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((Bio-hazard Ward, Sickbay, Deck 12, USS Columbia)) :: Only minutes has passed since Ensigns Ezo and Oori had left Theo to himself, although it felt considerably longer to the injured engineer. He detested having nothing to do, preferring to keep himself busy in the minutiae of his life. Now, he was forced to lie there, unable to offer any meaningful assistance during the crisis the Columbia found itself in. It didn't take that long for him to start mulling over the events of the day, even though Theo knew that his propensity for over-thinking and second guessing himself could be dangerous :: Whittaker: oO An open Jeffries Tube hatch is a security violation. Why on earth did I not call Tatash? Oo :: A small voice at the back of his head, one he suspected was the more rational area of his mind, told him that the Gorn would have been impressed if he or one of his officers had been called to investigate what could have been an innocent mistake on the part of a technician. But then again, there was no repair work to scheduled to be carried out in that junction or anywhere near it. So yes- he should have called Tatash. He thought of his mother, Madeline, serving on the U.S.S. Orb Of Prophecy as its captain. He doubted that she would have been so stupid. Then again, she had given one piece of advice that he had remembered... :: ((Captain Madeline Whittaker's Quarters, Deck 3, USS Sparrow, Sector 005)) :: Theo had been living aboard the small Miranda-Class ship for three months, ever since that fateful last encounter with his father. His mother had made provisions with her sector commander to allow the 17 year old live with her for six months before he left to join Starfleet Academy. He was sat at the dining table looking out at the ocean of stars beyond as the ship cruised towards its current destination, Lembatta Prime. His mother crossed the room from the replicator and set a plate down in front of him. Sushi. He looked up at his mother :: T. Whittaker: Mother! M. Whittaker: Theo, don't start! Just eat it! T. Whittaker: But- M. Whittaker: :: dangerously :: Theo Michaelangelo Whittaker! :: Knowing that in defying his mother was a futile endeavour, he looked down at the unappetising balls of rice, spice and raw fish and grimaced. He had never enjoyed the Japanese meal, but his mother insisted that he healthily if he was to take his controversial decision to join Starfleet seriously. He stabbed one of the balls of fish and rice with his fork and ate it, swallowing it with a wince. Raw fish was not something he ever wanted to eat. Watching him closely, his mother sat down and began to eat her own, similar meal:: M. Whittaker: :: gently, as though tiptoeing around the words :: I spoke to your father today. :: Why she insisted on talking about the man that had turned his back on his only child six months ago, Theo would never understand. Both of them had made it clear that didn't want to discuss the other, but his mother did it anyway. He studiously looked at his sushi, intent on choosing the next morsel of food to 'devour'. He prodded one of them, coated in a slimy silver coating :: T. Whittaker: What's this? M. Whittaker: Andorian thrasskel- and don't change the subject. Your father asked after you. :: Theo scoffed. He very much doubted it. It had been six months and to Theo, his father had made his bed and was determined to live with it. He had expected his son to follow him into academia without giving a thought that Theo might not want to. When he had told his father he had wanted to become a Starfleet officer like his mother, their already barely existent relationship collapsed entirely, both disowning the other. After a lifetime of Josiah's impossibly high expectations and fierce arguments, Theo had had enough. He said nothing to his mother's probable lie :: M. Whittaker: :: imploring :: He misses you. :: Theo couldn't stop himself from scoffing. That was one falsehood too far. :: M. Whittaker: Oh come on Theo. Your father doesn't agree with you joining Starfleet, but he still loves you. T. Whittaker: :: he put his fork down with a clatter and looked at his mother :: No he doesn't. He doesn't love the son that wouldn't do as he said all the time and wanted to follow his own goals. :: His mother set her own cutlery down and looked out of the window, clearly wounded by the bite of her son's words. She had broached the subject of their estrangement several times and the response was the same. Theo thought that by now she would have gotten the hint and that she would stop. Evidently, this wasn't the case. After several long seconds, the elder Whittaker looked back at her son, her face utterly impassive. A Vulcan-like stoicism had fallen :: M. Whittaker: Fine. :: Her tone was final. She had brought an end to the conversation. Maybe then, she was starting to get the hint. But now, it was replaced by an unbearable silence that persisted through their shared meal. Theo tried several times to think of something to break the ice, but he couldn't. His mother never once lifted her head, focusing instead on eating. When they had both finished, she silently collected the plates and put them on the replicator pad, which dissolved them back into energy. She went and sat in a chair near the window and looked out of it again. Theo turned to look at her, starting to feel a pang of guilt for causing his mother upset :: M. Whittaker: :: sharply :: You have your security training exam with Lieutenant Mag tomorrow. T. Whittaker: Yes I know. Do you.... :: he still didn't have a good idea what to say, but knowing his mother had been Sparrow's chief of security before, he simply finished with- :: have any advice? M. Whittaker: Revise. Mag is not the easiest men to impress. :: Theo already knew that of course. The Tellarite was called 'The Slavedriver' by his subordinates and was infamous for his unannounced security drills and inspections. Theo didn't particularly like the squat little alien, but at the same time- he didn't dislike him as much as other aboard the patrol ship. Before he could reply, his mother continued :: M. Whittaker: I know you want to be an engineer, but security is an important part of a functioning starship. There is a saying that 'risk is our business' as Starfleet officers, and it's true. We put ourselves at risk every day we put on this uniform. The trick is to know how much risk to put yourself in. T. Whittaker: :: intrigued :: How you work that out? M. Whittaker: That... comes from experience. Trust me, I found that out when I was an ensign. T. Whittaker: What happened? :: She seemed to soften, her anger and hurt melting away as she turned to look at Theo. :: M. Whittaker: I was part of an away team that boarded an Andorian smuggling ship we caught attempt to flee Outpost Ganzera. I was sent to sweep the lower deck, looking for contraband. I'd almost finished when I caught one of the smugglers attempting to get at the stash. I thought I could take him alone, but I didn't realise he had an accomplice who was behind her. He knocked me out and they got away with it. It didn't even occur to me to call for backup. :: Theo mused that his mother must of learnt from that mistake since she was so fastidious. She paused in her story, as if recalling the event again :: M. Whittaker: When I came around in the sickbay an hour later or so, I beat myself up for not following regulations and not thinking before I rushed in where angels fear to tread. My CO came to see me a couple of days later and I apologised profusely for being an idiot and he told me that all young officers will make a mistake at some point. As long as we learn from it, it can be forgiven. :: Theo listened to the words and pondered them, never realising that this conversation would directly impact him one day :: ((Bio-hazard Ward, Sickbay, Deck 12, USS Columbia)) :: Pulling himself back into the present and back into the sterile room, Theo found comfort that his mother had found herself in a similar situation at the start of her career. While he didn't know Brek or Captain Livingston nearly as much as he would live, given that he was apparently senior staff (a notion that still perplexed him), he hoped they handled his... lapse with the same grace and gentleness that his mother's old CO appeared to have done. At least now he knew that he was not alone in his predicament. :: Whittaker: oO Like mother, like son Oo Lieutenant (J.G) Theo Whittaker Engineering Officer USS Columbia NCC 85279

((Shuttlebay)) Loupaz: It's been really quiet. Garry: It's a bit weird, isn't it? Not many repair jobs, yet there he is. Breaking a shuttle. And then fixing it again. ::Angeline Loupaz and Coalem Garry simultaneously took a sip from their mugs, their gaze fixed upon their Chief Engineer. Core, the insane Rodulan he was, had blown off various bits and pieces on the shuttle, despite it having used to be in working order. Apparently he'd run out of things to repair, and thus was just . . . creating more work. For himself. And for the department.:: ::So there he was - the bulkheads and consoles of the shuttle having been either blown off ("testing minor explosives" was what he'd written in a report to Tactical) or removed forcefully - reattaching the various bits and pieces, all by himself. Garry and Loupaz were here if he needed assistance with something. Like moving something heavy. But otherwise, the two were unnecessary. He was fine, sitting atop the shuttle, a holographic projector clipped to his shoulder, giving a readout on the finer parts of the hardware. Even *that* wasn't really necessary - not since the bulk of what he was doing was just . . . melding the bulkheads back together.:: ::She was starting to question his sanity.:: Loupaz: How long have we been up here? ::Coalem checked his chronometer.:: Garry: Eight hours. Loupaz: Hmm. Doesn't feel like it's been that long. Garry: He hasn't uttered a word - should we call someone? Loupaz: Nah. He's fine. ::They took another awkward drink from their mugs, a moment of silence as they considered Angeline's words.:: Garry: How do you understand him? He stopped talking and just started *clicking*. ::Clicking his fingers to get attention of his engineers was how Core had been working over the last couple of days. It was annoying and somewhat rude, but preferable to him and (admittedly) quicker for his engineers instead of waiting for him to stammer out the names and ranks of those around him.:: Loupaz:::shrugging:: I speak the language of those incapable of speaking. ::There was a pause.:: Garry: So you're just really good at crappy charades? Loupaz: Yeah, pretty much. ::Their conversation was interrupted by a sharp, beckoning whistle from Core, who was still looking down at a console of which he'd ruined intentionally, mini projector displaying it's marred innards.:: Garry: Your turn. ::Angeline rolled her eyes, handing the man her cup as she went to assist their Chief Engineer. Their . . . maybe insane Chief Engineer. Ah well - worse things have happened. At least he wasn't planning to cause any actual damage to the Garuda.:: Loupaz: Yes, sir? ::He gestured the console, and she read the display from the holoprojector, now presented to her. The console was fried, many of the components inside damaged beyond repair (probably something to do with the minor explosive that was detonated inside it - and unless Core wanted to rebuild it's innards from the ground up, it needed a replacement.:: Loupaz: And it's a SC-48. ::She frowned.:: We don't have any replacements onboard - we'll have to order one in, unless you want to jimmy the one in the other shuttle. I don't think that's a particularly good idea, though - Vistain looks as if she's gonna rupture something since we literally blew apart this one. ::Core shook his head, pointing to the console yet again. It took a few seconds to maybe understand what he was trying to say, but Angeline's frown deepened.:: Loupaz: You mean to build, right? Not simply take it out and put it in this one and leave that shuttle without a SC-48. ::The Chief Engineer gave a huff, now frowning at her. Angeline bit her lip.:: Loupaz: Sir . . . you've been here for . . . hours, now. Don't you think it's time to take a break? ::Core simply rolled his eyes, turning back to the holographic display But Loupaz wasn't budging. She stood there, staring up at him on top of the shuttle.:: Loupaz: Do I need to call the First Officer? ::That finally made the Rodulan freeze in his tracks. He turned, black eyes piercing her own, and she knew she'd overstepped a boundary. Though his relationship with the FO wasn't open for all of his staff to see, it was obvious to his officers that Core was indeed close with Rahman. If there was someone who'd kick his [...] for being here longer than he should, and for destroying a perfectly fine shuttle, it'd probably be her.:: Kells: =/\= This is Captain Kells to all Garuda crew. Effective immediately, the senior staff has been reassigned to the USS Invicta, along with many junior officers and enlisted personnel. Please see your department heads for details, and if you have been reassigned, report over no later than 1800 this evening to prepare for a short shakedown cruise. That is all. =/\= ::[...]. Core was saved by the CO, and he knew it too. The Rodulan gave a grin, clapping his hands and rubbing them together.:: Core: Garuda shuttle. ::He stepped down the ladder, Loupaz now staring at the massive mess of a shuttle now no longer the manr's problem, and simply blinked.:: Loupaz: You aren't going to fix that anymore, are you. Core: Heh. ::He simply switched off the projector and shoving it back into his toolkit. He clapped Angeline on the shoulder, staring back at the poor mangled shuttle that had been victim to his . . . whatever intriguing mood he'd been in.:: Core: Pack. ::And then just like that, Commander Core strode off, probably to pack his own things, leaving Angeline to simply blink at the shuttle.:: Garry: He's not going to fix it, is he? Loupaz: I . . . I don't know. Tbc . . . Petty Officer 2nd Class Angeline Loupaz Engineering Officer USS Invicta (Posted by LtCmdr Tristam Core) Loupaz: Vistain's gonna kick his [...] when she sees this.

