzed and coonfined to a hoverchair like herself. But more than that, she didn't get to "check out" of her life using alcohol or by simply going through the motions.

Yes, the galaxy was not a nice place, Karyn mused. One only had to look at the destruction around her or to recollect images from the clinic she'd just visited to know that. But the galaxy was not a total pit of despair either, and different images from those same locations could inspire hope just as easily. Wounds were healing, buildings were being repaired and resurrected. It was all a matter of perspective.

Dallas was so lost in thought on her way back to the beam-out site that she did not see the young Trill or his friends moving toward her until she felt the hard bump to her shoulder. Were she standing, she might have tripped or fallen to the ground, but as she was sitting in her hoverchair and she knew it was either dumb luck or intention that caused someone to bump into her, Karyn was instantly startled. Dallas willed it away, but felt the familiar surge of adrenaline that always came whenever her mind interpreted the most insignificant stimuli as an indication of imminent attack.

Karyn met the angry, almost leering face of the Trill adolescent and felt her palms go clammy. "Excuse me..."

"That won't quite cut it.", The Trill said, folding his arms.

The sharp tone of his voice caused her heart to beat wildly, but even though a voice inside her head told her she should run (a voice that was given more credit following her experiences with Victor), a part of her did not want to give into fear. These people were obviously angry, and she would not be doing any good if as a counselor she simply walked away. At the very least, she was a representative of the Federation.

The small group closed on her. Some of them looked angry. Others just curious and quiet.

Karyn felt the surge of adrenaline course through her, and even as her mind screamed for her to leave, her body remained rooted to the spot, her hand poised on the control panel of her hoverchair. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Hmmm, the lady asked us to excuse her, didn't she?", The lead Trill said, taking a step forward, "You know, killing thousands of my people can't be solved with a simple 'excuse me'. Excuse me doesn't bring people back to life, you see."

Some of the surrounding Trills nodded with agreement. Most of them remained quiet, whereas two or three were exchanging whispers.

Grief and trauma were things Karyn certainly understood and she felt herself calm as she mentally shifted gears onto more familiar territory. She did not want to "handle" this group, and she realized she had felt much the same anger when she was their ages. Bad things happened to good people and no amount of explanation seemed good enough. But, that didn't stop her from trying. "I know words alone cannot give you back all that was taken from you, but on behalf of the Federaton, I want to express my deepest condolences. The people who did this," and here she fought her own ire, "they do not speak for all of us. I assure you, anything the Federation can do to help your people, it will do." She made eye contact with each of them. "My name's Karyn Dallas. I'm with the USS Galaxy - A. What are your names?"

The lead Trill chuckled. It was the kind of chuckle you'd expect from a wolf who's staring a gazelle in the eyes. "I'm mister Manev, Leran Manev, a pleasure to meet you. I am SO glad the Federation can help us. I think a donation, perhaps some humanitarian support in the form of that interesting badge you're wearing, could be a start."

"Or perhaps some morale uplifting for the poor refugees!", a new voice boomed, and another Trill stepped out of the crowd. He was painfully beautiful, with a light hair hue relatively rare at Trills. His eyes were somewhat wide. "A strip show would make us particularly happy and help us forget the day to day troubles!"

"Yuck! You want to 'peek' on an aliens! Gross!", Said a third one. As he did, two of the Trill left them hurriedly, appearently not wanting to get involved. That left Karyn with five, perhaps six Trills.

Dallas was not going to indulge the crowd any more than she already had. There was no point in staying when she was just going to incite ridicule, and she had to actually bite her tongue to keep from once again "obliterating" diplomacy as the Federation. "Look, I don't know who you think you're talking to, but there's no reason for you to get crass and..."

The Trills suddenlly turned silent. He and his friends were looking at something just outside Karyin's view, to her left.

Before Karyn could turn to face whatever it was that had stopped Manev's tirade, a voice broke the tension.

"Explain to me," someone said, "Why you're picking on a Starfleet Officer when your own SISTER is a Starfleet Officer?"

Karyn didn't see who that proclamation was aimed at, but it soon became obvious as the three Trills who spoke turned to look at one of the silent ones in the group. Dallas crossed her arms and regarded the silent Trill with a mixture of curiosity and contempt. "Is there something you wish to say to me? It seems your friends have lost their nerve and have delegated that responsibility to you."

"No, actually, ummm..."

The silent Trill was shoved before he had a chance to think of something more complicated than 'ummm'. He fell on one knee, and the figure of the second Trill - the one with the light hair - towered over him.

"Is that right, Jigo? Your sister's a city burner?"

The Trill turned on his back. "My SISTER didn't crash no ship!", he protested defiantly, his eyes radiating the fear of the more dominant Trill, and the anger at being bulleyed.

The newcomer stepped besides Karyn. He was wearing Intel jumpsuit and a bag was strapped to his back. "Commander, I'm Lieutenant Bental from intelligence.", He told her quietly, his eyes no moving from the Trill group. "Jigo's sister serves as a Medical Officer on board."

Karyn turned to her would-be rescuer. "Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant, Karyn Dallas." She turned to back to the group and sighed. "It seems we've all learned that some people aren't always whom they first appeared to be. Now, perhaps we should start over, or perhaps we should forget this ever happened. Your choice, gentleman."

One of the young Trills shoved Jigo. He stumbled forward, almost colliding with Saul. Another Trill moved forward to shove him. It seemed that the small gang found someone much more interesting than Karyn to toy with.

"City burner!" One of them said, and raised his hand for a slap. Before the hand could gain speed toward Jigo's cheek, he leaped forward and sank his teeth into that hand.

"This is getting out of hand," Saul murmured.

Karyn exhaled and turned to the group. "Alright, break it up! I know you're angry, but if we were truly heartless, do you think we'd be here now? What part of inciting more violence is going to bring back those you lost?"

She could finally see some logic penetrating into the group's collective mind. Perhaps it was the fact that the less dominant members were uneasy with the fact that the target to their anger wasn't a lone women but two officers, or perhaps it was the surprise in the discovery that one of their own had a blood relation to the target of their anger and hatred.

Next to her, Saul also identified the shift in the group's mood, and using his experience with gangs (And Utrecht III was full of them), he quickly devised a plan to solve the situation just as it reached its climax.

He whispered a few words at a device he drew from the bag, and just as the Trill Jigo just bit lifted his arm to land a devestating strike, a very familiar and almost universal sound boomed around the corner.

The sound of a police siren.

That all that was needed to make the bulk of the Trill group leave in a rather hasty manner. Jigo's opponent was the last to escape, not before slamming Jigo into the ground. Saul saw it coming, but decided not to step forward and block that attack because it would give the Trill group a good reason to retaliate against him and remain at the scene. Plus, he knew that if he had to go into a fist fight with the Trill, he would probably lose.

He knelt next to Jigo, who was holding his nose. Blood dripped between his fingers.

"You should choose your friends better," Saul commented dryly.

Jigo, still holding his nose and trying to staunch the blood looked over the male Starfleet Officer, his anger evident. "You should learn to keep your mouth shut," he snapped, "I wasn't going to let him hurt her, but now thanks to you, my friends think I'm a traitor! When Starfleet decides it's got more important things to do, then what? When you're gone, I still have to live here!" His rant was interrupted when he felt a sharp pain across his nose and more blood spurted forth.

Karyn could tell Jigo was trying to pretend he wasn't in pain in an effort to salvage his pride, but fortunately for him, Dallas wasn't interested in calling his bluff. "Let me take you to the clinic and make sure your nose isn't broken and let's get you checked out." Before he could protest, she added, "It's the least I can do for the young man who was going to defend my honor."

Seeing Saul's surprise out of the corner of her eye, Karyn shrugged. If her interpretation got the young man to accept help, that was good enough for her.

"All right then," The Intelligence officer prompted, "I'll let his family know he's allright. His parents are worried sick."

"The Sheriff and the Schoolmarm, Part 1"

By Lieutenant Commander James Lionel Corgan
And NPC Andorian Tagalong Mika sh'Sonora

Location: USS Galaxy, Education Centre

Soundtrack Notes: I've watched a lot of anime as of late. In particular, I am fond of an anime called 'Samurai Champloo'. Great soundtrack on that series. In essence, it's rap without the bling and b*tches, a lot of cool, slow grooves... it's what hip hop should have turned into. Funny how the Japanese can do better than 50 Cent. *lol*

James found himself in an awkward position, and he didn't know how to get out of it.

On the right of him was his newfound companion, one fallen Andorian ambassador who, by the force of her own will, came into the Galaxy and into James own messed up life.

There was no doubt that James was attracted to Mika, and vice versa. The first time the couple meet was on lan'Jep, a Klingon resort colony (made as such because the Klingons didn't find the planet 'lethal' or 'extreme' enough for their tastes, thereby making it boring in their eyes and paradise in the eyes of others). It was the last mission of the Galaxy before her first major retrofitting, and the couple meet under trying circumstances. Mika's trials were her fat employer Ordos, whom she worked as an assistant ambassador (which meant she did all the work while Ordos attended all the parties). For James, it was holding onto the hope of a relationship with Lt. Electra Reece, an intellectual of Amazonian proportions whom happened to be just as mentally scrambled as he was at the time (and who happened to also be in a coma after an unfortunate incident with the Hirogen).

They meet. Sparks flew...

No fire.

James was still holding out for Lt. Reece, for he still felt loyalty to his comatose girlfriend. The first time failed.

The second encounter was on Gryphon, a human run colony independent of, but still diplomatically tied to, the Federation. Mika was free from her fatassed, corrupt employer and was a freshly minted Ambassador doing her first real assignment. James was a freshly minted Lieutenant Commander for a good year or so, and he was free from his comatose girlfriend, who happened to wake up, experience a full personality change, then leave his life after a misunderstanding involving Reece, Corgan, a Klingon named Dev'Or'raH in full dominatrix gear, and a tribble that was standing between the two.

They meet again. Sparks definitely flew. Mika even stole a kiss. James saved her from death and destruction like the proverbial knight in shining armour.

And still nothing, though after all that the odds were that they should have gone at it like wild weasels. At the time, James had another crush, Commander Rebecca Von Ernst, whom for some reason decided to leave unannounced before James could tell her. The poor boy was holding onto some hope of finding her again. As for Mika, she was in the middle of watching her career crash down in ruins because she didn't see a revolution coming on Gryphon, and was largely blamed on it by the Federation Diplomatic Corp.

There was one other meeting at a Terran pizza shop, where the fallen ambassador took employment familiar to her during her college days, and where James and his Terranbound sister decided to have lunch.

No sparks, just an open handed slap on the cheek that bruised for a week. That was the time Mika found out about James and the Romulan spy Atole Tekri, and their passionate relationship.

It was there that James did a little growing up of his own. Realizing that pining away over one woman, while having a relationship with another to fill the void, left woman number three embittered and ready to kill, when all along he had a fondness for woman number three and would like to start a relationship with her. He finally had the nerve to call woman number three (or Mika for convenience sakes) and apologize to her.

She took it one step further. She made James lay everything on the line. His feelings for the cute little Andorian, his regrets for hurting her, so on and so forth.

And when James thought she couldn't be more forward and abrupt (really, a misunderstanding of cultures, for humans tended to be slow in relationships while Andorians forced honesty in relationships down everyone's throats), she announced the following terms:

-That they both loved each other and wanted each other badly (that was the tricky part). -James and Mika were now officially a dating couple (thereby saving James months of frustrating work). -They were meeting on Trill to discuss more terms (and have a date).

A humanitarian mission and an unfortunate accident aside, so far, it was working well.

But what really tripped Corgan up today was a surprise Mika sprang on him when she arrived on the vessel. Their wounds were fully healed, but their spirits were still a jumble of confusion. And it was here, as they were making their way to their respective assignments, that they untangled that Gordian knot.

"So let me get this straight." Corgan asked gently, "You're staying on this ship?"

"MMMMmmmmm hhhhmmmmm." Mika hummed, as serenely as a Japanese geisha. She was in a cheery mood, in contrast to James bewilderment.

While James was in uniform, with an extra commander's pip to commemorate his good behaviour in the past three months, Mika was dressed in civilian garb, which was to her a pair of simple black padded Andorian shoes, brown leather breeches in a criss crossing strip pattern, a loose fitting dark purple sweater with an overtop black, triangular vest (both fitted tight to her, as told by the blush on James' cheek). It wasn't anything fancy, but popular on her home world of Andoria.

At 5'1 and 1/2, she wasn't what one could call imposing. That took direct knowledge of what she was capable of to do just that, and James knew from experience. She walked as if she was a centre of control, with fluid ease in her small movements. She spoke almost in an unassuming whisper, looked at others with crystal blue doe eyes and pert nose and tiny chin always pointed upwards due to her height disadvantage. She carried herself with grace and beauty; an ice princess that held back the molten heart of her people, blending a chilling beauty that lacked the aloofness and indifferent attitude of others like her, but held back the impulsiveness common to Andorians.

But when she was threatened... and James could attest to this, she was capable of turning a Klingon's limb into a xylophone. The grace and ease of movement everyone spoke of when talking about her was actually from training in Andorian martial arts since childhood, one of the few traits she did share with her race.

Mika was an amazing woman, one James held with an almost reverence. It was with that in mind that he tried to pick his words carefully.

"So..." He dared to ask in front of this amazing woman, "You are... a schoolteacher?"

"Aye." Mika responded, a slight leaking of her southern Andorian accent turning the 'a' into an 'h', bobbing her head in confirmation, ruffling her wildly styled, snow white, short cut hair. "And you are the Security Chief, dear James. Do you know what that signifies?"

James chuckled mirthfully, "I never thought you were such a romantic. The sheriff and the schoolmarm."

"One of Terra's most enduring types of love stories." Mika sighed dreamily, "It is romantic. But you seem troubled by this."

James reeled back, stammering, "I... I guess I am. This is all going so fast..."

"Pinkskins..." Mika lobbed the racial slur as if it was a warm, enduring trait, "You people are too much sometimes. James, relax, go along with it. We knew how we felt about each other before. Lets just... go with it."

"Yeah." James laughed nervously, "I'm... just not used to this. Do your people do relationships differently?"

"Do we ever." Mika sighed, "There are four different genders of Andorian, two you would identify as male, and two identified as female. We usually live in quads. Traditionally, it was to increase the odds of conception, since finding out each gender was a... hit or miss science. But these days... it is tradition, nothing more. We are forward about our feelings after a time. There is divorce, but it is rare. Children are raised by all members of the quad. What about you humans?"

"Well..." Corgan tried to explain, "Pretty simple. Couples mostly, monogamous relationships are the norm, but sometime adultery is initiated with disastrous results when discovered. Children are raised by the couple, but sometimes with the parents being busy with work they are usually left to fend for themselves. Divorce is commonplace, mostly because human adults are forced to decide for themselves what is ideal for a mate. And I can tell you... most humans do not know."

"And as for you?"

James pondered the question, "I'm more awkward about relationships than the average human."

"Hah!" Mika chortled, "I'm a teacher now. You'll learn."

"Yes, and speaking of which... how did you end up with the job?"

Mika recalled, "It was after you left Terra. I was fired after having a fight with your ex-girlfriend..."

"You what?!?!"

"It's ok. I won. Anyways I was unemployed and at the lowest point of my life, when all the sudden I saw an opportunity in the news bulletins."

"And what was that opportunity? Honestly, you beat up Tekri..."

"Appearantly, Starfleet Command was looking for schoolteachers to serve onboard their vessels. They usually take officers, but with the last war draining to officer's reserves, they were willing to take any civilian as long as they have a degree."

"How badly did you hurt her? Did she hurt you?"

"Shush. Anyways, it so happens that I earned my bachelors and masters at the University of Andoria, have a post doctorate in political sciences from your world's Yale! I more than qualified for the position. In fact I did so well that they allowed me the choice of any ship on the fleet. But of course there was only one choice..."

"You actually..."

"Yes James," Mika said with cracked patience, "I beat up Tekri. She was obsessed with getting you back, insulted me, and... I was less than diplomatic for the first time in my life, but I did win, and there was no serious damage... unless I count my uniform shirt and one Victoria's Secret springtime fever..."

With his imagination wandering, James said, "That's a major turnon."

Her face scrunched up, and she sighed, "Silly pinkskins."

The she lightly punched James on the shoulder. For her it was as a joke. To James, it was a little slip of a girl who didn't know her own strength. His shoulder jarred painfully.

"Heh heh... owwww..." Corgan weakly moaned.

She stopped abruptly at a set of doors. Through the clear plastic, classrooms of children were quietly reading.

"This is my stop." Mika announced.

"Mine too." Corgan ruefully replied.

"Oh?" She asked.

"Ummm..." Corgan sweated, trying to tiptoe over Mika, who was catching on faster than he could compensate, "Well... it was about... Tekri. I was given community service and blacklisted after they found out about us. For my community service... I have to teach a class too."

"Oh?" Mika raised a twitching eyebrow, "And what are you teaching?"

James replied, "Sex ed."

Her annoyed face vanished into one of amusement. "There is such a thing as irony."

"Ha ha... Well listen. Good luck with your first day of classes. They'll try to do all sorts of pranks on you so... be sure to check your seat first. Then your desk. For that matter... sweep the entire classroom for contraband. See ya!"

"Hey, wait! What's contra..."

James already bolted to his classroom, leaving Mika alone.

"Damn." She cursed under her breath.

"Meeting the Superior Officer"

Lieutenant Iniara Tarin, Chief of Operations
T'Ashaya, Ensign, Vulcan Tsunami, Veterinary Doctor

=== Operations Office - USS Galaxy Underway, not long after leaving Trill ===

T'Ashaya knew very little of the officers aboard the Galaxy. Many people wanted to serve aboard the ship. That spoke volumes for the quality of the command. Little came off the ship in the way of rumor. That also spoke well for the quality of command.

The tall Vulcan woman rang outside the Operations Office. "Ensign T'Ashaya," she announced neutrally, and waited for the Lieutenant to ask her inside.

In some ways, the formality of etiquette aboard a starship felt artificial to T'Ashaya. It compared favorably to the formality of Vulcan etiquette, as well as to the formality of the etiquette of several other races. In some ways it felt comfortable to her, despite the artificial nature of interactions within this structure.

Unlike typical human interactions, where T'Ashaya could not always calculate the variables dictating appropriate and inappropriate behavior, in formal situations such as this, she found a certain ease. Things would go according to a preset form, given a certain amount of variance for individual choice and the race of the officer in question. The form of this meeting could then be used to accurately predict future interactions of this nature with this officer.