((Embassy, Ship Yard, USS Akaper)) :: Someone had paid him a favor. An Ambassador had pulled a few strings and arranged for his departure from prison, and the release of his ship from impound.:: :: Why? Was it someone he knew? Someone he owed a favor too? Someone he’d cheated, robbed, or pummeled?:: :: The nine foot tall brute of an alien finished securing the flight station on the bridge, and reached down with his large three-fingered hands to gather his suitcase. Somehow, despite that naturally-occurring lack of appendages within the Shrakian species, he managed to manipulate the fine leather-bound handles between the three huge stumps that were attached to his hands, and then lift the bag with feather-like ease.:: :: As the delicate fabric of the bag bulged more under the weight of the contents, the beautiful flowers sewn into the silken material seemed to stretch out of shape.:: :: Ducking under the low overhang in the doorways, the mammoth creature turned and sealed the bridge one last time. He didn’t know what he was doing on Til’ahn, but he figured it wouldn’t involve transporting cargo, unless it did, and then he’d be happy.:: :: That was usually the extent of his deep thoughts. He was mostly made of muscle, and hide so thick a phaser tickled.:: :: A cold metal hatch of the bridge hissed as it set in place, followed by a “thunk” sound as the heavy lock slipped into its groove.:: :: With a heavy sigh, the pale blue skinned Shrakkian and his giant, flat elephant feet stomped their way through the grates of the deck and toward the exit hatch of the ship.:: :: He may have been sprung from prison, but the work release program was no ticket to freedom, especially with the ankle bracelet strapped to his finger. Why the finger? It was the only limb small enough the device would fit on the ogre beast. He had considered cutting off the finger, but it was difficult enough at times to operate the finer things in life with only three fingers on each hand – two would just make him a klutz.:: :: Speaking of finer things, he lifted his feminine embroidered bag and sniffed the flowers that were hand-stitched into the weave.:: Ceedel: Ahhh… tweely blossoms... :: His voice was baritone and gravely.:: :: And considering that he only took a bath once every two months said a lot about how sensitive his sense of smell *wasn’t*. On a good day the Shrakkian… *all* Shrakkians smelled like foot fungus. Pungent, and ripe with sweat it was natures repellent musk – a natural deterrent to insects, (and most humanoids with a nose).:: :: Those sweet tweely blossoms actually stunk like something rotting on the roadside. He liked it.:: :: Reaching the exit hatch, he rolled it back manually with the strength of one arm, which was astounding considering how much metal screeched in resistance from the weight. The hydraulics to the door had broken a while ago, and the Shrakkian had found that the impossible heft of the outer door was a cheap security system.:: :: Outside of his ship a green skinned beauty was waiting for him. She was armed, Orion, and Ceedel was instantly in love. Or course, he frequently fell in love with every female he laid eyes on.:: :: He smoothed a hand over his big, mostly bald, head, feeling the thick course sprigs of hair prickle under his rough palm, and then he ran a finger along one of the two sharp tusks protruding from his jaw as if that would win the woman’s heart over.:: :: Big, pointy tusks where the pride of all Shrakkians.:: Ceedel: Hello there green goddess. Are you here for me? :: He hoped.:: :: He smiled and his mouthful of latinum capped molars gleamed in the lights. Sadly, she did not seem to be suitably awestruck. Instead, she just looked him over before pointing to the ground a couple of meters in front of her.:: Corsetto: Out. :: As he stepped down from the ship, his sheer mass made the solid ground vibrated a little. One could only imagine what it felt, and sounded like when he ran.:: Ceedel: Happy to do whatever you want. One question… who’s the Ambassador and why am I here? :: It was two questions. He was dumb like that sometimes. He reached back and with a tug from his thick muscled arm, he hulked the hatch closed with a loud clap of metal.:: :: As she watched, Delvia considered whether or not the Ambassador had taken leave of her senses. She could understand the reasons for what the Trill had set in motion, but that didn't mean she thought it was a good idea... and she was even less certain now that she had a good eyefull - and smell - of the result of the Ambassador's machinations.:: Corsetto: She's the reason you're not in lockup. She's sent me here to make sure you don't get... lost. And Ceedel? Ceedel: The Ambassador is a she? She as in female? Mmmm… :: That was the kind of “Mmmm…” that usually accompanied a tasty dish of food that he would soon devour, and dribble down his chin.:: Corsetto: If you try "flirting" with her like you just did with me, she will skin you alive. ::smiling evilly:: And then T'Lea will get to play with what is left. :: The reaction to that name was just plain funny. It was blatantly obvious that of all the things the Shrakkian might have expected, *that* had not been anywhere on the list. And it was a nice little handle for her to play with...:: :: At the name drop, the flat of his feet came to a stuttering stop for a moment, before double-timing it to catch up to the green goddess.:: Ceedel: The Butcheress is here? At the Embassy? Ooo, this may not be so bad after all. Who is this Ambassador female? Will the Butcheress be there? Is this a “job” job? It must be if T’Lea is involved. Is- Corsetto: Perhaps you should stop talking. Answers will come your way faster if you follow me and keep your mouth shut. Ceedel: Heh-heh. I like you, green goddess. And I like watching you from behind. :: He kept his big black eyes on her lovely rear-end, ogling her the entire way.:: :: With a curt gesture, she motioned him to take the lead. She also made no pretence of the fact one hand was resting on her sidearm. Just, you know, casually.:: ((Ambassador's Office)) Corsetto: Your delivery has arrived. :: Behind the desk, the Trill looked up from her console screen and studied Ceedel in silence. He was just as subtle a sight as expected, but she'd known that before he arrived. Sitting back in her seat, she waved him toward the chairs. Not that she expected him to fit into any of them, but the invitation might help him get a little more comfortable.:: :: That was a feeling he was going to need by the time she was done with him.:: :: He wasn’t used to clean rooms unless he was standing in some warden’s office, so it took him a moment to get used to the fancy furniture and decorations. Once his eyes landed on the gorgeous woman with spots it didn’t matter where he was standing, all he could think about was *her*. And then he quickly shook his big horned face free of any naughty thoughts when he remembered the Butcheress was nearby.:: :: He glanced around as if T’Lea would suddenly appear and pull out his tusks for even thinking a single dirty thought about the Ambassador.:: :: After he saw that he was out of danger, he relaxed his big shoulders, and let his frilly bag hang from his fingertips.:: :: Voice all gravel and gruff he spoke.:: Ceedel: Where’s the Butcheress? What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here? Vetri: That's simple enough to answer. You owe T'Lea. :: The Kol-Ma-Ra. It was a promise to T’Lea. It was also his religion to protect and die for the person that had saved his life. And that is exactly what T’Lea had done, knowing full-well what she would get in return. Of course, she didn’t let him know that.:: Ceedel: Yeah… I do. What does that have to do with you? :: He was being aggressive, trying to see if he could rattle the Trill any.:: Vetri: Consider that debt being called in. ::Smiling tightly:: And you may even want to consider what you owe *me* for getting you out of jail. Ceedel: Then where is she? I should be speaking to her, not you, Sprinkles. :: He was referring to her delicious little spots.:: :: Trying to intimidate the Ambassador, he stomped toward her desk, and leaned one of his large fists on the top of the table to lean down toward her. His breathing sounded like a rhino about to charge.:: :: With a shake of her head, she found herself intrigued by the way he was reacting. Owing her, he would cheerfully ignore. Owing T'Lea...?:: Vetri: She's busy. She also doesn't know you are here yet. *I* made the arrangements, and *I* did it for a reason. T'Lea's family needed someone to watch over it, and you... ::smiling slightly again:: You are a criminal, a thug, and a not particularly successful smuggler. You are, however, useful to my fiancée, and I am giving you a chance to earn a little more freedom than you actually have right now. :: Most of what Sprinkles had said didn’t register. After doing so much Peresian crystal dust in his youth, sometimes it took a while for things to get processed in his brain… what was left of it.:: Ceedel: GOFF! You insult me and mine? I could stomp you into the ground and walk out of here with only a stain on my big toe. I am free, tiny little Trill thing. You freed me. That is your mistake. I owe you nothing. Vetri: No, you are out of *jail*. Your ass belongs to me right now, Ceedel. I can have you tossed right back in again if I don't like your attitude. ::her smile turned a lot sharper:: I also hold the rights to that ship of yours, and it's going nowhere at all unless I say so. Just in case you felt the urge to do a little wandering around. Any questions? Ceedel: Wait. What did you say…? :: He had a brainfart – literally if he thought too hard or fast, it caused him to pass gas, which sounded like a dog’s squeaky toy. Something Della could happily live without... and longer, by the smell of it.:: :: This was really not striking her as being as great a plan as she'd thought.:: :: Ceedel dragged his knuckles off the Ambassador’s desk, but the squeaky sound came from elsewhere.:: Ceedel: You and the Butcheress…? You’re doing it? That’s hot! I mean, that’s great. ::he slanted his head:: You are her hoopa then? :: Hoopa was not a flattering term in the Shrakkian language. It meant something along the lines of, “server of pleasure”... Something that Della was aware of thanks to some of the memories she'd carried around on T'Lea's behalf. She might not totally agree with his description... but if it got the idea across to him, without straining that little brain of his too much, then she was willing to go along with it.:: :: For now.:: Vetri: You might say that. Ceedel: Why didn’t you say so! Ha-ha-ha. That changes everything, Sprinkles! We are practically family! :: He walked around the desk to give her a hug and only just stopped short when she pushed her chair back enough to free up some space, one wrist twisting to drop what lay up her sleeve into her hand... and made it abundantly obvious to Ceedel that he now had a small but powerful holdout phaser levelled at his manhood. And above all, she did it with a polite smile.:: Ceedel: Right. No touching the Butcheress’s merchandise. ::he backed off a little frightened:: *Ever*. :: Getting more comfortable with the situation now, he sat his delicately embroidered, stinky, bag on Della’s desk with a loud thump as it’s heavy contents settled inside, and then he sat on the corner of the furniture making it groan under his weight.:: :: Della considered pointing out that she was liable to boot that backside right off of her desk, not to mention the bag that she judged too girly for even T'Sara to want to be anywhere near, but it was obvious that her guest was thinking. This was probably going to take a while.:: Ceedel: Now we can get down to business. What’s the job? Corruption, bribery, blackmail, smuggling, stealing, politics, Oooo… I’m very good at forceful mind-changing applications? :: He balled his fist into the palm of his other hand and cracked is lug-nut knuckles.:: Vetri: Follow me. :: With that, she rose smoothly out of her seat, slipping her holdout back into it's hidden holster, and headed for the office door. Just as smoothly, Corsetto moved to flank her and Ceedel - though she had to wait until the Shrakkian caught up with what was happening.:: :: Off the desk he shot, and grabbed his flowery bag, hugging it to his chest. Clomping his large feet behind Vetri, he ducked under the doorway, and stayed crouched down until he reached the large living area.:: :: Over by the couch was a little girl with blonde hair, pointy-ears and spots. She looked up at all 9-feet of him, and he looked down at all two feet of her. They stared at each other like it was a contest, and then Ceedel blinked and T’Sara laughed.:: Ceedel: Ahh… I get it. Kidnapping. So what’s her ransom? :: Shaking her head, Della shared a look with T'Sara that wondered just how long it was going to take for Ceedel to work out what was actually going on. Images flickered back and forth between them, and she had to fight back a smile at what she was getting from her daughter. Amongst other things, it turned out she was right about the girl's opinion of the bag.:: Vetri: No, Ceedel. Not kidnapping. :: Something squeaked from behind Ceedel again as another fast moving thought finally processed in his brain.:: Ceedel: That’s outrageous!! ::he stomped and faced off with Vetri:: That’s *my* ship! I own it, not you. How do you expect me to provide for my twenty six children without my ship? :: Yeah, it was just now hitting him that Della was the proprietor of his smelly space craft.:: Vetri: *Do* try and keep up, would you? I'm offering you a chance to do just that, Ceedel, without needing to run around the galaxy dodging the law. Are you willing to listen, or do I simply ship you right back where I found you? T’Sara: She go slow, so you follow. :: Della sent T'Sara a quick little frown, appreciating the sentiment but not necessarily the timing. What she got back was a flicker of a tongue being stuck out at her, but nothing more.:: :: There was an audible growl deep in the Shrakkian’s chest, one that was frustrated and confused.:: Ceedel: I don’t understand. If you don’t need me to break any laws or jaws then what else is there? Despite my fine taste in tapestries ::he hugged his flowery bag:: I have a limited skill set, Sprinkles. Vetri: The job is protection. Not running a racket, but actual safeguarding. You will be paid for your time, with bonuses commensurate to events if things don't stay quiet. Interested? Ceedel: Comensu-- ? :: He wagged his head like the word hurt his brain, and then he paused in thought. This time no squeaky noises were heard. Instead it looked like he had simply stopped working. Like the idea of doing something honest had broken him.:: :: His bare chest rose and fell. His black eyes stared into nothingness. His large arms hugged his floral bag like a soft binky. Finally, his lower jaw moved and so did the tusks that were attached to them.:: Ceedel: Hmm… Hrm… mm-yeah, I don’t know what a comensirate is, but bonuses sound good. Who would be my detail? You? I can *do* you, Sprinkles. :: The laugh that came after the innuendo was suddenly cut short.:: :: Della just nodded toward T'Sara, who looked up at him with a considering expression. It was clear she had no real problem with the Shrakkian, even with the smell, and she *certainly* didn't feel threatened in any way by the giant.:: T'Sara: T'Lea my mommy. She want me looked after. Ceedel: ::flat:: Oh. ::three, two, one:: No. :: Now he was getting it. Now it was sinking in. He was to be a babysitter.:: Vetri: And I think you can do the job. T'Lea should be down soon, and should you wish to turn down my offer, then you are welcome to explain that to her. ::smiling tightly:: I'm sure she'll understand. Ceedel: ::flatter:: Oh. ::three, two, one:: No. :: Suddenly he was a man of few words, and even fewer thoughts.:: :: Della just gave a careless little shrug, then glanced toward the stairs just before the sound of footsteps began working it's way down. Raising her voice enough to be clear to the descending woman, Della let some of her amusement colour her tone.:: Vetri: I've got to head out, meet Toni and see what's going on. T'Lea: What are you doing down there? It smells like a diaper! :: She called down from the staircase.:: Vetri: I've just been interviewing a new babysitter. T’Lea: No, I mean it really stinks. Like something crawled out of the sewer—son of a… :: She saw him.:: Ceedel: Butcheress! :: Ceedel opened his arms wide to encapsulate the woman in a hug as she marched toward him, but he was met with a glare that instantly shrunk him backward a step or two, then three, six, twelve before T’Lea caught his retreat by the back of his pants.:: :: He dropped his flowery bag in pain as T’Lea jerked the waist of his trousers up so high they nearly split him in two. The yowl that emerged from his throat was pathetic, like an animal caught in a bear trap howling in agony.:: :: Out the front door he went with T’Lea man-handling him onto the patio deck where she let go of him by the edge of the pool. She didn’t give him any time to turn around before lifting her foot to kick him into the water.:: :: The splash that occurred was tsunami sized, and even though T’Lea did end up catching some of the spray, she still maintained a glare that could peel the blue-gray skin right off his hide.:: T’Lea: What did I say about thinking too hard in my house, Ceedel? :: He flailed in the water until he found the shallow end, and then he stood there soaking wet like a very bad doggy.:: T’Lea: If you want to *think*, go outside. Not in my house, understand? Ceedel: ::nodding shamefully:: Sorry. :: T’Lea glanced to her side as T’Sara and Vetri emerged. T’Sara was looking at T’Lea rather awe-struck and proud.:: T’Lea: Good. ::at Della:: I think this will work out nicely. Thanks. Was it too much trouble? Vetri: Less than you might think, actually. ::studying Ceedel for a moment:: Good call. I was wonderign how to handle that part of the deal... Okay, I need to head off. Call me if anything comes up? And I'll see you both later. :: As Della headed off, after a quik hug for both of her girls, T’Lea pulled T’Sara over by her leg, and rested a very protective hand on her shoulder. T’Sara was mimicking her mother’s very terrifying demeanor.:: T’Lea: Ground rules. You’re going to take a bath every day, and use deodorant, cologne, something to cover up that smell. Ceedel: But it’s my signature scent. It’s what makes me stand out in a crowd. :: He started to climb out of the pool, but the finger she pointed at him said otherwise. And T’Sara pointed one of her own.:: T’Lea: Stay. Wash it off. Ceedel: Fine. I’ll take a… b-bath. See, I’m washing. :: He lifted his armpit and splashed water into it.:: :: Glancing up at her mother, T’Sara made an uncertain face.:: T’Sara: I don’t thinks I wanna swim in there no mores. T’Lea: The Kol-Ma-Ra you owe me. You don’t any more. :: Bubbles emerged from behind Ceedel in the water. He was thinking hard again, and not following what the Butcheress was saying.:: T’Sara: Yup. Not playing in there no more. :: T’Lea placed a hand on T’Sara’s head.:: T’Lea: The life you are bound to protect has passed on – into her. She’s my offspring, and it’s written in your Holy Shrakar Scrolls that a debt of life can be given to the direct descendant owed. You guard her now, and you do whatever your religion dictates to fulfill that debt. :: Ceedel’s shoulders slumped like a heavy weight had been placed on them.:: T’Lea: What? What’s the problem? :: He waded over to the edge of the pool, and looked from T’Sara to T’Lea. The wave that followed him rose over the edge and onto the patio deck.:: Ceedel: I don’t know how. T’Sara: I teach you. T’Lea: Don’t know how to what? Get out of the pool? :: Apparently T’Sara was one step ahead of her mother on this one.:: Ceedel: I don’t know how to protect a child. I’ve never been around one that I wasn’t kidnapping. T’Lea: What are you talking about, you have twenty-four. T’Sara: Twenny-six. Ceedel: Actually, I don’t have any. I made it up so you’d go easy on me. T’Lea: You stupid son of – :: She moved to kick him in the face for lying to her, but the yank on her arm that T’Sara gave her stopped the assault. The little girl actually kinda felt bad for the big ogre, and since she owned Ceedel now, she didn’t want him to get beat up yet.:: T’Sara: I said I teach him. He watches me, and I watch him. It simple logicals. :: T’Lea looked between Ceedel and T’Sara, worried that this was going to be a huge mistake, given the Shrakkian’s lack of parenting experience. Then again, he didn’t have to a paternal stand-in, he just needed to keep T’Sara safe. *That* she knew he could do.:: T’Lea: All right. We will give it a trial run for a week. ::reaching down she grabbed his chin tusk and pulled him closer:: So help me if you frak this up, I promise I’ll kill you more than once. :: She knew how to do that now. Restart a heart, kill it, restart it, and kill it again and again. All that medical training was good for something other than "good" things.:: :: The wet Shrakkian nodded and glanced at T’Sara.:: Ceedel: I think I’m better off with you anyway. T’Sara: Yup. T’Lea: ::relaxing somewhat:: Get dried off. There’s an apartment for you within walking distance of here. Corsetto can take you there. You start in an hour. And Ceedel… :: As he exited the pool his hulking figure amassed a small pond under his feet.:: T’Lea: Don’t flirt with my bondmate again. :: She hadn't heard him do it, but she didn't need to. He flirted with every adult female.:: :: With a firm nod he fetched his bag and lumbered away to find his new home.:: T’Sara: ::smiling:: He’s funny. I like him. TBC --------------- PNPC Freighter Captain CeedelImport/ExportsUSS Akapersimmed by T’Lea & Ambassador Della Vetri Diplomatic Officer Embassy of Duronis II http://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Vetri,_Della & Lieutenant Commander T’Lea Chief Science Officer Embassy Duronis II - USS Thunder NCC - 70605-A

(( I'Vortau Bar, Lokesh City )) ::Propping the bar up, the hybrid knocked back a dram of Skagaran whiskey and sucked it from his teeth. It was hard stuff. He remembered last having it on Chertan Prime, a relatively unknown planet where drinking was as traditional as having breakfast. A mining colony lived on liquor and it had been a good money maker for the Ferengi conducting the smugglers run. The bartender slinked over, pouring another into the Marine’s glass and leaving the bottle beside it.:: ::Half of the hybrid couldn’t believe the Kerelian was now back on the planet, let alone still breathing at all. There was a whole host of other problems that this was going to drag up, not least of which the very real memory Dade had of blasting said Major’s body out into the ether of space. It would take a lot of red taped bureaucracy to convince him that Toni’s ex-husband was a living, breathing, blood-flowing member of the meat bag club again.:: ::Knocking back the next dram, he remembered the last time they’d met one another alive.:: (( Flashback – Chertan Prime, Beta Quadrant )) ::He balled his fist, pointing at the Kerelian mess in front of him. He fumed. No, that wasn’t the right word. He was on fire. After everything, all the second chances, saved by the skin of his teeth countless times, dragged back from the edge of the abyss here he was, messing it up again.:: Adarnis: You don’t get to be the White Knight, riding in on your fracking horse to save the day again. You gave up that right the last time you left. West: Don’t be so quick to be sanctimonious, Dade. ::he spoke slowly:: Calm down before you do something you regret. ::The point was made. He was seething. His muscles flared with adrenaline. The green jacket attached to the Kerelian was wrapped around his hand in a second. His fist clenched and he couldn’t stop it from slamming into Heath’s face. Blood spurted as his lip split. Dade didn’t care. Heath wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He didn’t retaliate.:: Adarnis: How many more excuses are you gonna give before you give it up, huh? ::His fist landed in his friend’s face again, causing his knuckles to crack as it found bone.:: Adarnis: She was your goddamn wife, you stupid… ::he drew out the word:: …stupid son of a bitch! ::He grabbed Heath by the front of the Marine uniform and drove his forehead home into the Kerelian’s nose. Claret and crimson gushed. Heath staggered back, dazed, while Dade steadied himself. Anger was boiling in his stomach, acid rising. Inside his chest his heart was pounding, his hands were trembling, everything was collapsing.:: Adarnis: You abandoned her, when she needed you the most! When all she wanted was you, you thoughtless bastard… She trusted you! She gave you EVERYTHING… She… She can’t… ::He stopped, stammering out the last few words. In the depths of his heart, he knew it was all aimed at him; the King of his own catastrophe. Every last bitter word of it was another nail in the thumping coffin inside his ribcage. He stumbled on his feet, comprehension striking home, his jaw tightening until stabs of hot tears started at the corners of his eyes, but he refused to let them spill over. This wasn’t right.:: ::Heath stood, panting, blood and bruised, watching the pain on his friend’s face with the understanding and the sympathy only a close companion could have. The suffering he’d kept bottled up for so long bubbled to the surface. Walls of that ivory tower were being torn down as the hybrid’s core melted into disarray and he finally accepted what had been feasting on him from the inside out.:: West: You let these… ::he searched for the word:: …Admiral cowards control your life. Do you think they care who they send out there? ::he spat a wad of red on the ground:: They push and threaten and chip away at you until there’s nothing left, then they’ll pick the next one out of the Academy, promise him the world and take it all away. ::The Kerelian touched the short hair of the hybrid’s head, then his shoulder. Words would not come easy between them in that moment and there was no reason to force them. Frayed and sore, Heath slid himself onto the ground beside his friend, an unspoken bond of everlasting brotherhood between them, relaying the words neither of them could say.:: ::Heath looked to the ground, wincing as he touched his throbbing nose, smelling only copper. It hurt, though there was no trace of hatred or malice on his face; only understanding. After a few moments of silence had passed between them, he spoke.:: West: Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever walk away. ::he sniffed hard:: You know, settle down, get a proper life away from all this. ::Toni and his children flashed through his mind. They were always there; the reason behind every action he made. He could see his princess, looking up at him with sad eyes, knowing that his promises were hollow. He wondered how smart she was getting. He’d messed it up, burned it all to the ground and one day Garth would despise him as much as he did his own father.:: ::And Toni… His heart constricted. How can one life contain so many mistakes? So many regrets? Would Toni ever know how much he loved her? He dreamt in her voice, anchored himself to the memory of her heart beating. No one had ever looked at him the way she had; as though she stripped back every layer he’d ever erected.:: ::Dade squinted up at the sun, resting his wrists on his raised knees.:: Adarnis: This is the only life I know. ::He’d been so angry at Heath for taking up his Marine regs again and furious when he let them take him back out to the front lines of the Delta Quadrant. The fights they’d had when Heath tried to go home… He shook his head, remembering punching him in the mouth a few times for Toni and the kids. He felt like his guts had been ripped out when Toni had got to him first on Tiberius IV. She wasn’t supposed to. He was supposed to lift him out before she found him.:: ::None of this was supposed to happen. Heath should be dead. Dade looked at his friend’s painful smile. It still looked broken. Heath chuckled, sniffing up copper and wet again, trying to clear his nostrils to breathe. It wasn’t the only thing he knew, but it was the only life he had.:: Adarnis: Disagree? ::he shrugged:: Feel free. You’ll find a bloody army in there who feel the same. ::Silence lay between them again. In all the bedlam they’d suffered through together, finding moments to realign themselves in the uncertain world they lived in was rare. Dade spoke first.:: Adarnis: I keep telling myself that it’s one more drop. One more. Then the next one, it’s one more. I don’t know how many I’ve got left in me. ::he exhaled deeply:: There’s a plasma grenade somewhere with my name on it. West: Always makes me nervous when you say that. ::It was true, though. Maybe that was why it hit home.:: ::The hybrid shrugged.:: Adarnis: Knowing my luck, it would probably miss anyway. ::A Kerelian eyebrow raised amused.:: West: What makes you so sure? Adarnis: ‘Cause I’m a cocky pri- ::Heath cut him short.:: West: That’s a nice façade you’ve got there. Cultivate it all by yourself? ::The sun was already setting on the horizon. Heath looked out over the bay, trying to remember when they had spent time together like this, without laying into each other. It was good to feel normal, even if it wouldn’t last. In another life, they were two friends, relaxing in the warm sun, after a barbecue on the beach with their family and friends, talking about the Kino-Net game.:: Adarnis: It’s not what it was before. I’ve fought hard to give this galaxy a bit of peace… And ground my boots in while Rome burned. ::He’d walked through the scene in his mind a million times. He would’ve stayed, told her everything, and took on the world, defying it to tear them apart. In those moments, he had trouble believing that he was the mess she had chosen to be so defenceless with, when a hurricane met an earthquake, had opened her heart to and watched him burn it all to ashes.:: ::Forgetting wasn’t possible. Every time her hands had touched him, lips had kissed him, pushed him, scratched him, baited him, loved him, screamed at him, created that addictive connective spark that had buried itself in his memory, reminding him why he fought so hard to keep her safe. If he could have turned back the years, the anguish and the heartache, the pain and the fear, he would’ve never let her go. The galaxy could’ve exploded all around them, but he wouldn’t give a toss.:: ::Looking at his friend, Heath wondered why they’d clung to one another in the storm. He looked lost, in his own world, behind locked doors that he didn’t let anyone see. The ivory tower had been rebuilt. There had been a change in him. Ever the self-assured jarhead, he was hurt, fragmented. The Kerelian spoke, rousing Dade from his reverie.:: West: I don’t think I’ve ever seen you give up before. ::Now, she was too far away, in every sense. He looked up to the sun, closed his eyes and smiled slightly.:: Adarnis: Would be nice though, wouldn’t it? Find somewhere away from all this dren. (( Present - I'Vortau Bar, Lokesh City )) ::He took hold of the bottle and poured another shot into the glass, knocking it back with delicate ease until it burned his gullet on the way down. He wanted to erase those memories; those fake memories, the visions of how his life was going to be, buried underneath piles of ash and bone, another forgotten Marine with a name plaque on the Memorial Wall back at Starfleet HQ.:: ::That couldn’t happen. It wouldn’t happen. He’d fought too hard and too long for his corner of the galaxy to be free and peaceful. No, in the morning he would run and fight and jump and crawl, and train the next line of defence against an ever modulating enemy that would not stop until it had enslaved every section of humanoid it could get its nanite hands on.:: ::A shoulder crashed into his from behind, a laugh and his whiskey spilled onto the bar, the bottle sent shattering onto the floor. The hybrid rounded, violet eyes flashing angrily.:: Adarnis: Can you not frelling see – ::He couldn’t finish the question as a fist connected with the side of his face with delicate precision that could only have come from a well-trained Starfleet Officer. It sent him backward into the bar, but without hesitation he pushed himself back off and landed a punch of his own in a very large nose. The bar erupted. The hybrid was almost laughing in the ensuing chaos.:: TBC Major Dade Adarnis Marine Officer USS Thunder-A Embassy, Duronis II

(( I'Vortau Bar, Lokesh City )) ::Propping the bar up, the hybrid knocked back a dram of Skagaran whiskey and sucked it from his teeth. It was hard stuff. He remembered last having it on Chertan Prime, a relatively unknown planet where drinking was as traditional as having breakfast. A mining colony lived on liquor and it had been a good money maker for the Ferengi conducting the smugglers run. The bartender slinked over, pouring another into the Marine’s glass and leaving the bottle beside it.:: ::Half of the hybrid couldn’t believe the Kerelian was now back on the planet, let alone still breathing at all. There was a whole host of other problems that this was going to drag up, not least of which the very real memory Dade had of blasting said Major’s body out into the ether of space. It would take a lot of red taped bureaucracy to convince him that Toni’s ex-husband was a living, breathing, blood-flowing member of the meat bag club again.:: ::Knocking back the next dram, he remembered the last time they’d met one another alive.:: (( Flashback – Chertan Prime, Beta Quadrant )) ::He balled his fist, pointing at the Kerelian mess in front of him. He fumed. No, that wasn’t the right word. He was on fire. After everything, all the second chances, saved by the skin of his teeth countless times, dragged back from the edge of the abyss here he was, messing it up again.:: Adarnis: You don’t get to be the White Knight, riding in on your fracking horse to save the day again. You gave up that right the last time you left. West: Don’t be so quick to be sanctimonious, Dade. ::he spoke slowly:: Calm down before you do something you regret. ::The point was made. He was seething. His muscles flared with adrenaline. The green jacket attached to the Kerelian was wrapped around his hand in a second. His fist clenched and he couldn’t stop it from slamming into Heath’s face. Blood spurted as his lip split. Dade didn’t care. Heath wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He didn’t retaliate.:: Adarnis: How many more excuses are you gonna give before you give it up, huh? ::His fist landed in his friend’s face again, causing his knuckles to crack as it found bone.:: Adarnis: She was your goddamn wife, you stupid… ::he drew out the word:: …stupid son of a bitch! ::He grabbed Heath by the front of the Marine uniform and drove his forehead home into the Kerelian’s nose. Claret and crimson gushed. Heath staggered back, dazed, while Dade steadied himself. Anger was boiling in his stomach, acid rising. Inside his chest his heart was pounding, his hands were trembling, everything was collapsing.:: Adarnis: You abandoned her, when she needed you the most! When all she wanted was you, you thoughtless bastard… She