T'Ashaya held a high level of anticipation toward meeting her new superior and hoped the meeting would go well.

Inside her office, the Galaxy's Ops Chief sat pondering over an omnipresent spread of PADDs. The door chime barely registered, but her ears perked up when she heard the Vulcan's voice over the comm. Standing, she pushed the PADDs into a small pile at the side of her desk. "Enter," she called out, stepping around to the front of her desk.

"Ensign T'Ashaya," she began, "welcome aboard the Galaxy. I'm Lieutenant Tarin, Chief of Operations. Please, come in."

T'Ashaya stepped inside and took a seat as Lieutenant Tarin indicated. While, Lieutenant Tarin was not short by human female standards, the 6'2" Vulcan woman still stood a full head taller than her commanding officer.

T'Ashaya sat quickly, rather than lingering and drawing attention to their height difference.

Iniara waited until the Vulcan was settled before continuing. "I see that you have been aboard for a short time. Have you had a chance to familiarize yourself with the ship's layout?"

"I studied the layout and schematics on my way from the Academy," T'Ashaya stated. "I have begun a comparison of the as built layout compared to the current layout on file and have made mental notes of the differences I have noticed thus far."

"That's good to hear," Iniara replied, smiling. "And your quarters are satisfactory?"

T'Ashaya didn't know exactly how to answer that question. She had grown up with the privilege of her own room. Now she had to share with another officer and a human officer at that. It was not ideal. "My quarters are adequate to the purpose," The Vulcan woman replied, allowing the barest hint of irony to the statement. She planned to spend as few of her off hours in her quarters as possible, to avoid her roommate.

"Good, good. Well, I like to keep these kinds of meetings short, so I won't bore you with an exhaustive battery of questions. Just tell me a bit about yourself...personal interests, how you came to join Starfleet... The kind of information I normally wouldn't find in your personnel file."

"I am not certain what information you would like, Lieutenant," T'Ashaya started slowly. Should she explain her vision to the Lieutenant? The blue eyed Vulcan considered the sound of the starship for a moment, the rhythmic pulse of the engines like a heartbeat, like steady rolling surf. "I came to Starfleet for the whales, Lieutenant. They called me here."

It was not a lie. It was not the whole of the truth, either. T'Ashaya lacked the words to explain the whole of the truth. She hoped that the Lieutenant would not press the point or would misunderstand her words and either way, would not ask further questions.

"As for hobbies, mine are reasonably typical. I find poetry, literature and music diversionary and engaging." The Vulcan Tsunami did not mention surfing. To her, it was no hobby. It was life. To not surf? The Vulcan woman might as well not breathe. Her Olympic medals should be testimony enough to that.

"Hm." Iniara pulled a PADD from the stack to her left, taking a moment to scan T'Ashaya's file once more. The woman's love of the sea was clearly evident, both from the information listed in her file and what the Ops Chief could sense from her body language. Iniara wondered how T'Ashaya would adjust to life on a starship.

"Given your experience with cetaceans, it seems odd that you were assigned to Operations duty. The decisions made by BuPers sometimes seem odd at first glance, though I'm sure they had their reasons."

"Human logic is difficult to quantify and reproduce in many cases," T'Ashaya replied neutrally. "I believe, however, that there is some logical reasoning behind the assignment, even if it is not readily apparent."

"Well, onto more important business..." Iniara paused, pulling another PADD off the top of the stack. "You have been assigned to Main Bridge duty during Delta Shift. Under normal circumstances, all Operations Officers serve one duty shift per day, with the rest of their time to do with as they please. The department is perpetually shorthanded though, so in emergency situations like what we just experienced on Trill, we go to a double duty rotation."

"Before I continue, do you have any questions?" Iniara asked.

"Do you know of any reason that the operations department remains understaffed?" T'Ashaya asked.

"Operations is a popular choice for cadets who plan to pursue the command track," Iniara replied. "Honestly, I think a lot of cadets come to Operations with a lot of unrealistic expectations. Perhaps they want to become heroes, get on the fast track to command, or maybe they just want to have an easy job. When these sorts of officers come along, they soon find out that Ops duty is no less rigorous than any other department, and that 'heroes' are far more often made in Engineering, Medical, or even Sciences. The officers that truly belong here are the ones that came to do their job, and will do it to the best of their ability, knowing they may never receive any sort of recognition outside their own department."

"Ops duty is fairly straightforward, though far from ordinary," she continued. "As I'm sure you are well aware, our chief function is to keep everything running smoothly from day to day, essentially forming the backbone of the ship. We handle all manner of problems, and often serve as a go-between when departments need to coordinate their individual resources and personnel. First and foremost, our job is to make sure nothing screws up or breaks and that everyone's fancy equipment plays nice with everyone else's. Ideally, if we do our jobs right the ship's crew shouldn't even know we exist." As she finished her little speech the Ops Chief folded her hands across her desk, trying to judge the Vulcan woman's reaction. The speech was the same one she gave to all of her newly assigned personnel, so naturally she had some practice giving it. Most of the information seemed to be a bit obvious she thought, but it never hurt to state it for the record.

"It is my understanding that much of Starfleet acts as if Operations doesn't exist. I have heard that many departments go to Engineering for things that should come through Operations instead. Does the Galaxy have much problem with this?"

Iniara pursed her lips in thought for a moment before answering. "In the past it may have been, but since I've been on board it doesn't seem to be a huge problem. Of course, there are occasional misunderstandings or confusion. Thankfully, all the department heads aboard this ship seem to communicate well, and are very good at keeping their staff members informed as to the correct ship's procedures. Lieutenant Commander O'Shea and I have also spent some time working together, so we make sure to keep Engineering and Operations to their assigned tasks."

"Well, now that I'm done pontificating, are there any questions or comments you would like to add?"

"To whom should I speak about getting access to the cetacean areas aboard the ship? I should like to speak with them and make certain that their needs are being appropriately met aboard this vessel," the Vulcan veterinarian stated, slipping immediately into the role she found most comfortable, that of physician. "Does the Galaxy currently have an officer in charge of maintaining relationships with the cetacean crew members?"

"At the moment, I am not completely sure who handles the cetacean labs. Lieutenant Heloi is the Chief Science Officer, so she would be able to give you any information you need."

The blonde Vulcan filed the information for later use, sensing that the meeting was drawing to a close. "Thank you, Lieutenant. Do you have anything more for me?"

"Not at the moment, no," the Chief replied as she stood to move out from behind her desk. She took a moment to size the taller Vulcan up once more. "I think you'll do well in this department, Ensign. Your regular duty shifts begin in two days; until then you are free to do with your time as you please."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. The time will be useful to finish settling in," T'Ashaya replied.

Iniara nodded to herself; a habit she seemed to have picked up recently. "Please let me know if you have any problems or questions in the future. My door is always open. Dismissed."

The Vulcan officer turned and left. She had a former star she needed to annoy about some whales, amongst other things.

Mekaela/Lori C./Oded/Mieke/Alex

"The Talent Show"

Hosted by Melissa Cornwall

Morale Officer NPCed by Lori C.

LOCATION: 10-4ward

Melissa tapped her chin in contemplation over the stage. It was crooked. She was sure of it.

"Honey, it's fine!" The voice came from her husband, Jack.

Melissa sighed, "No. It's off. I KNOW it! Can't you get one of those doodads from engineering and check it?"

"I would except I'm sure they won't let me use it considering I'm only a cook. Speaking of which, it's almost dinner time." As he walked off he mumbled something about how the Voyager started something with that darned actual cooked food. People couldn't be satisfied with replicated food. NOOOO.

As her husband walked off to work, she decided to let the crooked stage go for now. She'd have someone check it later. It had to be perfect. The crew had gone through so much in such a short time after the refit. At this rate they'd have to go in for refits every six months!

**The Next Day**

"Welcome to the show people!" Melissa smiled ear to ear, hoping the people watching would enjoy themselves. "Our first act is comprised of a collaboration led by Samantha Widdlestein. They will give us a taste of Shakespeare, known for his." Melissa heard someone clearing their throat and turned to see Sam impatiently tapping her foot, pouting and crossing her arms. Melissa smiled back to the crowd, "Well, Shakespeare is on the ship's computer if you'd like to learn more about it! On with the show!" Melissa made her way off the stage.

Samantha Widdlestein took the stage, walking purposefully towards the microphone and then stopping before it to smile at the audience.

"I would like to present," Sam said cheerfully "Romeo and Juliet, the way it should have been."

What followed was truly a memorable, if not confusing as all hell, version of the play. It held most similarity to the original in that the characters had the same name. Other than that, well, no one really knew why the play was set on Qo'nos even though all the characters were human or why a pirate ship kept appearing in the backdrop with the words 'Thief of my heart- sale! 3 bars of gold pressed latinum" on its sails.

It was amusing though to see an enraged Juliet kick Romeo off the balcony for spying on her and an actor dressed up like John Q. Brodhe as the Nurse.

Samantha bowed at the end, managing to block all the actors in the process, and graciously received the flowers she had sent herself.

Melissa walked up onto the stage amongst the slow clapping of a confused audience. "Well, that was a. um. Unique spin on a classic! And now we have." She tried to keep the smile as she continued to speak, "George Kastanza. He said his act is a surprise." As she walked off she looked to make sure that Jack had the theatrical hook ready.

George sauntered up the steps and spoke, "Hello ladies and germs! Tonight I present you with what I'm sure all you ladies would love to see. Hit it!" Someone pushed the button on the wall and the music began. It was a sultry tune. Some of the men blushed recognizing it from some clubs they visited on Risa. George did what no one but himself would call a dance. He started to unbutton his shirt.

Melissa's eyes shot wide and looked at her husband thrusting a finger across her throat. Jack nodded as he already had the hook extended. The hook wouldn't fit George's robust frame as he continued to wiggle and the shirt came off and the room was filled with moans of pain. Jack got on the stage as George was undoing his pants and screams of "NO! KILL ME NOW!" erupted. Finally, Jack was able to push the man off the stage.

Melissa took the stage shuddering. "I apologize people. No more surprise acts." She sighed reading the next name. Should be a very calming performance.

"And now we have Mei Sime singing a song in Japanese. We will turn off the universal translators for this performance." The computer beeped as Mei and Melissa crossed paths.

Mei took the stage and closed her eyes as she began to sing. It was the only way not to get stage fright. When the song was over and she opened her eyes, people clapped appreciatedly. Though, most people didn't understand a word she sang, the melody was captivating. She spoke a thank you in Japanese and left the stage.

Melissa returned and began speaking, but a confused look crossed her face as she looked at the confused faces before her. People started mumbling, or growling depending on their language. Oops. She motioned for someone to clip the translator back on. After the beep, she nervously giggled, "Sorry about that. Wasn't that beautiful!"

Saul was sitting next to Bran, with his head and his hands. Thoughts rushed through his mind. How the hell did the young marine convinced him to take part of this fiasco? Is he really going to stand up, take a step and get on stage for the humiliation of a lifetime?

The smoke from the stage penetrated his nostrils, and he coughed once, shuddering slightly.

"You will do fine." Bran assured him and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. "Just told my hand. And remember only to sing your lines." She said affectionately before dragging him toward the stage.

Saul sent a brief glance at Miramon, who followed the pair into the stage lights. If looks could talk, Saul's eyes would've said 'Save me!!!'

Miramon only smirked.

Melissa looked at the PADD in her hand and took a glance. Sure enough, the trio was approaching the stage. "And now we have the final act. Miramon Terrik, Branwen London and Saul Bental singing 'The Winner Takes It All.'" With that, she left the stage and allowed the three to come on the stage.

Saul tightened his grip on the guitar. Don't look at the people, he recalled one of his Academy instructors say. Choose one person, and talk to him. Just make sure the rest of the audience doesn't fall asleep while you lecture.

In the corner of his eye he could see Branwen approaching the old-fashioned microphone. He decided to make her the one person he will play for.

Standing before the microphone Branwen took a deep breath, she looked again to see if Saul was all right and then began to sing. It had been ages, in fact not since she had sung in chapel back home. Her father had told her voice was tolerable, so she had no idea that she had a beautiful singing voice.

Beside her, Saul's fingers already started to flutter over the guitar's strings. They've decided to play a song the two of them knew from Earth - a song called 'The Winner Takes It All', from the golden age of pop music about four hundred years ago. It recently had a successful remake, and so many people in the crowd should be familiar with it. Miramon, of course, stood no chance against the united powers of Saul and Bran once they made up their minds about the song.

"I don't wanna talk

About the things we've gone through

Though it's hurting me

Now it's history

I've played all my cards

And that's what you've done too

Nothing more to say

No more ace to play"

Bran actually felt in her element. She was enjoying standing in front of the microphone and singing. She enjoyed Saul's music in the background. Beforehand, she did not think at all that it would be enjoyable, but frightening with all these people watching.

"I was in your arms

Thinking I belonged there

I figured it made sense

Building me a fence

Building me a home

Thinking I'd be strong there

But I was a fool

Playing by the rules..."

Saul eyed Branwen's back, his heart physically aching from the hidden irony in the lead singer's words. He hadn't made up his mind about her, or Nara. In fact, he was losing sleep over it. Oddly enough, the fact he was distracted in fact improved his playing, and he didn't miss a single chord.

"The gods may throw a dice

Their minds as cold as ice

And someone way down here

Loses someone dear

The winner takes it all

The loser has to fall

It's simple and it's plain

Why should I complain..."

Saul gulped, and glanced at Miramon. It was his time to join the singing, and it was hard for him for more than one reason.

"I don't wanna talk

If it makes you feel sad

And I understand

You've come to shake my hand

I apologize

If it makes you feel bad

Seeing me so tense

No self-confidence

But you see-

The winner takes it all

The loser standing small

Beside the victory

That's her destiny..."

The audience clapped loudly as the threesome left the stage and Melissa got back up, "Well! If we were awarding any prizes, I think that would take it!

As they exited the stage, the sound of the clapping hands remained like a distant drum roll in Saul's ears. He carefully put down the guitar, and grinned at the other two officers.

Melissa was still talking, "With Mei's performance taking second. We aren't giving awards this time, though. Maybe next time; after seeing what talent we have!"

"You guys were absolutely incredible, you know that?" He asked, wiping the sweat of his forehead.

Branwen could not help herself, she hugged Saul. "I love you." She whispered in his ear. "Thank you for doing this, you were terrific."

Saul and Miramon exchanged looks. "Yes, you're here too, she didn't forget you!", Saul said cheerfully, and the three laughed, letting all the pressure of the performance wash away in laughter.

Melissa was smiling at the success of the night, "One more round of applause for all our.well most.of our performers!" Melissa clapped with the audience.

It was indeed a successful night. For a few moments everyone forgot the sadness that existed in the Universe.

"_My_ Whales"

Jasmine "Adora Starfire" Heloi, CSciO, Former Star, Unwitting Victim
T'Ashaya of Vulcan, Ensign in operations, Vulcan Tsunami, Practical Joker

=== Chief Science Officer's Office Some time after talking to the Chief Operations Officer. Some time before moving her gear down to the main cetaceans lab and taking up residence there. ===

With the news that Lieutenant Tarin had given her, T'Ashaya set off for the science department. As Lieutenant Jasmine Heloi kept a mostly open door policy, the door swished open as the Vulcan woman approached. She waited a moment for the more senior officer to acknowledge her presence before speaking.

"Formal or informal, Lieutenant?" she asked the Betazoid behind the desk.

Jasmine smiled brightly as she recognized the strawberry blonde Vulcan, "Informal," she replied immediately, the unspoken 'duh' echoing through the room. It seemed like only yesterday when T'Ashaya was scampering about the set - that is as much as a Vulcan 'scampers' - under the supervision of her brother. Those definitely were the metaphorical 'good old days' when she was still an actress, Shay was still an Olympic surfer, and Sam...Sam was still Sam.

T'Ashaya moved a step forward and then, in her best imitation of her older brother Samek, her face turned to a vicious, vaguely deranged scowl. "The whales, Adora Starfire. Just where are you hiding my precious whales?" She let a small stack of PADDs dramatically clatter to the Lieutenant Heloi's desk. "This snare you have laid, with your forms and your regulations, shall not keep me from them forever. And when I figure out just which one of these trifling flies will grant me access, then I shall begin my reign and your doom."

Jasmine's eyes sparkled with barely suppressed glee as she used her best 'Adora Starfire' voice, "You will never get to them, Dark One, for I will stop you with my mighty red tape. You will never achieve your goals, because evil never wins."

The Science Chief's 'Adora' mask dropped as she smiled again, "I'm rather impressed, Shay. Ever thought of acting as a career?"

The tall Vulcan woman demurred. Her face settled back into the neutral half-smile she normally wore and she seemed to shrink a little within her gold collared uniform. "My brother does not have all the talent in the family," T'Ashaya admitted sheepishly. "I played Sleeping Beauty in my third grade play."

"I hear that's not all the Sleeping Beauty you've played recently," Jazz smirked, "Whatever will Sam think about his sister gallivanting across Trill with a fighter jock? Though, knowing Corran, that's not all he tried to do."

"Apparently the staff of the base on Trill do not keep the temporary officers quarters at an acceptable level of cleanliness. Corran Rex generously offered to allow me to use his guest room. He did offer recreational sex," T'Ashaya stated neutrally, "but I convinced him of the error in his logic."

"So what brings you down here besides reminiscing?" the Betazoid asked curiously.

"I came to get access to the cetacean areas," she explained. "I should like to meet our cetacean crew members and let them know they finally have access to real medical care, and not just some biped's doctor with a manual and a prayer. I also want to make sure they feel fully integrated into the crew. It can be very lonely for being from one of the more social cetacean races to be away from their pod or herd. We, as fellow crew beings, have to become a surrogate pod for the crew being, lest he or she simply die from loneliness."

Of the things T'Ashaya knew, she knew loneliness very well. To be a Vulcan among humans, to be a surfer among Vulcans, these things were loneliness at their core. The feeling was not illogical, even among Vulcans.

Perhaps especially among Vulcans.

Vulcans were not meant to be alone any more than a dolphin or a whale. T'Ashaya knew what it felt like, to be so lonely she might die. The Vulcan name for the feeling was pon farr. Outsiders might know the name, but it was not so much about sex as they might think. It was about oceans deep loneliness, a consuming blackness that could only be countered with the touch of another. She could not condemn another being to that abyss, though she herself lived at its edge.