trusted you! She gave you EVERYTHING… She… She can’t… ::He stopped, stammering out the last few words. In the depths of his heart, he knew it was all aimed at him; the King of his own catastrophe. Every last bitter word of it was another nail in the thumping coffin inside his ribcage. He stumbled on his feet, comprehension striking home, his jaw tightening until stabs of hot tears started at the corners of his eyes, but he refused to let them spill over. This wasn’t right.:: ::Heath stood, panting, blood and bruised, watching the pain on his friend’s face with the understanding and the sympathy only a close companion could have. The suffering he’d kept bottled up for so long bubbled to the surface. Walls of that ivory tower were being torn down as the hybrid’s core melted into disarray and he finally accepted what had been feasting on him from the inside out.:: West: You let these… ::he searched for the word:: …Admiral cowards control your life. Do you think they care who they send out there? ::he spat a wad of red on the ground:: They push and threaten and chip away at you until there’s nothing left, then they’ll pick the next one out of the Academy, promise him the world and take it all away. ::The Kerelian touched the short hair of the hybrid’s head, then his shoulder. Words would not come easy between them in that moment and there was no reason to force them. Frayed and sore, Heath slid himself onto the ground beside his friend, an unspoken bond of everlasting brotherhood between them, relaying the words neither of them could say.:: ::Heath looked to the ground, wincing as he touched his throbbing nose, smelling only copper. It hurt, though there was no trace of hatred or malice on his face; only understanding. After a few moments of silence had passed between them, he spoke.:: West: Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever walk away. ::he sniffed hard:: You know, settle down, get a proper life away from all this. ::Toni and his children flashed through his mind. They were always there; the reason behind every action he made. He could see his princess, looking up at him with sad eyes, knowing that his promises were hollow. He wondered how smart she was getting. He’d messed it up, burned it all to the ground and one day Garth would despise him as much as he did his own father.:: ::And Toni… His heart constricted. How can one life contain so many mistakes? So many regrets? Would Toni ever know how much he loved her? He dreamt in her voice, anchored himself to the memory of her heart beating. No one had ever looked at him the way she had; as though she stripped back every layer he’d ever erected.:: ::Dade squinted up at the sun, resting his wrists on his raised knees.:: Adarnis: This is the only life I know. ::He’d been so angry at Heath for taking up his Marine regs again and furious when he let them take him back out to the front lines of the Delta Quadrant. The fights they’d had when Heath tried to go home… He shook his head, remembering punching him in the mouth a few times for Toni and the kids. He felt like his guts had been ripped out when Toni had got to him first on Tiberius IV. She wasn’t supposed to. He was supposed to lift him out before she found him.:: ::None of this was supposed to happen. Heath should be dead. Dade looked at his friend’s painful smile. It still looked broken. Heath chuckled, sniffing up copper and wet again, trying to clear his nostrils to breathe. It wasn’t the only thing he knew, but it was the only life he had.:: Adarnis: Disagree? ::he shrugged:: Feel free. You’ll find a bloody army in there who feel the same. ::Silence lay between them again. In all the bedlam they’d suffered through together, finding moments to realign themselves in the uncertain world they lived in was rare. Dade spoke first.:: Adarnis: I keep telling myself that it’s one more drop. One more. Then the next one, it’s one more. I don’t know how many I’ve got left in me. ::he exhaled deeply:: There’s a plasma grenade somewhere with my name on it. West: Always makes me nervous when you say that. ::It was true, though. Maybe that was why it hit home.:: ::The hybrid shrugged.:: Adarnis: Knowing my luck, it would probably miss anyway. ::A Kerelian eyebrow raised amused.:: West: What makes you so sure? Adarnis: ‘Cause I’m a cocky pri- ::Heath cut him short.:: West: That’s a nice façade you’ve got there. Cultivate it all by yourself? ::The sun was already setting on the horizon. Heath looked out over the bay, trying to remember when they had spent time together like this, without laying into each other. It was good to feel normal, even if it wouldn’t last. In another life, they were two friends, relaxing in the warm sun, after a barbecue on the beach with their family and friends, talking about the Kino-Net game.:: Adarnis: It’s not what it was before. I’ve fought hard to give this galaxy a bit of peace… And ground my boots in while Rome burned. ::He’d walked through the scene in his mind a million times. He would’ve stayed, told her everything, and took on the world, defying it to tear them apart. In those moments, he had trouble believing that he was the mess she had chosen to be so defenceless with, when a hurricane met an earthquake, had opened her heart to and watched him burn it all to ashes.:: ::Forgetting wasn’t possible. Every time her hands had touched him, lips had kissed him, pushed him, scratched him, baited him, loved him, screamed at him, created that addictive connective spark that had buried itself in his memory, reminding him why he fought so hard to keep her safe. If he could have turned back the years, the anguish and the heartache, the pain and the fear, he would’ve never let her go. The galaxy could’ve exploded all around them, but he wouldn’t give a toss.:: ::Looking at his friend, Heath wondered why they’d clung to one another in the storm. He looked lost, in his own world, behind locked doors that he didn’t let anyone see. The ivory tower had been rebuilt. There had been a change in him. Ever the self-assured jarhead, he was hurt, fragmented. The Kerelian spoke, rousing Dade from his reverie.:: West: I don’t think I’ve ever seen you give up before. ::Now, she was too far away, in every sense. He looked up to the sun, closed his eyes and smiled slightly.:: Adarnis: Would be nice though, wouldn’t it? Find somewhere away from all this dren. (( Present - I'Vortau Bar, Lokesh City )) ::He took hold of the bottle and poured another shot into the glass, knocking it back with delicate ease until it burned his gullet on the way down. He wanted to erase those memories; those fake memories, the visions of how his life was going to be, buried underneath piles of ash and bone, another forgotten Marine with a name plaque on the Memorial Wall back at Starfleet HQ.:: ::That couldn’t happen. It wouldn’t happen. He’d fought too hard and too long for his corner of the galaxy to be free and peaceful. No, in the morning he would run and fight and jump and crawl, and train the next line of defence against an ever modulating enemy that would not stop until it had enslaved every section of humanoid it could get its nanite hands on.:: ::A shoulder crashed into his from behind, a laugh and his whiskey spilled onto the bar, the bottle sent shattering onto the floor. The hybrid rounded, violet eyes flashing angrily.:: Adarnis: Can you not frelling see – ::He couldn’t finish the question as a fist connected with the side of his face with delicate precision that could only have come from a well-trained Starfleet Officer. It sent him backward into the bar, but without hesitation he pushed himself back off and landed a punch of his own in a very large nose. The bar erupted. The hybrid was almost laughing in the ensuing chaos.:: TBC Major Dade Adarnis Marine Officer USS Thunder-A Embassy, Duronis II

::As Irina practically flew out of her seat and Katya screamed, the blue light of the transporter faded and she found herself face to face with the man who, just over one year before, had arrived on Kjenta II and started a chain of events that led to this moment. Of course there was the small matter of him holding a sword.:: ::Tyr raised the katana in a defensive stance, knowing that Irina was probably armed to the teeth, and the blue haze of the transporter faded Just in time to see her using none of them except her own body. She fell on him with all of the focus and determination of someone 220 years held captive and now with freedom in sight. She didn¹t want to kill him, just to get the sword out of his hands and then delay him for the two minutes and twenty-four seconds it would take to hit breakaway speed.:: ::She slammed into him with the full force of her almost 200lb weight simultaneously delivering a punch to his gut with the full strength of a male Klingon or female Vulcan, one of the benefits of 219 years hazardous duty on a high-gravity planet. While outwardly thin, Irina¹s bone density and muscle mass were off the charts for humans, and the resulting hit was so strong that in addition to doubling over from the punch, Waltas dropped the sword which Irina promptly kicked away. The blade slid across and to rear of the runabout's cabin, out of reach.:: ::Irina didn¹t wait. She knew that he was likely a more experienced melee fighter than she was mainly on account of her having little beyond what she learned at Marine academy. She was a sniper, not a boxer, and while she desperately wanted to go home, she wasn¹t willing to kill the man who made such a voyage possible to do so. Still, she had the initiative on account of the powerful punch, now all she needed was time.:: ::Before he could recover, she closed in again, tackling him and wrapping her powerful arms around his waist and across his chest.:: Pavlova: Kirk went back in time twice, why not me? ::Tyr was stunned both by the trip through the transporter and the sudden attack once he'd materialized, but most disturbing of all was Irina's strength. His ribcage, seemingly the target of all of his foes, hurt like hell, and now she was trying to squeeze the breath (life?) out of him. He was trained in Judo and Aikido, and knew what to do.:: WALTAS: Kirk had to...to save the planet and the Federation. You're doing it.. GAH! ::He winced as the grip grew tighter:: Because you're a coward. ::This distracted her just long enough for him to grab the inner muscle of her underarm and squeeze with thumb and forefinger. The pressure point had the desired effect as Irina's arm went numb to the wrist, which he then grabbed and snapped the vice-like hold. He then pulled the arm toward him and turned his back, hurling her over his shoulder and sending her sprawling to the deck.:: ::Irina crashed hard into the passenger seats, and her momentum combined with her weight destroyed the seat back and ripped the entire seat out of the floor. What the impact did not do, however, was slow her down in the slightest, and she was instantly back on him. Her left shoulder slammed hard into his chest sending both of them forward under her momentum into the opposite wall while she simultaneously delivered a powerful right to his left shoulder. Her right arm quickly came back for a powerful rabbit punch to his face, which he easily dodged.:: ::He dodged the second punch, standard Starfleet-issue, and grabbed the arm as he did so. Slamming his foot into her ribcage he pulled hard and a distinct pop echoed through the cabin as the shoulder was dislocated. With nerve damage to one arm and a dislocated shoulder on the other, he knew what would come next. A hard kick he barely was able to deflect, and the Ba'ku dropped to the ground and swept her feet out from under her. Gripping her ankle he turned it in a direction it wasn't meant to turn, to the breaking point. He glanced at the viewscreen as the sun grew ever closer.:: WALTAS: Dammit Irina stop! I can help you! This place is my home and it can be yours too. You can't live in the past forever! It's worse than death. ::From the ground, Irina slammed her right shoulder had into the floor, popping the shoulder back into the socket just as audibly and even more painfully than its exit, but as she did so he tightened his grip on her ankle. PAVLOVA: Don't you see, it isn't the past for me, it's my home. ::Tears started streaming down her cheeks:: : They are all waiting for me. WALTAS::gently:: No, Irina. They're dead and gone. I could go back and save my father, or all the people that died on my homeworld when the Son'a attacked. Or all my shipmates who perished when I was assimilated by the Borg. The past is the past but it makes us who we are! PAVLOVA: Katya and I, we have nobody. WALTAS: You've got the Corps, and you've got me. And if you try, I think you'll have plenty of people. ::turning to Katya:: You want to see Bolt again don't you Katya? PAVLOVA: And the people who took Thomas and Moore. They've already made a play for me once, what happens to Katya when they finally succeed? WALTAS::Relaxing his grip a bit and lowering his voice:: Let me help you. Please. PAVLOVA: You can't guarantee that they won't get me. Katya needs me. ::He let go of her ankle and backed toward the console, tapping in codes to disengage the warp drive and shutting down the warp core for good measure. If Irina had any further treachery in mind it would take several minutes to repower the core. He saw Katya curled up in a fetal ball and gently touched the top of her head, then walked back to Irina, still on the floor. He extended his hand to help her up.:: WALTAS: As I said before, there's a difference between living in a moment, and getting lost in one. For both our sakes', let me help you. PAVLOVA: How exactly would you do that? There is no going back, and whether they come for me or not, I can't survive in a cell. WALTAS: They'll have to go through me and the entire crew to get to you. And you're not going to a cell. Pavlova: What other option is there? WALTAS: I didn't come here to throw the regs at you, Irina. You should know me better than that. You're alone, and scared, and you're a prisoner of the past. And you're talking to the one person who understands that. Come home with me and we'll forget this. PAVLOVA: And what happens when we get back? WALTAS::shrugging:: You're the strategic ops chief. You're new. I took you on an escort flight to teach you the ropes. PAVLOVA::Sitting down in the pilot's seat:: : They, he calls me every night. Its always the same, him sitting at the window and looking out the night sky, wondering when I'll come home. ::Irina powered up the impulse drive and set course back for Duronis embassy.:: PAVLOVA::Wiping the tears from her eyes:: : I guess its time to take Katya home. WALTAS::smiling, tapping the console:: I'll escort you back. Just stay on my wing. PAVLOVA: Don't worry, I won't try to run. Jointly Submitted Colonel Tyr Waltas Marine CO Duronis II Embassy / USS Thunder And Major Irina Pavlova Chief of Strategic Operations Duronis II Embassy / USS Thunder

((Main Science Lab, USS Atlantis)) ::Sovak huddled over a workstation in a dark corner of the Science Lab. Talens' departure from the Lab had been his opportunity to exit the area as well, but he believed his time was more logically spent here. The contributions of every person on Atlantis were required as their crewmates began to sicken or worse. Sovak would do what he could to help.:: ::He was reviewing data on the transporter biofiltration units. It was possible something had been missed. He was a computer programmer by training, and it was logical to use his skills to this end. He'd designed a quick algorithm to search historical records for relevant information while he examined the current findings. He tried to make the search go faster. Time was of the essence. Ren was somewhere, dying horribly.:: ::Tears welled in the Vulcan's eyes. He forced them down. Illogical.:: ::Perhaps, he thought, the search parameters could be narrowed with updated details on the pathogen and the related toxin. He pulled up the data from Sickbay, the latest information from their ongoing study. The toxin was insidious, unlike anything the records initially indicated. He keyed in the individual details of its known structure, rewriting the program to search for them individually. The toxin wasn't binding to Sovak's copper-based blood, but it was in Ren's red-blooded Trill composition, attacking his body, making him pale and weak as Sovak had seen on the viewscreen from the Observation Lounge. It was killing him, killing him. Quickly and brutally ending Ren's life.:: ::Illogical. Sovak fought back the tears, the gloom, the anger, perhaps. It was impossible to gauge just how many feelings were competing for position within him just at the moment. He was unaccustomed to several of them. Illogical. He must focus on the work. That was his best bet, the work. That was the logical use of his time.:: ::His knowledge of biological science was subpar, but he was confident that his ability to acquire information would make a difference. He would not get sick like the Terrans, Angosians, and more. He would carry the disease, but it would not kill him. He wondered if there was something to that difference. A way to trick the toxin into thinking it was somewhere else. Somewhere in the transporter matter stream? Illogical thought. Illogical.:: ::He would pour out every drop of his warm, green blood if it would heal Ren, if it would save the man he loved from death.:: ::Tears came, sobs, wracking, wrenching. There was logic to it. Considering the rate of the toxin's progession in Lt. Cummings, it was logical to assume that Ren could die quickly. Sovak tried to change the logic, to refactor the variables as he did with the computer. He couldn't do it. The logic, the logic. He'd never cried this way. Vulcans didn't teach their young how to behave in a panic attack. Illogical to teach a skill they should never require. He needed it now. He breathed rough breaths. Illogical emotions. No fighting them now. No logic could change it. Ren Rennyn might already be dead.:: Ensign Sovak Operations USS Atlantis NCC-74682 Simmed by LtJg. Rendal Rennyn