"I also came down because I promised Samek I would make certain you are doing well. He believes that you are not taking care of yourself without him around to nag you," T'Ashaya stated, switching the topic.

"Heh, Sam would say that," Heloi replied, laughter in her voice, "You're more than welcome to visit the whales, Shay. In fact, I insist. Lilanis knows you're close to them with your past, I think they could use someone of your abilities around." She grabbed another PADD and entered some information, "This'll be entered into the standard data banks, but from here on out you'll have the same access to the tanks as any of my other crew members do. Which reminds me...aren't you a vet by trade? I wouldn't think to see you wearing Ops/Engineering gold."

"Starfleet's infinite wisdom in infinite obscurity," T'Ashaya replied, this time sounding very much like an annoyed Malibu Beach Bunny. "I have been assured that this assignment will allow me the most access to the whale tanks, however I suspect that Starfleet Command was simply looking to fill a continually short-handed department with an individual unlikely to complain about the duties."

Jasmine nodded. She could well recall how twisted Starfleet's logic could sometimes be. Or, rather, generally was. The last time that she had seen Shay in person was during the filming of the last episode of Starfire. Samek, of course, was there since he was her character's arch villain and Shay had been invited to come along. She could easily remember how well Sam could pull off the 'insane Romulan' routine, especially given how insane Mortek, his character, supposedly was.

"How *is* my old nemesis doing, by the way? The last time we talked was right about when you were getting ready to graduate."

"He and Sef are doing well. They are discussing the prospect of getting married on Delta and looking at adopting children. " T'Ashaya reported, settling into one of the chairs opposite the Chief Science officer's desk. "Currently Samek is working on a film about the life of Surak. It is a rather highly protested film on Vulcan. So highly protested Miramax is filming the outdoor scenes in the Gobi and recreating the Forge on a holo-set, because certain families are not happy with how they interpret the script's portrayal of Surak and certain others believe the portrayal of those who leave will inflame the Romulans. I believe they are calling it "The Last Emotions of Surak," but it's still in production, so that could change."

Heloi whistled through her teeth, "Trust Sam to get involved in something controversial. Who's he playing this time? One of the dissidents aka Romulans-to-be?" She had picked one of the more obvious choices, especially given Sam's range of "emotions." He was a phenomenal actor. Then again, she thought for a moment, growing up on Earth probably had a major influence in that matter.

"Actually," T'Ashaya sounded almost proud as she spoke, a true smile played at her lips. "Samek is cast as Surak."

Jasmine's mouth dropped infinitismally before she grinned, "As Surak? Wow! That's wonderful. He'll 'knock 'em dead' though considering his more recent works I thought he was tending to avoid leading roles."

"He did not want the part. He tried out for the part of S'harien, the blacksmith who becomes the reluctant leader of the separatists," the Vulcan woman reported.

"Thought so," she nodded, "Good for him! Anyway, what do you think of your new 'digs?'" The Betazoid made a sweeping gesture that encompassed the Galaxy, or at least, what it was supposed to imply.

T'Ashaya sighed. "I'm rooming with a totally mal benny. She's such a queeb. Thinks she's Surak's gift to Starfleet. Logically, I may have to smother the humie hodad with her own pillow, or at least shove her perfume bottle down her throat so it gags her as much as it's gagging me. I'm planning on making up a cot down in the main cetacean lab and riding it out. She can't last on this ship forever."

"Okay, then. Tell me how you really feel," Jasmine teased. "I promise I won't peek. Anyway, Sam'd have my head if I didn't ask. My door's always open for you, Shay. Which reminds me. What are you doing for dinner?"

"Avoiding the hodad queeb?" T'Ashaya offered, sounding as if it were the start of an equally long list of pointless, yet necessary activities.

"Then swing by my quarters after work. I think I still remember how to whip up Sam's famous pineapple and pear salad. Not to mention one or two things of my own to spice things up a bit if you're interested."

"You have probably saved a life tonight, Jazz. The life of a useless human hodad queeb who is drawing pay from Starfleet and providing nothing in return. You understand that, right?"

Jasmine laughed. "I'll consider it my good deed for the month."

T'Ashaya involuntarily quirked an eyebrow toward the ceiling. "You're doing good deeds these days? Starfleet has changed you." She started toward the door. "I have belongings to move and a hodad to avoid. See you around seven?"

Jasmine made a mock threating gesture, picking up a PADD and making like she was going to hurl it in the direction of the young Vulcan woman. T'Ashaya, for her part, scampered quickly out of the door, leaving Jasmine with a clutter of around fifty additional PADDs on her desk. The chief science officer could no longer tell her own work from the rest of the mess. The Vulcan woman was, indeed, Sam's sister.

"You'll pay, dark one," Jasmine muttered in her Adora Starfire voice and started sorting through the confusion. Someone ought to put a warning label on that particular Vulcan, but it wasn't going to be Jasmine to do it.

"A Place In The Queue"

(Takes place immediately after ‘Not Dead After All’)

Principal Characters

Lt. Ella Grey

Lt (JG) Victor Krieghoff

****

USS Galaxy
Deck 7
Victor Krieghoff's Quarters

Ella looked down at the table and then frowned at her grimy hands. And then thought of a great solution.

Well, they said you can never really change a person.

~~Can I use your shower, Tiger?~~ Ella said with a wicked smile and then waited for his monotonic unembarrassed reply.

Victor looked around the room, unsurprisingly identical to the quarters he'd had on the previous saucer section - or for that matter, the last three ships he'd served on - and frowned. The furniture consisted, at the moment, of one table, a single chair occupied by Grey, the boxed contents of his storage space which had been transferred in minutes ago by transporter, and not much else.

"Yes," Victor nodded. "But there aren't any towels replicated. No soap either."

If it were another man, she would have thought that they were playing with her. But this was Victor. ~~No worries, Tiger. I can always replicate some. Or is your replicator broken?~~ She supposed just washing off would be enough but she wasn't sure on Victor's views about "air drying"

"Don't know, but I doubt it." He shrugged. "Things always work well in my quarters - no repair personnel want to have to come here on the chance that I'm home."

Ella frowned at that. ~~Doesn't matter. It's their job no matter if you give them the heebie-jeebies.~~

"I use the water settings," he reminded her. "My previous settings will have seen selected when I was confirmed assigned to these quarters. No screaming this time."

Ella waved him off. ~~Yeah, yeah. I remember. And it wasn't my fault. *Most* people use the sonic shower.~~

"I'm not like everyone else, Grey. You know that."

She just couldn't seem to help herself; Victor was just a bad influence on her. ~~Yeah, I know. Wanna help me scrub my back?~~

Victor looked at her for a moment. She wasn't injured, so there was no real need for him to help her. "You don't need any help, Grey."

Ella rolled her eyes. ~~One of these days you'll look back on this and smack yourself. How about a big dinner? I'm really hungry.~~

"Food is good." He nodded. "I'll fix..." No, there was no galley here, this wasn't the Shabradnigdo. He frowned again. "I'll replicate something."

Ella stuck her head outside the door. ~~Um, maybe less on the Andorian spices this time.~~

"Fair enough. Do I need to replicate you a new uniform?" He looked down at the clothes he wore, still the same ones he'd worn on the Shabradnigdo and more recently on Trill an hour before. "I need to replicate some uniforms too. I'll need to report in soon."

~~Can I spend the night?~~

He supposed that he ought to have expected that. It had been months since he'd been here, possibly months since she'd had a night's sleep without the demons that came out in her dreams. "Assuming that they replicated a bed for me, yes. Otherwise, you'll need to go back to your quarters."

~~Then I'll just borrow some of the flannels I got you that you never wear.~~ Ella said with a smile and headed back for her shower.

Victor shook his head as he moved to the bedroom door. The dreams must have become bad; she hadn't even listened to what he was saying. One check later, and he was at the LCARS panel and keying in a request for replication and transport for copies of all the furniture that he'd previously had - only to discover that he was not terribly near the top of the queue of requests.

Apparently either many people were changing their quarters around, there were a lot of new crewmen boarding, or the system had been programmed to automatically move his name to the bottom of any list. He knew which one *he* thought it was.

He shrugged, and replicated a uniform with the towels for Grey. She'd need it now. After he'd set them inside the bathroom door he reloaded his menu choices into the local replicator and stared at them for a moment before making a selection. No Andorian spices. He hoped the purely Terran ones in the Rogan Josh and Guntaba would be okay. He'd been eating a lot of Indian cuisine lately, he wasn't sure why. He'd just had a taste for it.

He looked down again, realized that he'd still not changed out of the leathers he'd been wearing and decided to deal with it later. Grey didn't care what he was wearing and he was comfortable.

She came out wrapped in the towel he had replicated for her. ~~Did you just say that you didn't have your bed yet?~~

"I don't have any furniture other than what you see, Grey." Victor's matter-of-fact delivery told her why he thought that was.

Ella glanced around the room, finally taking in the absence of furniture. This was extreme, even for Victor. ~~This is ridiculous. You should have had this furnished by now.~~

"If I were someone else, it would have been - but I'm not. You know that."

Ignoring him, Ella made her way over the LCARS panel and looked at the requests herself. ~~You should be ahead of these requests~~

Victor shook his head. "Were you listening to what I said at all, Grey?"

=/\="Grey to Operations,"=/\= Ella said, noting with interest the frown Victor made at her voice. =/\"I've got a little problem here."=/\=

After a moment, the answer came back, "=/\="Operations Desk to Lt. Grey, Ensign Parks speaking. What can I do for you, ma'am?"=/\=

=/\="Lieutenant Krieghoff needs his furniture, Parks, and he's been waiting on it for some time."=/\= Ella told him.

"This isn't necessary, Grey," Victor began.

"Ssshush." Ella silenced Victor.

=/\="Let me check the queue, ma'am,"=/\= Parks responded. After a moment, he came back with, =/\="I see him in the queue, ma'am, but he appears to be in the correct slot based on his application time..."=/\=

=/\="Parks,"=/\= Ella said in her sweetest voice, although one couldn't tell it was her sweetest voice. =/\="I don't care if he's the devil himself. I want his stuff delivered in ten minutes or I'm going to come down there and show you what hell is like."=/\=

=/\="I understand that, ma'am, but... hello, what was that?"=/\= He paused. =/\="Hold on just a moment, ma'am - there's something odd in the system."=/\=

Several minutes passed, where Victor surrendered and resorted to counting the drips of water that fell from under Grey's towel to the floor. He had reached forty-three when Parks spoke again.

=/\="Parks to Grey. I found the source of the problem, ma'am. Someone inserted a subroutine into the request queue that automatically reset the request time for any request from the Lieutenant to a random number of seconds between three and thirty *below* the last entry in the queue. It would have eventually gone through, but it might have taken days for the queue to empty out long enough for it to happen. I wouldn't have known what to look for, except that I saw it reset when I had the queue screen pulled up."=/\= The ensign, oddly, sounded genuinely irritated that someone had altered his systems, and unconcerned as to why.

=/\="I've made a log entry and sent it up the chain requesting an internal investigation, ma'am, and I'm moving the Lieutenant to the top of the queue. I suggest that you move to the center of the room and wait - it shouldn't take more than minute. Parks out."=/\=

Ella smiled and patted Victor's cheek. ~~See? I told you. Oh, thanks for the new uniform. I can get some pajamas later. If I'm still welcome.~~

"Why wouldn't you be welcome, Grey?" Victor didn't understand why people felt the need to ask things like that. If they weren't welcome, they'd know. People always knew when he didn't want them around.

~~I know I can be pushy sometimes.~~ She said with a shrug.

Without replying, he took her arm and pulled her to the center of the room.

"Wait."

A few seconds later, furniture started to shimmer and appear all around them, arranging itself in the exact pattern that Victor had used before, which was an exact duplicate of the floor plan to his first solo quarters aboard the USS Delaware. Within two minutes, everything was in place. Only then did he let go of her arm. "You should go change, Grey."

~~Whatever you say, Tiger.~~

"The Holodeck Adventures of Aristi and Anna" - Prologue

Pilot Anna Lewis, Vanguard Seven
Ensign Aristi Ferguson, Flight Control

Location: Ten-Forward

Anna Lewis was, let's face it, really bored. Escorting Admirals from SB 212 to DS5 really wasn't her idea of an exciting mission. Thankfully, there were a lot of other things to do on a Galaxy-III Class Starship. Anna didn't have a lot of friends yet, since she'd just transferred from the Charlemagne, but there never seemed to be a shortage of people in Ten-Fo. So she went.

Relaxing on one of the couches in the corner, Anna munched idly at her nachos, occasionally glancing around for somebody interesting to talk to.

Her savior naturally came in the form of one Aristi Ferguson, Scottish-Cardassian Navigation Officer and self-appointed morale officer aboard the Galaxy. Well, at least one of them. One of quite a few, actually. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen Sam Widdlestein in some time...

Not that any of that mattered right now.

Aristi came to Ten-Forward quite a bit, usually alone, and always looking for new and interesting people to befriend. And so her radar quickly picked up the signal of the young pilot, sitting off by herself and looking less than fascinated by her food.

Aristi definitely couldn't let the young woman sit around bored all evening. It was a tragedy, a damn shame. So without another moment's consideration she picked up her drink and headed over.

"Evening," she began, smiling down at Anna. "You look like you could use some company. Mind if I join you?"

Anna smiled, "Nope. Go right ahead. To tell you the truth, I'm just kind of bumming around right now. You'd be a welcome distraction from... well... nothing. Because nothing is exactly what's happening right now." Finally, somebody to talk to.

Aristi chuckled as she plopped down on the opposite sofa. "With all the people aboard this ship, you figure there would be something more to do than just hang around waiting for something exciting to happen. Oh, by the way, I'm Aristi. Aristi Ferguson, Flight Control."

"You'd think. But I'm new around here, so it's still taking some adjusting," Anna sighed. "Oh... Yeah, I should do that too. Pilot Anna Lewis, Vanguard Seven."

"Pleasure to meet you," Aristi replied. "So what brings you to this little boat of ours? Other than the nachos, that is."

"Well, this isn't the answer you're hoping for but... my dead sister," Anna replied. Somehow the conversation always went there. Heather. Her beautiful, intelligent, sister. Her dead sister. Dead for months now, disappearing in a spray of Breen disruptor fire. "She was Vanguard Seven before me, but she didn't survive Havras. I...ah... Well, she said she was fighting for the Federation. I wanted to continue that, for her."

"Oh..." Aristi trailed off, her expression darkening for a moment. "That really sucks. Well, not the fact that you're here now, but...well...you know..."

Having lost her entire biological family when she was a child, Aristi could understand where the other woman was coming from. "I can definitely sympathize with you. And I admire your conviction."

"Thank you... I just don't want it to have been for nothing," Anna replied wistfully. It was what it was. "What about you? What brings you here? You usually don't see Cardassians in Starfleet."

"Ah, but I am no ordinary Cardassian!" Aristi replied, a grin spreading once more across her face. "Actually, I was adopted by humans when I was ten years old, and for the most part grew up on Earth. When the whole Dominion conflict started escalating, I knew I had to join up and help protect my home."

"No ordinary Cardassian, indeed," Anna agreed, the a question struck her. "So... you didn't ever have to fight your biological people, did you? Stop me if I ask too many questions... I can be that way sometimes."

"Oh, it's not a problem. Curiosity is definitely preferable to hostility." Aristi wrinkled her nose at that. "But anyway. By the time I was out of the Academy the Dominion War was over, so I never had to fight against Cardassians. Mostly I was involved with a lot of relief efforts. That was the first time I actually got to see Cardassia Prime in person. Go figure."

"Better then than in the war. I'm glad I missed that too," she nodded. "I was... still in Arizona, cleaning my dad's moisture gatherers. I really don't miss that either, though. Moisture farming has got to be one of the most uninteresting trades I've ever seen performed. Of course, it got me into the Academy."

"Moisture farming?" Aristi thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll bite. How exactly did moisture farming get you into the Academy? And into fighter pilot training, no less?"

"I actually majored in engineering. Being the moisture farmer's daughter will teach you a lot about machines, and especially in putting them back to rights when they break," she explained. "But when Heather died at Havras, I decided that it was time for me to stop fixing the fighters and learn how to fly one. So I volunteered for the Starfighters. It's kind of odd."

"No stranger than an archaeologist deciding one day that she was going to learn to fly a starship. We're all a product of the times, I guess. And I suppose we're all here for a reason, though we may not always know what that reason is."

"You too, eh? There really is something about flying," Anna nodded, "So how'd you get into archaeology?"

"My mom-- my human mom, that is. She's an archaeologist, so naturally I learned everything from her." Aristi winked. "Well, not really, but after following her around like a little lost puppy, learning everything I could, I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to do with my life."

She paused dramatically. "Except fly starships, that is. So tell me, am I missing anything by piloting the Cadillac of the skies, instead of the starfighters you guys get to pilot? People keep telling me I am, but then they never elaborate."

"Well... I've never flown a 'Cadillac', or a starship for that matter, so I really don't have a lot to compare to," she replied. "Flying something as fast as a starfighter is a rush, and it makes you develop a whole new way of perceiving the world around you. You have to take everything in or... *SMACK* You're a smear on some starship/asteroid/thing's paint job."

"Definitely true. Though, piloting the ship during a battle while trying not to splatter starfighters across your hull also gives you an...interesting perspective. I dunno. Maybe I should book some time in the flight simulator. Who knows, I might enjoy it. Might even consider a career change."

"We're kind of like bugs on your windshield, I guess," Anna said, remembering her hovercar from back home. "As to the simulators, I'd be happy to run you through a couple, when we've got time."

"Hey, thanks, that would be fun," Aristi replied, smiling broadly. "So, have you found anything else interesting to do aboard the ship? Because, well, sometimes I wonder if there really is anything happening around here other than duty shifts, sleeping, occasional food consumption... Slightly boring, if you ask me."

"Well, when they told me that 'The holodeck is your friend' at the Academy, I took it to heart. I went skinny dipping in the canals of Venice a couple nights ago," she replied, a bright smile crossing her lips, "Even the programmed gondola-men will give a naked woman swimming through the streets a double take."

"No way!" Aristi couldn't help but snicker. "But are you sure you want to go skinny-dipping in that water? Even though it's holo-water, I always heard the Venetian canals were nasty."

"Well, they used to be. After the reclamation project in Venice a couple decades back, the waters are nice again. It helps that nobody drives motorboats in it anymore," she shrugged, "I guess word travels slowly."