OOC: The disagreement in this post is purely between the characters. The writers have full respect for each other. ~~~ (( Interrogation Room - USS Thunder-A )):: It was only a few hours ago since he had received the final pieces of his puzzle and it was time now to question the large, burly, human had been brought in by security and set down in the little white room with only the table and two chairs. Nugra was standing in a corner with his arms around his back running over everything in his head. There was evidence even though it was circumstantial and his conclusion took a lot of liberties with some of the missing data. Questioning Parker was not going to be easy, but if this man was violating Federation law, he would burn like the rest of the criminals. :: :: Hannibal was enraged. Knowing he had done nothing to warrant being summoned to the Security office and by not being asked nicely, it was only Kamela who saved the rest of the Security staff from being injured...even now they were at a discrete distance, knowing that if they tried to restrain him, they would join their brothers in Sick Bay. The Marines were buzzing, angry as bees at seeing their commander being escorted out. The harmony he was trying to create between the two forces had evaporated in a microsecond by their actions...:: Nugra: Good Afternoon, Major. Parker: ::seething:: What the hell makes you think it's a good goram afternoon, Commander? Nugra: You were officially summoned to give a deposition in to a case file. There was no need to resist Security as you were not under arrest. Parker: Really? So why did you send eight armed Security officers to the Marine barracks to bring me here, of which four of them are now in Sick Bay? Nugra: For the obvious reason that you just demonstrated. You have a right to a JAG lawyer. Do you wish one or are you going to waive that right for this meeting? :: Hannibal knew that he had done nothing wrong, but he also knew that having a JAG officer would help him defend himself in whatever circumstance he was now confronted with...currently, he was too mad to consider the ramifications of not having one...:: Parker: I have no need of one...now...what the hell do you want? You are making one hell of a mistake, Commander.... :: Hannibal was going to split Nugra in two when this was over...this dishonor would not go unchallenged...:: :: Nugra sat down and activated his PADD and fixed his cold reptilian eyes directly on to the brown ones filled with fury. It was amazing how much self control the marine lacked. It was amazing he didn't leap across the table and give the Gorn an excuse to put him down. :: Nugra: Please state your name, rank, and position for the record. Parker: Major Hannibal Tiberious Parker, Marine Commander, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. :: The Gorn glanced down to his data and began his questioning. :: Nugra: On stardate 238703.11, you were stationed aboard the USS Challenger-A under the command of Commander Tal Tel-Ar. Is this correct? Parker: That is correct. Nugra: Are you familiar with a Crewman Hannah Martinez who presently serves aboard the USS Thunder-A? Who is now a Lieutenant JG? Parker: Lieutenant Hannah Martinez is the Weapons Specialist aboard the USS Thunder-A. What the frak is this all about, Commander? Nugra: It seems, I cannot find any data on how she got aboard the USS Challenger. Her files are sealed, but furthermore, I cannot find out how her transfer to the Thunder was so easily pushed through. It seems she has had a lot of help to get some nice assignments. Almost as if somebody helped bend a few rules to get her aboard. :: Hannibal did not like where this was headed, not one bit. Hannah had served with honor since she had come aboard. He had given her the chance she needed to rebuild her service record..and this lizard was not going to undo what he had done to help her...:: Parker: I don't like your tone, Commander. Lieutenant Martinez has served with distinction in every duty post she has held since she joined me on the Challenger-A, and every post she has had since then. recently she received a commendation for her actions during the Klingon invasion for her actions on board the USS Rodimus Prime.:: With a low and very angry voice::What the frak are you getting at, Commander? Nugra: I am not challenging her record, Major. Are you familiar with the Fraternization rule between officer and enlisted? It carries an admonishment from your commander if it is proven. In the Gorn Navy, you'd be thrown out as a criminal. Parker: This is not a Gorn ship...this is a Federation starship, and from what I have seen of the Gorm fleet over the years, they could do with some...shall we say...updated rules..now, cut to the chase so I can get back to work....and you can get your people out of Sick Bay.... Nugra: Okay, I'll be blunt. Did you or are you having a sexual relationship with Chief Martinez? :: So...that was it...a one time sexual dalliance between two consenting adults. He wondered if Hannah had told him, but he knew that if she had, she would have given him a heads up. He was not going to open up her history to this Gorn, or anyone else. It was going to stay sealed, and classified.....:: Parker: That is none of your business. Is that why you called me down here? To ask who has been in my bed? :: Slowly standing:: I would love for you to try to make me answer that question, or any other.... :: Nugra was hoping there would be a rile. He had been in a bad mood for so long. He stood and enunciated his words. :: Nugra: SIT. DOWN. Major! This is an official investigation in to the possibility of actions prejudice to good order, you are on record, and you are required by law to answer my questions. Parker: Well, in that case, perhaps when I kick your [...] you can make a real case out of this, instead of this wannabe kangaroo court you are trying to run.... :: There was nothing Hannibal wanted to do more right now than to turn Nugra into a pair of boots with matching belt...he knew he was not making things easier for himself, but he knew he had done nothing wrong...and he was not going to be led to slaughter by this man....Nugra: If you plan to strike me, you better be ready to be cashiered out of Star Fleet with a bad conduct discharge as I'm completely within my rights as Chief of Security. The law is on my side. Not yours. Parker: The law MAY be on your side, but it does not mean you are right.... :: Hannibal, still standing, had no plans to yield, his gaze matching the Gorns...neither one would blink as they continued to stare at each other. Hannibal knew the Gorn meant business, but so did he. He knew he would have his chance at the Gorn...one way or another, and he slowly began to lower himself back into his chair...:: :: Nugra waited for him to be sitting again. The Gorn lowered himself back in to his chair. :: Nugra: Now. Are you refusing to answer the question? Parker: Under the Starfleet Code Of Military Justice, I hereby request formal council to assist me with providing this officer with a positive defense. :: Hannibal knew Nugra knew he was stalling for time, and he still had a few tricks up is sleeve..the [...] was not going to get away with this... :: :: Nugra hid his grin. Hannibal wasn't as much of a dumb tank as he seemed to be. It seemed he had realized that this wasn't Nugra: You can have your lawyer. It just makes me think you're guilty anyhow. You are hereby instructed under Security section 32a that you are not to discuss this investigation with anyone except your lawyer and my security staff. We will reconvene this briefing once you have your lawyer present. Parker: You won't have to wait long, Commander. This witch hunt is going to end, and then you and I are going to have a serious discussion....about honor...Nugra: Yes and while we are at it we'll discuss the law. Things like striking security officers unprovoked who are doing their job, I think it'll be a VERY interesting discussion. :: Hannibal did not appreciate the rather aggressive stance the Security Department took on since Nugra had been given command...and their laying of hands on him would clear him of assault charges once the security feed was reviewed...but for now, he knew he needed help, and whatever quest Nugra was on, nipping it in the bud was now high on his list of things to do..:: Parker: Oh, that it will be...perhaps I will be the one filing charges against you and your men...or perhaps, you can take your departments' punishment for them.. :: Hannbal stood up, and never took his eyes off the Gorn.He had just made himself a very dangerous enemy, not only from a combat standpoint, but shipboard as well..:: Parker: oO How dare he insult me, attempt to dishonor me, in front of my men, in front of my command? This is far from over....you have just declared war...Oo :: Nugra did not say a word as the infuriated officer left the room. He quickly made a note in his notes. ::Nugra: oO Major shows immediately defense of Chief Martinez. Though the fraternization is unimportant in the grand scheme of things, there might be a case of abuse of power and using of rank to show preferential treatment. Look into Major Parker's career and anyone associated with him. Oo Lt Cmdr NugraDeck OfficerUSS Thunder-A &Major Hannibal Tiberious Parker 2nd Officer/Marine Commander/ Chief Of Strategic Operations USS Thunder-A/ Duronis II Embassy

(( Holosuite - Deck 2 - USS Thunder-A )) :: The holosuite had taken on an old earth look with the white marble floors, and polished wood seats, witness stand and judge’s bench. Nugra had spent a few hours going through different planet’s law rooms and decided on the human 21st century version. The only change he made sure to program was that the judges bench could sit three, the senior officers who would be judging the Captain’s Mast. :: :: It would begin in a few minutes and by his order, it would be a closed hearing except for the ones that Mc Ghee had invited. Nugra might not be the Chief Security Officer anymore, but by Gorn tradition this was his case and his case to prosecute. :: :: Jaxon Mc Ghee, an enigma in itself. The man who abandoned his crew and comrades in the middle of a fight and would not explain himself. There had been some things that had happened from what he heard through the ship’s grapevine, but nothing that would absolve him of the cardinal sin he committed. :: :: The minutes counted down slowly with the Gorn continually adjusting his PADD to make sure that it was absolutely perfect. It was exactly 1100 hours when the doors of the holosuite opened and the members of the court martial entered. Nugra stood quickly. :: :: Captain Turner, Commander Vess, and Major Parker all wore faces of solemnity as they took their seats and Jaxon Mc Ghee took his place on the defense side of the courtroom. Jaxon allowed his eyes to briefly rest at Hannibal’s person as he entered, knowing he could rely on his chosen brother to hold his word. The Vulcan hybrid suspected that had Hannibal known what he planned for his defence, that he would never so readily agreed to remain objective and silent regarding the true events of that fateful day. :: :: Hannibal hated proceedings like this, but he knew they were necessary. This was his first time heading a tribunal... usually he was on the other side, the one being judged. He especially hated the idea that his first tribunal involved his adopted brother. Hannibal knew well the events of that night, and he had done what he could to make provisions for what happened that night. He hoped it would be enough..:: ::As soon as the tribunal had settled in their seats, Toni looked to Hannibal and Alucard, and when she received their nods, she began.:: Turner: Lt. Commander Nugra, we're ready for you to proceed. Nugra: Yes, Ma’am. Case File 238912.22-Hash-2: Lieutenant Commander Jaxon Mc Ghee VS Starfleet Command. :: Placing his hands behind his back, Nugra began his speech. It was well rehearsed. Even T’Ana had gone over it a few times for effective wording. :: Nugra: On Stardate 238910.01, Lieutenant Commander Jaxon Mc Ghee willfully broke Article 99 section one, three, and five, Misbehavior before the Enemy. He willfully left the USS Thunder and her crew in a state of peril jeopardizing the lives aboard said ship. Article 92, Disobey a Direct Order, to stay at your post until properly relieved committing dereliction of duty and Article 133 Conduct unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman. :: Hannibal wanted to cringe at the charges... he knew Jaxon was no coward but each charge was like a knife sticking into him... and he despised the Gorn who pompously dared to stand in judgement of a man he knew almost nothing about. :: :: The Gorn resisted the urge to pace. :: Nugra: These said charges are extremely serious and not to be taken lightly. His actions could have been responsible for more deaths in the final destruction of the Thunder than we could possibly know. His actions has shown he is unfit for the pips he wears. :: It was everything Hannibal could do to stay in his seat, his face impassive. Inside, be was boiling like a volcano, but he had to maintain control, no matter what. :: ::Even from the depths of his meditation induced serenity, Jaxon still felt a small glow of anger at the Gorn’s words. The man spoke insults with same ease as a mentor voicing advice to his pupil. Deep from within Jaxon knew there was some truth in this colorful description of his actions, as it was always easy to simply place blame on only one surface. He felt the urge to speak out the real reasons, quietly, soberly and with honesty that would disarm Nugra’s verbal lashes for good. It would also be so simple to explain away the complex states of affairs that had blinded his judgement and led to him abandoning his colleagues. But there also lay the problem, a full confession would also be too light a path, and one as dishonorable as his actions themselves.:: Turner: Lt. Commander Mc Ghee, having heard the charges brought against you, how do you plead? :: Before answering the Captain, the engineer reconsidered the charges the Gorn had brought up against him. Since Nugra had charged him in Hannibals cell, a lot of time had passed and he could have spent his spare time to study every jurisdictional event similar to his to prevent the disaster he expected as the outcome. However such a course would only be betraying those lost on the Thunder once more and thus, there was only one answer for the Captains question. Even though the Welshman had spent most of his time recently in deep meditation, Jaxon was still far more Human than Vulcan and now this fact shone through; he turned his blue eyes onto the Gorn officer to see his reaction, here he could also avoid Hannibal who was likely less than pleased at his words. :: Mc Ghee: :: steadily gazing at Nugra :: Guilty in all three charges, Ma’am. ::His words stung. Toni had expected the truth from him, but she also had expected him to explain the circumstances behind his actions. Had those reasons been the same reasons that had kept Counselor Yael from telling her the details of his sessions with him? Without giving away her feelings in her countenance, she watched the reactions of Hannibal, Vess and Nugra for anything that would give his plea creedance. :: ::Alucard had been taking a sip of his coffee when Mc Ghee accepted the charges against him. It made him pause with the cup to his lips, eyeing the engineer with some curiosity before finally putting it down. Surely he understood the gravity of the situation, and that his career, let alone his freedom, hung in the balance.:: :: Hannibal bit his lip...he didn’t expect Jaxon to fall on his sword, but now he was left vulnerable, subject to whatever punishment the tribunal decided to mete out. He wanted to stop his brother from doing this, but the quick look at him told him his mind was made up, and it was too late to change it now...:: :: Nugra was caught by surprise at the guilty plea that was introduced, but quickly looked at his notes to make sure he was correct. The Penalty Phase would begin immediately to decide the fate of the man across from him. :: :: In ways, Nugra felt that the law was being harsh on Jaxon. There was a secret that he was keeping and it seemed he was willing to sacrifice his whole career for the sake of that secret. The law was very plain. The human had threatened the safety of the Thunder, he had abandoned his post, and even though there might have be reasons to mitigate that, the damage had been done. :: Nugra: The Prosecution would only ask that the Tribunal consider what has happened since the destruction of the Thunder and what Commander Mc Ghee has truly done. We feel that is all the proof needed to show how horrible his choice was to his ship and to ship crewmates. :: Again there was a brief moment in which Jaxon felt the dull anger rise in him, this time stronger and sharper than before and yellow framed pupils dropped wordlessly to the floor in hurt contemplation as his mind left the courtroom and returned to the battlefield. The Gorn had a way of stating the obvious and in this case it was a painful truth that instantly caused a list of names to appear in the Welshman’s mind. After all