"True, true. I suppose after centuries of pollution, the 'filthy canals' stereotype is still going to be around for a while. I guess I should keep up more on current events, instead of burying my face in a book and studying the past as much as I do. Though, with a tool such as the holodeck, reading about ancient cities isn't nearly as fun as experiencing them yourself."

"Truth. We could do Venice circa 100 or so, when the Romans were still around. It'd be mostly guesswork, but it sounds fun," she replied, then shrugged. "Okay, so I'm a little addicted to the holodeck. There are just so many possibilities."

"Ever seen the Egyptian pyramids when they were still new? I mean, actually gone up to one and touched it? Or spent any time in Dark Ages Europe, covered in dirt and war paint, wielding an absurdly large weapon in the middle of some insane battlefield?" Aristi grinned wickedly. "Okay, so maybe I'm a bit of a holodeck junkie myself."

"And remember, there's nothing wrong with guesswork. Archaeology is really just a lot of guesswork. Extremely educated guesswork, but guesswork nonetheless."

"Cool... well... maybe we should collaborate on your next project. I could learn a thing or two, and you could get some free fighter lessons in exchange," Anna replied.

"Works for me. Maybe I'll unshelve the Atlantis project...I've been itching to work on that one again. But if you've got a favorite point in history, let me know and I'll see what I have on it."

"Sure thing," she replied, "I've got some holodeck time tomorrow at 2000. You're welcome to join me if you like."

"Awesome, I'll be there. Thanks for the invite."

"Anytime. You're interesting, and I like interesting."

"I knew that would come in handy someday." Aristi grinned. "Well, I guess I should go dust off those isolinear chips, see if I've got anything useful on them."

"Okay. I should probably go make sure that they've finished the maintenance on my fighter," Anna said, standing up to go. "But I'll be sure to see you at holodeck 4 tomorrow night. And thus will begin the holodeck adventures of Aristi and Anna."

"Volumes shall be written about our historic exploits! Now, go take care of that fighter of yours and I'll see you tomorrow evening."

"Will do," she nodded, and hurried off to do her job. This day had already proven to be more worthwhile than she had ever imagined it would be.

Aristi waved as Anna left, then turned to swipe one last nacho from her plate. Should she dust off Macchu Picchu? That tiny Highland village? Atlantis? She rubbed her chin in thought. The possibilities were endless.

"What Do You Do With A 10-Year-Old Trill?"

Nara & Bran

LOCATION: 10-4ward

Nara had one knee pulled to her chest hugging it as she sat back staring at the stars in her usual corner table. Saia gave her a lot to think about. She suddenly had to think about how to discipline her! What do you do when a kid puts paint on a teacher's nose?

"You are deeply lost in thought." Bran said when she sat down next to her friend. "I called you and you didn't even hear."

Nara looked over and smiled, "Sorry." She sighed frowning again, "I'm already at a place where I don't know how to handle something with Saia. She got sent to detention today for talking back. But I couldn't say no when she wanted to go to the arboretum with Samantha Widdlestein." Nara shrugged, "I want to be sensitive to her situation, but I also don't want her to end up spoiled. Or worse, like Samantha. I plan on talking to her when I go pick her up, but I'm not sure what to say."

"I am not sure if you heard, I am Samantha's mentor." Bran smiled. "How did you end up with Saia? Didn't she want to stay on the planet?"

Nara looked back out at the stars thinking and shrugged, "After the building crashed, I made my way to a medical tent. I decided I wasn't going to sit around like a lump. I wouldn't say anything, but they were too busy to be to concerned about who I was or where I came from and let me help. Saia just started following me around and we were somehow able to communicate and she helped me and spoke for me when no one could understand my hand gestures. We sort of just took care of each other. When...."

Nara paused about to mention Saul picking them up. No. She had to leave that out. "When I decided I could come out of hiding, I didn't want to leave Saia. I thought she'd be safer here."

Nara looked down, "Now I think I've just complicated both our lives more than we should." Nara shrugged and laughed the laugh of someone who was confused, "Yet, for some reason, I don't want to think about her leaving." She looked down confused. Could she not decide how she felt about anyone!

She looked at Bran suddenly, "You're Sam's mentor!? Sorry about that."

"She's not the easiest of children, I will admit." Bran smiled, yet I like working with children and I like the challenge. "Have you asked what she wants? It must be difficult for her amongst strangers." Bran said softly.

Nara thought. She hadn't. "No. I'll do that tonight too." Nara briefly thought of what if she had not brought Saia back with her. Suddenly her life was so complicated. Suddenly someone else had a say in what she wanted. What is Saia wanted to go back? What is Saia wanted to stay? She shrugged, "I hope she does. I don't know if I want her to stay or not."

Nara looked at Bran and smiled amused, "Being a psychologist, what would you say about someone who can't make her mind up how she feels about people?"

"I would say you are pretty confused. It's only normal, taking care of a child like Saia is a big responsibility. And when you earn her trust there is no going back. She's not like a puppy you can return. So you have to think about this very carefully, Nara." Bran said seriously.

Nara was also subtly mentioning Saul, but she frowned thinking Bran thought that she didn't take it seriously. "I know she's not a puppy. I was only wanting her to be safe. I wasn't thinking about all this other stuff. Darn this impulsiveness!" Nara sat back letting out a breath and looked back out at the stars.

"It is something you have to think about quickly. And may be discuss with a few people. Who is your therapist? He or she could also help with this decision. We are trained for this kind of thing."

"Dallas." Nara thought a moment, "I think if she agrees, I will foster her for now. We'll see how it goes and I might adopt her." She looked at Bran, "I'm taking ok care of her now, but this just kinda hit me in the face. She's like the little sister I never had, but I'm not sure about actually taking care of her."

"Nara, you have to be sure before you promise her anything. Saia needs stability right now. She doesn't need a big sister, she needs a parent. I am sure you can do it, yet you must be 100 percent sure you want to do it."

"We're leaving Trill and it's still a disaster area. She's better here. Even if just for now." Nara looked at Bran, "Her life is forever changed because of that d***ed ship. I may not be sure what's best for her, but I do know she's safe here. That's all I can promise her. That's all I can promise myself."

"Then be honest with her. She's old enough to understand. And listen to what she has to say. And make an appointment with Commander Dallas." Bran suggested.

Nara sunk in her chair, "I kind of had told Saia that, but I'll talk to her more about it tonight." Nara sighed and stood. "I better get her before Samantha puts any crazy ideas in her head."

"May be spending time with a child close to her own age is good for her. And Samantha is not stupid. If you want me to help ut, just let me know. And we have to do something about our quarters if she stays."

Nara nodded, "I'll let you know." She then left to go to the arboretum to gather up Saia.

OOC: In case it doesn't send right, this is after "What Do You Do With A Ten-Year-Old Trill"

"Now We Talk"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineer

Saia Juis (APC)

A tid bit of Samantha Widdlestein used w/o permission

Nara had her hands on her hips glaring at Samantha, "Do what you want, but Saia is coming with me." Samantha had been going on about the rights of children. Nara worried that it made sense. Irrelevant sense. Nara looked at Saia, "Are you ready?"

"You don't have to listen to her! She's not even your mother!" Samantha yelled.

Saia's face went downcast then. She walked slowly over to Nara.

Samantha was confused, "Well, that's not exactly what I meant you to do."

Nara shook her head, "Learn some sensitivity, Sam. I'm sure Bran can teach you that."

With that, Nara took Saia's hand and led her into the hall. After turning the corner, Nara looked down to Saia, "Does she know?"

Saia shook her head, "She only knows I like to draw."

Nara nodded, "She's right, though. As much as I hate to give her that. I'm not your mom. I wouldn't even dream of replacing her."

They walked in silence till the got in the turbolift. Saia sighed, "Being an orphan doesn't feel that great."

Nara gulped. Her heart was so sad for Saia, "I don't imagine it would."

They were silent again until they got to Nara's quarters. Bran was still not home, and Nara guessed she did it as a favor to give her time to talk to Saia. Nara sat on the couch and motioned for Saia to do the same. Saia frowned, "Am I in trouble?"

Nara smiled, "For painting the teacher, yes, but we'll get to that later." Nara turned sideways and bent one leg onto the couch putting it underneath the other putting her elbow up on the back before putting it down again nervously, "I know it's not home, but do you like it here?"

Saia thought a moment and shrugged, "It's ok. It's not very colorful."

Nara nodded, "Yea. Sorry. I guess what I'm trying to say.or ask." Nara sighed, "We have to make a decision here." Saia looked at her curiously. Nara smiled weakly, "Whether you stay here or go back to Trill, likely to an orphanage."

Saia frowned, "You don't want me here?"

Nara shook her head, "That's not what I mean." She took Saia in her arms, "I'm asking what you want. Your home city will take awhile to rebuild, but there is plenty of the planet still unscathed. You can go back to your planet." Nara let her go and looked at her, "Or you can stay here."

Saia sighed, "Do we have to decide now?"

Nara nodded, "Soon. We've already left orbit of Trill. We need to decide before it's too much trouble to take you back, if that's what you choose."

Saia thought a moment. "No matter where I go, it won't be the same."

Nara swallowed a lump again, "No, it won't, but you can make a new life wherever you go."

"Who will take care of me if I go back?"