the time that had passed, especially in those restless nights he still recalled everything, sometimes even cursing his mind with passion as it relentlessly displayed information he wished he could suppress with the same ease as his emotions. :: ::Alucard cleared his throat before glancing left to Turner, then right to Parker.:: ::Convinced that there was more to the story than what was being told, Toni withheld comment, passing it to the other members of the tribunal.:: Parker: No comment.... :: Hannibal tried to keep his voice even, unemotional... he wasn’t sure if he succeeded in the attempt...:: Vess: Thank yeh, Commander Nugra. Commander Mc Ghee, do yeh have anythin’ t’ say in yer defence? :: Nugra sat down and waited to see what Mc Ghee would say in his favor to mitigate the sentence that the Tribunal would be forced to put on him. Something in his gut was telling him this was not a simple cut and dry case like his report said it was. The reptile wanted to ignore the feeling, make Jaxon pay for abandoning his crew and move on. A memory of a lost Gorn ship in the war surfaced, but he quickly subdued it. :: Mc Ghee: :: Briefly looking at Hannibal :: There is nothing relevant to these charges or to my defence that I wish to add at this time. ::Alucard’s eyes narrowed sharply. A man who wouldn’t even defend himself was hiding something darker.:: :: Standing again, feeling like a kid’s toy the Gorn respectful bowed his head. :: Nugra: The prosecution has nothing further to say. Turner: Thank you, Commander. Parker: I have heard all I need to hear... :: Hannibal wasn’t going to endorse or indict Jaxon... his best bet was to say nothing. He held one card, one very big card, and soon, he might have to play it, to save his brothers’ career. :: Vess: Commander, now is the chance t’ explain yerself, t’ give yer reasons fer yer actions. Ah’m sure yeh can understand that yer career is in the balance here. If there’s anythin’ yeh feel would help yeh, say it now. :: During the many hours of his meditation, Jaxon had contemplated this eventuality and had already put together the answer. Just like his reports it also omitted certain aspects such as S’Caan’s appearance, or that both teens had only been saved and revived because of Chang’s help. Now the same information had to be relayed and presented to ensure justice would be served. :: Mc Ghee: I discovered that Cabrew, Joel and Bolt were still on the planet and with our battle group engaging the enemy far from the planet and the Thunder in such a state, there were no options to effectively locate and rescue them. I chose to abandon the ship in favor of searching for them personally. :: Nugra remained silent. This was not the time for him to speak as it was only Mc Ghee’s chance to salvage what was left of his career and dignity. :: Turner: And where was the Raven at that point? Mc Ghee: :: turning to look at Captain Turner:: The Raven was unable to directly scan the Embassy as she was needed to hold the Thunder in orbit, we would have lost the ship immediately otherwise. Instead I used her drones to scan the Embassy grounds and direct me in my search of the grounds. :: Jaxon looked briefly to Hannibal and hoped that he would forgive him for maneuvering him into a position from which he could not help him. While important passages were simply not told, so far everything was true enough. Considering any close range sensor logs had gone down with the Thunder and that the manipulation of the Raven’s logs was already complete, there was nothing that could point to Director Chang ever being in orbit, or to S’Caan’s malicious appearance and its outcome for the enemy. He could only hope that Hannibal had the sense to do the same, the Marine sense of honor was unpredictable at times. :: Nugra: The Prosecution would respectfully remind the Tribunal that these logs are not in evidence as they were destroyed along with the Thunder. :: Jaxon had to admire Nugra’s thoroughness, here he was not even trying to defend himself, however his prosecutor was still making sure protocol was being followed. :: Turner: ::turning her full attention to Alucard and Hannibal:: Commanders are you ready to pass judgement? :: Commander Vess silently nodded his head at the Captain’s question. :: :: Hannibal saw this as his one and only chance to save his brother...time to play that card..:: Hannibal: I move to sentence Commander Mc Ghee to time served. Any further testimony on the events of that night have been classified by Starfleet Intelligence. The defendant cannot be compelled to testify on classified matters unless ordered to do so directly by Starfleet Command, and only a flag officer can make such a request.... :: Hannibal had indeed had Chang classify his after-action report, something he routinely did after covert operations. Their actions that night...what he, Hella, and Kamela had done, Changs’ involvement...would never see the light of day. He hoped the Captain and Commander Vess understood the situation..especially the Captain. Kamela killed the double agent who was getting ready to kill her in the opening hours of the invasion. That report, too, was classified...:: :: Hannibals words caused Jaxon’s head to turn sharply towards the Major, a frown furrowing his brow, this approach surprised the Welshman completely. Of course he knew that Hannibal was trying to save him, however he didn’t want redemption as none would ever be enough. There was no words, actions or deeds that could excuse abandoning his colleagues in a time of such need. Regardless of his personal feelings, he had placed the lives of his son and Cabrew over that of men and women who were under his command, in essence Nugra was right. :: Vess: Ah dunna know if time served is enough here, given the extreme loss o’ life that resulted from Commander Mc Ghee’s actions. ::While Toni was inclined to agree with Hannibal, she felt there wasn't sufficient information to justify such a move. She had trusted Mc Ghee implicitly since the day he had come aboard, and he had never disappointed her, but without a word in his own defense, she had no choice in the matter than to investigate further. And Hannibal had given her the means to do just that.:: Turner: Commander Mc Ghee, I'll give you one more chance to redeem yourself. If you refuse, then I, as a flag officer, will be compelled to request that the full report of your actions of that night, to be declassified, and in doing so, anyone who aided you in them will be implicated. ::What she didn't say, but felt it was made clear enough to him, was if he didn't do it voluntarily, he would be endangering those he was evidently trying so desperately to protect.:: :: Hannibal had placed himself square in the crosshairs, believing that Captain Turner would indeed request that classified report... but he also knew that if she did, Chang would sanitize it as much as possible... which would place him even further in her debt. Captain Turner he trusted implicitly, but the seriousness of the situation meant that even her fairness would be taken to an extreme. Hannibal was ready to sacrifice himself to save Mc Ghee, Hella, and Kamela... and none of them would ever know what he was willing to give up to save them... :: :: The Welshman looked up and over the Tribunal, blue eyes briefly settling on Hannibal for a fraction of a second. Parker had been trying to help him, but now had possibly maneuvered himself into a situation where he could have caused harm to himself. Jaxon’s eyes settled back on the Captain, he didn’t want to lie to her but couldn’t allow Hannibal to take harm either. Careful wording would have to do here. :: Mc Ghee: Ma’am, I am guilty as charged. Defence where none is necessary is... :: frowns :: ... illogical. :: The Welshman pauses before continuing :: My choice to rank the life of only one person as more important than that of those under my command is something that is inexcusable. The fact that it was my son is irrelevant. :: A silence fell over the mock courtroom as Mc Ghee held himself out to the mercy of the court. Hannibal would never forget the glee Nugra showed as he crucified his brother. There was no doubt what he did was wrong, and he deserved punishment, but not destruction. Hannibal had given his advice, and now, Commander Vess and Captain Turner, who held the ultimate responsibility, had to make the decision. Hannibal found it hard to look anywhere but straight ahead, even to look at Mc Ghee. Finally, the tortuous silence was broken, and sentence would be pronounced....or not....:: ::The tribunal discussed the problem privately in hushed tones huddles at the table, and once Alucard had rendered his opinion, Toni would have to pass sentence.:: Vess: Ah believe we have our answer. ::Leaning back, they settled in their chairs, facing Mc Ghee.:: Turner: Lt. Commander Jaxon Mc Ghee, please stand for sentencing. :: Jaxon left his seat and stood up, fixing his eyes on the wall opposite the desk before him. Through his chosen silence he had left the tribunal with little to no choices and even though he had a rough idea of what was surely coming, his heart began beating faster as he awaited judgement. Inside his head, he felt a strange kind of pressure, on one side stood the seven and more years of work since enrolling at the academy, his learning to run department, half of which wasn’t even on the ship. All that stood vis-à-vis to this was some dark and swirling cloud, a huge kaleidoscope of guilt and shame, regret and anger over his actions and what had caused them. It was the third time in his life that S’Caan had influenced his actions and caused havoc. :: ::As he stood, Toni dreaded the job that Mc Ghee, himself, was forcing her to do.:: Turner: Jaxon Mc Ghee, with your guilty plea, you have left us no alternative but to find you guilty of breaking Article 99 section one,three, and five, Misbehavior before the Enemy when you willfully left the USS Thunder and her crew in a state of peril jeopardizing the lives aboard said ship; Article 92, Disobeyed Direct Order, to stay at your post until properly relieved committing dereliction of duty; and Article 133 Conduct unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman. For those offenses, we strip you of the rank of Lt. Commander and status as Chief of Engineering. Hereafter you will assume the rank of Ensign, and remain in the Engineering department. Further, when not on duty, you will be considered under house arrest and be confined to your quarters whether it will be those on the USS Thunder - A or at the Embassy, unless otherwise specified. :: The Welshman’s blue eyes closed upon hearing the loss of Engineering, one of the few achievements he was truly proud of. Regardless of his imposed Vulcan serenity emotion flashed like lightning of a distant storm over his face while he listened. :: ::She stopped long enough to take a sip of water.:: Turner: However, we will not be closing your case. If at any time you feel you can offer a reasonable explanation for your actions, we will reconvene this tribunal for an extended hearing. Also, should it be necessary for you to attend the functions of the crew as a whole, you will be under obligation to attend, but will have to be accompanied by at least one of the following officers Lt. Commander Hannibal Parker, Commander Alucard Vess, Lt. Commander Nugra, or Counselor Ashley Yael. ::looking straight into his eyes.:: If you understand this sentence, please surrender the applicable pips, and return to your quarters at the Embassy. :: There …. it was done. Her judgment becoming a mirror to their from now on strained relationship; Captain Turner had placed trust in him very early on, surely seeing something within a freshman Ensign that he himself hadn’t known was there, while at the time oblivious to what was within him. Irony pure. Now this mirror lay in broken shards, a reflection of her trust in him as a person and officer. Jaxon turned his head smartly to Fleet Captain Turner and called on his composure. :: Mc Ghee: ::returning her gaze:: I understand Ma’am. I will prepare a final report for the new Chief Engineer. In the meantime I suggest either Commander Hendon or Chief Hopkins to oversee Engineering until a replacement arrives. :: The short Welshman reached up to his collar and removed the pips, his memory recalling the mission’s that had led to his earning them. Memories of quiet days in Engineering, controlling and checking the systems, of times when alarms wailed and orders had been screamed back and forth or when he stood shoulder to shoulder with Isaac fighting down the enemy while Marines fell alongside them. Sometimes the galaxy appeared to be as fragile as it was merciless. So much work and achievement undone by only one action. The newest Ensign to engineering silently set the one and one half pips on the desk, squared his broad shoulders and stood behind the defendant desk awaiting to be dismissed. :: Turner: This tribunal has come to a conclusion oO for now.Oo Everyone is dismissed. A JP by, Lt Cmdr. Jaxon Mc GheeChief Engineering OfficerUSS Thunder NCC 70605-AEmbassy Duronis II and Lt Cmdr. NugraDeck OfficerUSS Thunder NCC 70605-AEmbassy Duronis II and Major Hannibal Tiberious Parker2nd Officer/Marine CommanderUSS Thunder NCC 70605-AEmbassy Duronis II and Commander Alucard VessFirst OfficerUSS Thunder NCC 70605-AEmbassy Duronis II and Fleet Captain Toni TurnerCommanding OfficerUSS Thunder NCC 70605-AEmbassy Duronis II

((Captain’s Ready Room)) ::Now that Greir had properly talked to Chen it had taken them barely a few minutes to work out how and who had played them both for fools. Greir was understandably very angry at himself for not spotting it and for being tricked; he was also very angry at Gwinnett for doing it. Having thought about it he wanted to know why she had done it. Chen said he’d had problems with her before and he was about to get to the root of it.:: Reinard: =/\= Captain Reinard to Sergeant Gwinnett. =/\= ::Gwinnett was just putting her equipment away at the end of her shift. She heard the chirp of her comm badge.:: Gwinnett: =/\= Yes, Sir. Gwinnett here.=/\= ::To Gwinnett it sounded very formal, so she figured that she’d better be on her best behavior. Normally things came through the major. This was unusual, but not totally.:: Gwinnett: oO This could be very good or very bad. Better play it straight.Oo Reinard: =/\= I want to see you in my ready room immediately.=/\= Gwinnett: =/\=Yes, Sir. On my way...=/\= ::Gwinnett hightailed it to the bridge, which she considered officer’s country. In fact, she had not even been on the bridge, but had studied the diagrams of every deck, and she made her way to the Acting Captain’s ready room. She buzzed the door, and then entered. She came to instant attention, briefly glancing in his direction.:: Gwinnett: Reporting as ordered, sir. Reinard: Sit down, you have some explaining to do. ::His voice was firm and it was clear he was not in the mood for any more nonsense but stopped short of displaying the anger he felt. Gwinnett had a seat, but sat there rigidly.:: Gwinnett: Yes, Sir? ::Gwinnett was confused.:: Reinard: I’ll cut to the point. How about you explain to me why you’ve been deliberately interfering in the relationship between Lieutenant Chen and myself. ::He gave her a hard look that dared her to try and deny it.:: ::Gwinnett could feel the boom being lowered on her. She was quickly trying to think of something that would get her out of this jam. She had hoped that Chen would transfer out, to get him off the ship but it hadn’t happened, she was now having to deal with her mess.:: Gwinnett: Sir....I might have stretched the truth a bit. ::She could feel it getting awfully warm in the office.:: I.... ::She didn’t have a clue about what to say. It was like being caught red handed. She desperately wanted to shift her position, but it was like her feet were stuck in cement.:: Reinard: I want a complete and honest report Sergeant. What you did was completely wrong and unacceptable so I expect you to explain your actions. ::He wasn’t messing about here and wanted answers fast. He would be well within his rights to take the matter further and take action to have her disciplined for this. He couldn’t discipline her himself due to being involved in the case but someone above him could after the due investigation. He was pleased that she wasn’t out and out lying even if she wasn’t telling him everything.:: Gwinnett:Sir... Captain... I just don’t... I really don’t want to go into it. Their kind is so monstrous. So revolting... ::Just the mental image of Chen now occupied her mind, and the image of the Crazy that tortured her, it made her visibly shake. She finally got a grip on it and came back to office and Reinard.:: ::Greir paid close attention and immediately picked up her comments. She wasn’t just implying she had a problem with Lt Chen but perhaps his entire species. If that was the case then she was clearly a racist and he wanted to know why.:: Reinard: Are you saying that you have a problem with Andorians? Gwinnett: Sir... I respectfully... I really... ::The old nightmare, came back and she could almost feel the tentacles being wrapped around her body as the twelve year old.:: ((Flashback - 14 years ago)) ::Brooks Gwinnett had been mad at her father and had decided to teach him a lesson. She would leave the encampment and strike off on her own for a while, heading off into the no man’s land. This would prove that she was could be trusted to navigate more freely in and about the camp. She had mastered every weapon that she could physically handle, and while not a front line soldier, was capable assisting the dependents of the band of 50 or so paramilitary and their dependents. She was caught by a crazy on her return trip and knocked incoherent.:: :: She awoke bound in a dark cave except for a solitary light. She had been in there for hours when the Crazy came from the shadows. The creature had tentacles that came out of it’s hideous head that touched her and then wrapped around her. Brooks screamed only to hear herself echo in the cave. She could feel them all over her body as she struggled to get free. Finally with her mind on overload she gave one final scream and passed out. It was hours later that the ad hoc relief force finally homed in on her transmitter and found her in the cave, alone, cold and clothing in tatters. :: ((End flashback)) ::Gwinnett hadn’t had the experience in almost 7 years. She had successfully pushed it back into her subconsciousness and buried it deep. He next words came out like a scared child.:: Gwinnett: I don’t want to be with a Crazy... I can’t... I can’t, not anymore, I won’t do it. It has to go... ::It was disjointed and then she realized what she was saying and she snapped back to present.:: Sorry sir... bad memories... ::Which was a vast understatement.:: ::Greir didn’t like the way she was talking firstly because she sounded like a completely different person and secondly because of what she was saying about another member of this crew - as if he wasn’t even a sentient life form. Why would she consider him - or Andorians as a people to be crazy? She clearly had a big underlying problem and he was beginning to have a feel for the best way forward with this. First he needed more answers.:: Reinard: Let’s take this one question at a time shall we? Why did you do this? Gwinnett: I wanted to get Chen off the ship. Sir. ::Greir was angry to hear that but pleased that she was honest enough to admit it at least. Perhaps there was still some hope for her after all.:: Reinard: Did you think about the consequences of your actions? They were not just limited to Chen whose life and career here you intended to ruin but also my own. Do you have a problem with me? Gwinnett: I don’t have a problem with you. I just want him... gone. Not life taken or career ruined, bad memories, or dreams... not sure.. they rotate...::She looked confused, and her speech was disjointed, as she fought the images out of her mind.:: ::Greir was concerned about the way she was talking. Bad memories seemed to be distracting her. Was she hallucinating? He couldn’t tell but she was behaving very strangely and knew something big was underlying all of this.:: Reinard: So who is crazy... Chen, me, the Andorian species or someone else? Gwinnett: Sir... It is a sub species on Byzatium... an experiment, a terror. Nasty things. Reinard: ::Leaning forward a bit:: What makes them crazy then? Gwinnett: They were created by Omunics as slaves, mutated into whatever evil creature they could think about. Some of them just wandered the wastelands, their minds twisted, perverted. ::Her tone was unusually flat, and monotone. She was trying to hold in the terror of them and the things they did the rest of the population of Byzatium.:: ::They didn’t have any subspecies like that here so Greir needed to find the link. What was the connection that made her think of them when she saw Chen. There was no way he could let this lie. If she had got her way and Chen had transferred this would have repeated the next the they got an Andorian on the ship. They couldn’t and wouldn’t ban Andorians from serving here and what of other species? How many more had the potential to remind her of these things she had left undealt with and buried?:: Reinard: Tell me about these bad memories. Gwinnett : I don’t ever want to relive that experience again sir. Respectfully. No one should.::Her voice was firm and resolved.:: It was my bad, sir, I take and accept full responsibility. I will accept any punishment, but I don’t want to talk about it. ::Greir could understand and in fact expected that she didn’t want to talk about it but this problem was now affecting her working relationship with colleagues to the point where she would jeopardize their personal life and act vindictively towards them. Unfortunately due to the serious nature of them problem she was indeed going to have to talk about it and resolve it, whether she liked it or not. A slap on the wrist or some disciplinary action wouldn’t be enough to stop her behaving like this in the future. The underlying issue that was causing the attitude problem needed to be discussed.:: Reinard: What does Lt Chen, or is it the Andorian people, have in common with this sub-species that would make you behave like this? ::Gwinnett really wanted to bolt. This was striking way too close to the truth, bringing up memories that she had spent years trying to bury deep. Only her training, and having nowhere to run to, prevented her from running out the door.:: Gwinnett: I have nothing against the Lt. personally... too many similarities... Sir. ::She fidgeted a bit.:: Reinard: I find it hard to believe that you have nothing against the Lieutenant when you would act this way towards him. Clearly it’s something very personal, so tell me what similarities Sergeant. ::Insistently:: ::The memory flooded back and again she was just a girl of twelve, seeing the head and the tentacles that reached out to her. She could feel the icky, things wrapping around her. She could smell it again.:: Gwinnett: ::Raising her voice a bit.:: The tentacles... I want them to stop... stop touching me. ::The voice was not of her, but of a child a long time ago. There was a pleading in her voice.:: They came out of the head. ::She couldn’t maintain her position, she looked for the nearest corner and started to move back into it. Only to stop and find herself in the corner. She looked around in confusion.:: ::He immediately recognised what was happening and needed to halt it before matters became even worse. If he wasn’t involved in this he could have provided her with the counselling she needed. It was bad practice and against regulations for him to get involved. He needed someone else to do this. For now he needed to cool things back down again.:: Reinard: Alright stop. That’s enough for now. You are going to need counselling for this and I’m making it mandatory. I can’t provide it myself since your actions have impacted upon me and I am involved. Gwinnett: Counseling? I haven’t had those thoughts in years. Don’t make me relive them again...please sir .::The words of counseling hit her like a bucket of cold water. She straightened up and moved back in front of the desk, now at attention. Reinard: Something will be arranged as soon as possible and you’ll be called for an appointment. Should you miss any appointment made for you or your counsellor feels your issue is not improving, or is becoming worse you will be taken off duty until there is an improvement. Your negative behaviour and attitude towards Lieutenant Chen must cease immediately. He is not of this sub-species from Byzantium. He is an Andorian and unless there’s something you’ve failed to tell me - neither him nor his people have done anything to you to merit this. Should your behaviour continue disciplinary action will be taken. Do you understand? ::Gwinnett felt like this was almost a fate worse than death. A marine was going to see a counselor. It was so humiliating. She was sure that something like this would make it through the ranks. Gwinnett visibly slumped, as in defeat.:: Gwinnett: If... I have to sir. :: For the bombastic, and over the top Brooks, the voice was low and withdrawn, all the moxie and energy had been taken out of her. She looked defeated after the reliving of the experience that she thought she had finally buried. Now to go into counseling about it, was the final straw.:: ::Greir was getting fed up for her constant attempts to weasel out of it. He could well understand that a marine would see this as a punishment worse than disciplinary action itself. Nevertheless, whether she hadn’t had those thoughts in years or not something had caused this buried issue to resurface and it was causing her to actively attempt to ruin other, innocent officers careers and personal lives. So when he told her that this was happening and that it was mandatory, asked whether she understood he expected the appropriate response. He was beginning to wonder how much of that had just sunk in.:: Reinard: Don’t give me that Gwinnett, as a marine you of all people should know actions speak louder than words and yours have been unacceptable. Like I said this is mandatory. You will attend your appointments and you will cooperate in resolving this issue you have. It likely won’t be easy or quick to do but you’re going to do it because you need to for yourself as much as your continued career. Do you understand? ::Gwinnett had never really given much thought to the future or her career, like most of her kind life was simply a day to day struggle. Taking as much pleasure from it, and trying to avoid getting into too much trouble. It had been a pretty simple formula, and the marines tended to put up with a bit more of the rough and ready types. She had been dismissed from several jobs after leaving the home world because of her cavalier attitude, before enlisting into the marines. Gwinnett had been know to start fights and causing general mischief, but she had always performed her duty. :: Gwinnett:oO Career? I thought that was only for other people. Both my father and brother is dead. Frankly I am surprised I am still alive.Oo ::Gwinnett also knew that despite the current down side, she knew that since joining the marines, it had also proved part of a family structure that she hadn’t had in a long time. The corps was the only thing that keep her functioning on a somewhat normal level. It provided her a framework, of some type, and she didn’t want to lose it..:: ::It took her a moment, but some self respect finally returned to into her. She raised her downcast eyes and looked at Reinard:: Gwinnett: Yes, Sir. I will attend..::It wasn’t the normal forceful Gwinnett, but there was some determination behind it.:: ::Greir resisted the urge to roll his eyes. It still wasn’t the answer he was looking for but he got the feeling that she understood the situation just fine. He would need to sort out the referral and get something arranged for her as quickly as possible. :: Reinard: Right then, you’re dismissed. ::He didn’t even wait for her to finish leaving the office before snatching up his padd and beginning his report.:: A JP by: Lt Cmdr Reinard Acting Commanding Officer USS Vigilant and Sergeant Brooks Gwinnett Marine USS Vigilant Simmed by Eerie

((USS Vigilant, Deck 5: Sickbay)) ::It was easy to lose track of time when all he could remember were fits and starts of consciousness. Lately when he had woken up, he’d felt the sensation of someone holding his hand, and he’d latched onto that, tightening his grip a little whenever he could gather his wits enough to do so. There were things he remembered, too, although he wasn’t sure how much of it had been real and how much had been a dream.:: ::This time, as Chen’s eyes drifted open a fraction, something felt different. He felt like he had a little more strength. The fog that had been clouding his head seemed to have lifted and, rather than his vision swimming with white, he could feel his eyes coming into focus as he blinked the haze out of them. The familiar vista of sickbay’s ceiling was there, clearer than he could remember seeing it, but that wasn’t what drew his immediate attention. Greir had been there the whole time. He was the one who had been holding Chen’s hand. Chen knew that they had things to talk about but it was obvious just how much Greir cared. He squeezed his hand, properly this time, rather than a feeble attempt from someone who was half conscious.:: ::Greir had been nodding off when the squeeze of his hand drew his attention; he raised his head, opened his eyes and looked at Chen. He’d gradually started regaining some of his lost colour and when he looked into his gorgeous green eyes, he noticed they seemed a little brighter and more alert. It was a good sign that Chen was regaining some of his strength. Greir immediately smiled.:: Reinard: Hello sleepy head. How are you feeling? Chen: Like I got fed through one of the bussard collectors but better for seeing you. You’ve been here the whole time, haven’t you? ::He already knew the answer well enough. He imagined that Greir would have had cause to leave a couple of times but he had always seemed to be there whenever Chen had drifted awake. As his vision and hearing began to settle, he felt his antennae, which had been hanging limply backwards, slowly start to move. Naturally, they were trying to point straight at Greir. He hoped that he would be alright with that but, given that he’d been by his side so much, he had a feeling he would.:: Reinard: As much as I could. ::He’d had to leave for duty shifts, rest breaks and the like but he’d made every effort to be with Chen as much as he could. He felt greatly relieved to hear Chen say his presence made him feel better and some of the worries that had been making him feel edgy seemed less prominent.:: Chen: Thankyou. I really appreciate it. ::Chen had aches on aches from being in the same position for so long. He wasn’t sure whether or not he was supposed to sit up but he knew he couldn’t stay lying down for much longer.:: Chen: Could you help me up? My back’s killing me... Reinard: Yeah of course. ::Greir released Chen’s hand and slipped an arm under him to help him sit up. :: Reinard: Better? I can help ease some of that backache, if you wanted? ::Now that he was sitting instead of lying down, Chen already felt a little more comfortable. Greir’s offer felt like a lifeline, though; he knew he would probably have to lie down again later on and didn’t expect to be back up to full strength right away. His back would no doubt remind him that he’d been in that position for far too long once again when the time came.:: Chen: That would be amazing, thanks. ::Greir hopped up onto the biobed and sat just behind Chen so he didn’t have to do this at an awkward angle and possibly make the backache worse. He was certainly no professional masseur but he had taken a course on massage a long time ago on the USS Washington. He’d decided it would be a useful skill to have since he was often involved with officers with back problems – whether it had come about from an injury that had caused physical and mental trauma, or pregnant officers. He’d felt it was skill that would relieve the medical department whilst allowing him to build trust with people he was working with by helping them relax and ease their aches. He’d been transferred before finishing the course and never learned as much as he wanted. :: :: Usually these things were done lying down but Chen had done nothing but lie down the last few days and he couldn’t see the Andorian wanting to do too much more of it. He was aware of the muscles in the back and used his fingers to feel the muscles and ease out tightness and knots using some pressure from his fingers and thumbs. :: Reinard: Let me know if this is helping at all. ::Chen’s eyes rolled upwards with relief as he felt the tension being worked slowly out of his back. He put his hands onto his knees and leaned forward a little bit more so that Greir could have a bit more room.:: Chen: That’s exactly what I needed. ::He closed his eyes and cradled his head in his hands, enjoying the massage and murmuring with relief every now and again when Greir managed to tease out a particularly difficult knot. Once it was done and Greir stopped, Chen opened his eyes again, feeling much more comfortable and relaxed.:: Chen: That’s so much better. Thanks. ::Greir removed himself from the bed and returned to his stool after finishing the massage. He was terribly glad that it had helped Chen. :: Reinard: You’re very welcome. ::His eyes smiled at Greir, full of gratitude. He hoped that Greir didn’t have to go anywhere for a while and he shifted his legs to get more comfortable. The sheet that was over him brushed against the stump at the end of his right leg; he felt his heart rate rise for a moment as he realised for the first time that his foot was still missing. Evidently they hadn’t been able to replace it yet. He allowed himself a brief glance at it; part of the biobed had been extended over it and had obscured it from view during the back massage, so he hadn’t seen it.:: ::His rational mind quickly kicked in. If he hadn’t lost his foot, he wouldn’t be alive. That was the choice they’d had to make back on Asav. It still freaked him out a little and he was certain he wasn’t ready to see what it looked like underneath the blanket yet but he knew that a biosynthetic replacement was likely to be a possibility that he hoped they could explore soon.:: ::With any luck, very soon...:: ::For the time being, though he was just glad to be sitting up and awake. He had no idea how long he’d been out of it. He was also glad that he was finally going to get a chance to talk to Greir.:: Chen: I really missed you, y’know. ::Greir had missed Chen a lot too and had been worried sick about him the whole time he’d been unconscious. Now that he was properly awake and alert Greir could finally express his deepest gratitude. He hadn’t been aware of the danger he’d been in at the time but it had soon caught up with him. Just thinking about what would have happened had Chen not acted as he had gave him the chills.:: Reinard: I missed you terribly. I’m so glad to see you awake again at last. I have something important