Nara shrugged, "I don't know. I'm sure someone would adopt you soon though. It might be better if a Trill raises you, anyway." Nara was pained saying that knowing it would push her toward that decision. She was trying to be impartial, just leading Saia to think of all the facts.

"But I've seen Trills here. Besides, I'm already raised."

Nara smiled, "You're right. There are Trills here. And no, you're not. You're only ten."

Saia looked at Nara with pleading eyes, "So can't I stay with you?"

Nara sighed, "Life is dangerous here." She winced. How ironic that was. "And." Nara stopped. Was there really anything valid? She smiled, "I'll see about you staying here." Saia jumped on her as she thought about what to do. She'd definitely have to to talk to Dallas again.

After Saia jumped up smiling, Nara put on a stern face, "So now we need to talk about that paint job."

Saia frowned and sat back down. "Ok."

Nara was about to ask what her parents did, but well, as cold as it sounded, it was irrelevent now. "I've been thinking of how to handle it." Nara sat back, "First tell me WHY you did it."

Saia sighed, "She said I had to do math."

Nara nodded, "She was right"

"I know, but I wasn't done painting."

"You have to learn other things Saia."

"Why?"

"In case." Nara racked her brain, "someone asks you about it." She finished lamely. Saia gave her a look. Nara leaned forward, "Trust me, it's important you learn whatever they teach you."

Saia frowned, "My parents said that too."

Nara smiled, "They were smart people. So will you please obey the teachers?"

Saia nodded, "Ok." She looked at Nara worried, "Can I still play with Sam?"

Nara gave a small smile, "So long as you don't start acting like her."

Saia smiled, "Ok."

Nara sat up again, "Now, I want you to do your homework."

"I did it in detention."

"Let me see." Saia handed her the PADD and Nara nodded, "Ok." Nara started typing in the PADD and handed it back, "Now do these."

Saia gave Nara a disapproving look, "These are more math problems!"

Nara smiled, "Yep. Do those and give them to your teacher tomorrow. Tell her its to make up for the paint."

Saia smiled, "I kind of like that." She looked at the PADD, "I do NOT like these."

Nara smiled, "Most artsy people don't, but trust me, math is part of everything. Whether we know it or not."

Saia looked at Nara thinking about one of the problems, "You know it don't you?"

Nara nodded, "I have to. I'm an engineer."

Saia looked at Nara, "I didn't know that."

Nara smiled, "By the way, remember when I drew the sun to show you my name?"

Saia was working on the PADD and Nara glanced at it to be sure it was still the math. "Nara doesn't sound anything like sun, by the way."

Nara laughed, "No, but my middle name is Sol, the earth's sun."

"Ok." Was the only answer Nara got. Apparantly art wasn't the only thing that could consume Saia's concentration, or the conversation had turned boring for Saia. Nara smiled and kissed her head, before going to her quarters to change. Most people didn't change out of their uniforms at the end of the day because it seemed pointless, but Nara had the same attitude as Saia did. They were fuctional and that was it. So Nara wore civilian clothes when she could, especially when she would head to the Holodeck.

Nara came back out, "How's it coming?"

Saia didn't look up, "For an engineer, you didn't think of very difficult problems."

"I was going easy on you. Let's go to 10-4ward." Saia looked at her smiling, but Nara held out her hand, "Only if you trade me PADDs."

"Why?"

"I need you to concentrate on what clothes you like. I transferred the information to this so we can look at it while we eat dinner."

"Can I draw when we get home?"

Nara nodded, "Till it's bed time."

Saia sighed taking the PADD and putting the other on the table. As they walked out the door she mumbled, "I like paints better." Nara laughed, "We'll get you some later." It was odd how this seemed to fit.

“An Agreement – of sorts”

Deck 1: Captain’s Ready Room

Captain Daren M’Kantu rapped his fingers quietly against his desk, while Commander Matthews and former Rihannusu spy Atole Tekri stood before him. Finally he spoke.

“Do you release, commander, that – in vouching for this woman – you are putting your career on the line?” he asked in a quiet, yet authoritative, voice.

“Yes, captain,” Matthews focused his gaze firmly at the bulkhead behind the captain, with a concerned but resolute glint in his eye. He was not about to sacrifice his new promotion – allowing Tekri onboard was a calculated risk, but a small one at that. He had Proconsul Omar’s assurances that she was coming onboard the Galaxy for purely personal reasons, and that would have to do. Matthews was not overly ambitious, but he was motivated enough to refuse to wait a half decade to become a full commander. His time was now, and the Proconsul of the Romulan Star Empire had made that possible.

M’Kantu sighed. He knew all too well how Matthews, the once upstanding diplomat and good friend of Admiral Owen Paris, had been taken in by his greed. Throwing his morality to the wind, Matthews had made his recommendation to the Federation Council. Obviously the proconsul had friends there – his request, having already been approved by Matthews – was granted by almost unanimous vote.

And, as for Atole Tekri… Well, she had changed since the last time M’Kantu had seen her, but not much. Her beautiful body and face, which had succeeded in seducing the Galaxy’s chief of security, hadn’t changed. However, she now wore a plainer, mildly loose-fitting version of the standard Rihannusu uniform, whereas she had been rather provocatively dressed during her last stay on the Galaxy. It almost gave her a look of purity and innocence, until M’Kantu remembered what she had done to his tactical officer.

The captain spoke up again. “Atole Tekri, you will be escorted everywhere by at least one security officer. In addition, you will be required to wear an isolinear tag. If, at any point, you abuse this… hospitality, you will find yourself instantly transported to the brig. Understood? Dismissed.”

The young woman simply nodded before leaving with Matthews. There really was nothing else to say. M’Kantu wished he wasn’t in this position. As he looked out to the stars, he hoped this wasn’t the beginning of a terrible mistake.

OOC: Clearly a backpost, set just at the end of the last mission.

"Past and Future Collide"

Retired Commander William O'Shea
Ensign Paulo DiMillo, Intelligence Officer

::: Galaxy, Over Trill :::

William stepped down off the transporter pad and nodded to the crew chief. He was on route back to Earth, but his ship was detoured here to help with rebuilding processes. Figured while he was here, he might as well check up on his daughter. Walking down the corridor he didn't say anything as he walked along the corridor, then called for a turbolift. As he waited he noticed a man watching him, wondered why, but said nothing as he stood there.

Paulo watched him. Anna hadn't said anything about her dad, and in retrospect his dad, coming aboard. He finally decided to walk up and confront the man. "William O'Shea?" Paulo asked as he came up and stood next to the man.

Will turned and looked toward the young man. "Do we know each other, Ensign?" He asked, looking over the young man. Intelligence branch.

"Paulo DiMillo," Paulo replied.

"Paulo DiMillo... name doesn't come to mind." William replied as he looked at the young man. "I knew a DiMillo once, but that was long ago."

"My mother, sir," Paulo replied.

Turning now to look at the young Intelligence Officer he sized him up. "Not sure how I know you though, your mother and I known each other quiet a few years ago." He asked, then something clicked and he looked over the 'kid'. "I think we need speak in private, Ensign."

"My quarters are 4 decks up, and I don't have a roommate, which is a long story, and I don't have an office per say."

"Lead the way." William gestured.

The turbolift arrived and a few minutes later they walked into Paulo's quarters. Paulo offered him a seat.

"I don't think I'll be here that long." He said, standing there. "So you learned about your mother and me?" He asked, walking around the room and looking over the personal effects. William had no idea that Paulo was his son, but figured he knew about the affair with his mother.

Paulo nodded. "I know about the affair, and that I am your son."

"What?" William asked, then furrowed his brow. "This sort of a blackmail, extortion attempt son? I might look like nobody but I'll bury your ass so deep, the heat from the core will incinerate your ass if you think of trying that." Will stated. "So unless you've got proof, be careful of the slander you throw out of your pie hole." Will said, clearly this was where Anna got her mouth from.

"What?" Paulo asked. 'O crap,' Paulo thought to himself. 'Anna didn't tell him!' "No, this isn't blackmail," Paulo said fiddling through his desk drawer trying to find the pad that had the comparison on it. He finally found it and handed it to William. "I had thought Anna had told you already, and that is why you were here."

"My daughter and I don't talk.. very often." He replied looking over the padd. He now had to sit down and reread it several times. He then just looked at Paulo, not sure what to say.

"So I just learned," Paulo replied.

"Your wanting, what?" William asked. He couldn't let this come out right now.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" William asked, handing it back to him. "Then why tell me after all these years and what do you mean you thought Anna told me, she knows?" Will asked, standing again.

"Yes, she knows," Paulo replied taking the pad back. "And I just found out a little while ago while running an investigation."

"I.. cared for you mother very much." William stated, not sure what to say. "I didn't know she was pregnant, when I learned she was, I asked her and she said that it was no ones baby but hers." Will stated.

"She has always been like that," Paulo replied.

William looked now at Paulo, "where is my daughter?" He asked, as he stood there.

"On vacation, she wont get back for another week or so."

"No doubt my daughter was going to use this information to strike at me when we next fight." William said, then turned toward the door. "I should go."

Paulo didn't say anything.

William didn't know what to say, do or how to act to this news. Looking once more at the son he didn't know he had, he then turned and left the room. Just wanted to get back to his ship, didn't want anyone to know he had been here. He had to sort all this out before he got back to Earth.

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