I need to say. ::Chen imagined that they both had plenty that needed to be said but he was happy enough to listen to Greir first. It was the least he could do.:: Chen: OK. Reinard: ::Leaning forward a bit and being completely sincere:: I am deeply grateful for your actions in the… ::Thinking about the place gave him the shivers to the point he couldn’t even talk of it directly. He blinked slowly, gave a tiny shake of the head and re-phrased it. He had a lot on his mind and so many bad things had happened recently that it was all just reaching boiling point for him. He just wanted to tell Chen how he felt about all this mess.:: Reinard: … on Asav. Immeasurably so. I am so terribly sorry you were hurt as a result. In fact… I’m sorry about everything. No one means more to me than you and none of it should ever have happened. ::At this time he wasn’t sure if he could ever forgive himself for that. His mind had continually played it back, much like the time he’d seen the Battle of Bondi. He kept wondering about ‘what if…’ What if he’d been faster, what if he’d missed a release valve that could have freed them, what if he hadn’t fallen on top of Chen… what if… He just felt like if he had been a better person or a better leader then somehow these problems could have been avoided. He wasn’t even sure he was getting his message over as well as he wanted to, his mind and emotions were in dozens of places at once.:: ::Chen felt his guts tie in a knot as Greir said that no one meant more to him, even as his spirits tried to lift. He was drowning in guilt and it seemed a fitting punishment that he still didn’t feel completely himself. Seeing how much Greir still cared about him and hearing him thank him for what had happened in that tunnel were things that he felt he didn’t deserve.:: Chen: You have nothing to apologise for. This is my fault. ::Greir’s face twisted into shock. The fact that he would blame himself for this was completely crazy as far as he was concerned.:: Reinard: No, the blame is mine alone. None of this is your fault. How can you even say that? ::The Andorian shook his head, a forlorn expression on his face. There could be no hiding from the truth. He’d berated himself internally several times during the Asavii mission about the way he had acted beforehand. There was no way that Greir could be indebted to him in any way; Chen might have saved him from being sliced in half by emergency bulkheads but, were it not for what could only be considered as the highest level of bravery, Chen would still be stuck in some random access conduit under more water than he cared to think about. Each one had saved the other’s life.:: Chen: It was my idea for us to go into that conduit. I wish I’d thought of something else. ::Greir was still not buying any of it because one huge, inescapable fact remained.:: Reinard: You had an idea. That is all and you cannot be blamed for that. I was the Commanding Officer and it was my call to make. I could have had us go another way or find another solution but I didn’t. I made the decision, end of debate. ::Chen bit his lip and took a deep breath. Greir was being really good about this; he didn’t really feel that it was right for him to take all of the blame but in the end the important thing was that they’d both managed to get out of there. It wasn’t as simple as wishing everything away and they would both have work to do to get over what had happened on the planet but there was more that needed to be addressed if he was really going to put things right. The first thing to do was to try a better way to alleviate Greir’s guilt.:: ::Chen bit his lip and took a deep breath. Greir was being really good about this; he didn’t really feel that it was right for him to take all of the blame but in the end the important thing was that they’d both managed to get out of there. It wasn’t as simple as wishing everything away and they would both have work to do to get over what had happened on the planet but there was more that needed to be addressed if he was really going to put things right. The first thing to do was to try a better way to alleviate Greir’s guilt.:: Chen: If you really feel that way then I want you to know that I forgive you. I would do what I did a hundred times over if it meant that you could be safe. You did the same for me. Getting me free took more guts than I’ve ever seen from anyone and you were able to do it when I needed you to. ::He reached out to take Greir’s hand again.:: So I don’t just forgive you, I want to thank you for it. ::It was true that doing what he’d done really had taken guts and Greir really hadn’t wanted to do it but the alternative had been completely unthinkable. Chen’s words did ease his conscience a little and he knew he had acted to save Chen’s life. He was very relieved Chen had taken that attitude towards things rather than getting really upset or angry with him, although if he had he would have completely understood. He nodded in acknowledgement, squeezed Chen’s hand a little and held it tight, not wanting to let go. :: ::He clammed up a bit, feeling a bit unsure about how to respond to that and where to take things next. It took awhile for him to respond and when he did there was a touch of finality to it, as if he felt nothing more needed to be said about it.:: Reinard: Okay, well as long as you’re okay. ::Physically speaking, he was obviously still missing a foot and emotionally he was a long way off OK. This time, however, Chen was going to make sure things were patched up. Properly. He’d flown off the handle at Greir and said some things that were absolutely unforgiveable, in his estimation. He was lucky that Greir was even prepared to talk to him after the abuse he’d hurled at him.:: Chen: About that I’ll be OK, yeah. But in general I don’t think I can be. I care so much about you and I said some awful things to you before that mission. ::He was becoming more animated, his emotions a little harder to control thanks to the fact that he wasn’t fully recovered yet.:: Chen: I’m surprised you can even look at me after that. ::He didn’t want to let go of Greir’s hand but his eyes dropped and his antennae drooped with shame. How could he begin to excuse the fact that he’d used personal information that Greir had trusted with him as barbs to hurt him with? No matter how angry he’d been, that was deplorable. He still couldn’t believe he’d flown at Greir quite like that and allowed his own emotional vulnerability to rule his heart and mind with such an iron hand.:: Chen: ::Quietly:: I just want you to know how sorry I am. Telling you that I didn’t mean any of it doesn’t lessen the damage of what I did, but I really wasn’t thinking straight. I don’t believe any of the things I said to you to be true. ::He couldn’t remember a time when he’d felt more ashamed of himself. He wished he could wind the clock back more than anything.:: ::Greir thought back to that crazy night when everything had gone wrong and their budding relationship had failed so badly. Chen’s behaviour had come as a complete shock, especially as he’d been led to believe Chen didn’t care for him as much as he thought he had. Chen had been incredibly upset with him and he understood only too well thanks to his training and years of experience as a counsellor how people lashed out under those circumstances. For that reason he found it very easy to understand the reason for the behaviour. What he didn’t understand was the underlying trigger.:: Reinard: Chen I understand that you were lashing out. We don’t have to talk about it now – we can wait until after your recovery if you prefer but what I still don’t understand is why you bailed on our date without so much as an explanation. I didn’t think of you as that kind of guy and then later when you came to my door… ::Chen let go of Greir’s hand, feeling his self worth shrink to minuscule proportions. He pulled his left knee up towards himself and was about to follow suite with his right, intending to wrap his arms around them until, with a wave of revulsion and fear, he realised he had nothing to prop his right leg up on. He tried to keep that from showing on his face as he stretched his right leg back out again.:: ::Greir felt a massive pang of sympathy and guilt for Chen. He wished he could take it back and hadn’t said anything at all about the matter. As much as he wanted to give Chen room if he needed it, as a result of everything that had just happened, he also just wanted to sort it out and get to the bottom of it.:: ::Although what had just happened was making his skin crawl, Chen forced himself to plough forwards. He owed Greir an explanation and he intended to give him one. He just hoped that it would be enough that they would be able to salvage something of what they had at least. He would be devastated if they couldn’t find a way forward. His voice was considerably more scratchy than it had been as he tried to think back to what had happened on what he considered to be one of the worst nights of his life. He stared down at the bedsheet as he spoke, unable to look Greir in the eye.:: Chen: This sounds so stupid to me now but I was really worried that you didn’t care about me as much as I thought you did. ::Greir was surprised, not least of all because he thought Chen would talk to him if he’d had concerns like that rather than get angry and lash out. There was something even more puzzling though.:: Reinard: Why would you feel like that? ::Chen took a deep breath as he continued, feeling worse about himself as he carried on.:: Chen: Right as I was about to start getting ready for our date, I had a little visit from Gwinnett. She was acting strangely, like she knew something that I didn’t. I was coming close to kicking her out of my quarters, I mean, I know that she always likes to bait me but then she claimed that I was only getting to see you whenever she was prepared to let me... or something, like the two of you were in some kind of relationship. I didn’t believe her but then she produced what I thought was one of your uniform shirts, then disappeared out of my quarters, taking it with her. I know I shouldn’t have, but I felt like I needed to get some kind of evidence to prove her wrong. By the time I’d found my tricorder it made me late for our date and when I came into the Watchpost, she was right there, taking my place... ::Greir scratched his head and he could feel his mood sinking quickly. He was starting to feel incredibly angry with himself. He’d felt like this before when he’d thought Chen had tricked him having failed to spot any deception. Once again he felt he was too trusting and too willing to believe people and had let someone he had barely even met destroy the kind of happiness he could only have dreamed of before.:: Reinard: I see. Well here is the part you don’t know. She did come and join me despite that I told her I was waiting for you. She was a bit of a pest and I didn’t much enjoy her company. She told me she’d seen you with another man and that you were clearly going to be spending the night with him instead. I did not believe her but the night wore on and you did not answer the comm so it seemed that she was right... ::He leaned forward on his stool, with elbows on his knees he put his head in his hands, partially obscuring his lower face.:: ::Chen’s brow was furrowed and his face set with a frown as he looked up at Greir. He felt stupid for having had the wool pulled over his eyes. If anything, that made him feel worse about the fact he’d ended up popping off at Greir later in the evening. He also remembered enough about the night to know that he’d not had any calls through from Greir at all, which didn’t add up. There was no reason for him to lie about it now and he was showing, through his actions, that it was Chen he really cared about and not Gwinnett.:: Chen: oO My badge... Oo ::The Andorian shook his head as he refocused on his bed sheet. Yet one more thing he’d managed to screw up during that wretched night.:: Chen: I jumped to conclusions when I saw her with you and got angry. I threw my badge. I found it the next morning and I’d dislodged the power supply... ::Greir shook his head slowly in disbelief.:: Reinard: It looks like Gwinnett engineered a situation that would open up doubts and keep us apart from each other long enough for us both to buy into her web of lies. She was pretty crafty and lucky to have pulled it off. Surely she must have known her deception would not last for long? Do you know of any reason why she would do this? ::The reasons for her actions had clearly evaded him on the night but, with perfect hindsight, it was glaringly obvious to Chen why Gwinnett might have done what she’d done.:: Chen: Yeah. She has a big problem with me for some reason. She’s made a couple of racist references before, so I guess she has a problem with Andorians in general. Either way it looks like she was trying to get at me... and she did a [...] good job. ::He knew that he would have a few choice words to say to her the next time they crossed paths, whenever that happened to be but, for now, he just wanted to make sure he’d said everything he wanted to. There were things he needed Greir to hear.:: Chen: Greir, the way I acted, right from when she came to my quarters... I’ve had plenty of time to think about it and I’m totally ashamed of myself. I should have made more of an effort to come and find you and talk to you but... ::He screwed his eyes closed, mortified. There was a pause as he tried to find the right words.:: ::Greir waited patiently to let Chen think about it and see if he wanted to carry on. Even now, he was more concerned about seeing to Chen’s needs and ensuring his health and happiness than his own. As much as he wanted to finish this and resolve it, if Chen didn’t want to continue, if for any reason he needed to take a break, stop and come back to it, then he would honour that. :: Chen: I was terrified when she showed me that shirt that there would be a chance I could lose you and that everything that had happened between us wasn’t real. When I got to the Watchpost, that fear took over and then I ended up making it happen. Idrove us apart. ::He was starting to talk more and more quickly.:: It was because I wasn’t thinking straight because I care about you so much and the idea that you didn’t feel the same way... I don’t think I’ve ever hurt like that... ::He tailed off, again remembering his foot. Pain had been the theme of the last few days, it seemed. He was glad that he could see an end to it now. He finally looked up at Greir again, his eyes conveying his regret.:: Chen: ...and I don’t think I’ve ever been more sorry. :: Greir’s own feelings echoed that too. When he’d waited, listening to those poisoned comments he’d had a mounting fear of losing Chen. He’d felt inadequate and second best, it had played on a lifelong insecurity. He had resisted it at first and hadn’t wanted to believe it. He’d tried to reason and explain it all away but when Chen hadn’t even answered the comm it had seemed to confirm all of his worst fears. He’d never felt so devastated about anything before. He still couldn’t believe he’d become so emotionally attached to Chen in such a short time.:: ::He thought it over carefully having listened closely to Chen. In a backwards kind of way it was flattering that Chen really did care so much that he’d get so upset and worked up over the thought of losing him. Now that everything was out in the open and he understood the trigger it spoke volumes about how much Chen really did care. To Greir that was all that mattered.:: Reinard: I forgive you and I hope you forgive me for my behaviour and anything I did that night to exacerbate the situation because I am so sorry. I meant what I said to you before – we were made for each other. You’re extremely brave and intelligent, in fact, you’re my hero and there’s nothing I want more than to be with you. We were both duped and I think I can say with confidence that we’ll never let that happen again, if you want to try and make a go of things again that is. ::Chen had held it together so far but he could feel his emotions bubbling up to the surface. Hearing Greir say that he forgave him was the best possible thing he could have hoped for, or so he had thought, but he’d gone even further than that. He wanted to smile and cry at the same time.:: Chen: You’re the most compassionate and honourable man I’ve ever met. You’re the source of my strength, Greir. I can’t think of anything that I want more. ::He vowed to himself then and there that he was going to live up to what Greir had said about him every second. He felt honoured beyond measure that Greir saw him as his hero, even if he didn’t feel all that heroic for the moment. That urge to smile and cry at the same time overtook him and he did exactly that as all of the pent up emotion finally found release; he was too exhausted to stop it.:: :: Greir smiled at the compliment and felt his mood lifting significantly. Greir recognised he had those traits and felt they were good traits to have and aspire to, so to hear someone else recognise him in this way was spectacular. He was really hopeful that they could put all of this behind them and move on together. He saw Chen welling up with emotion and got up off the stool and wrapped his arms around him to hold him in a hug.:: Reinard: ::Reassuringly:: Everything’s going to work out Chen, I’m going to sort it. ::It felt good to be close to Greir again and Chen wrapped his arms around him as best he could from his seated position. He took deep breaths to try to get himself under control again, a feat that was considerably easier now that the two of them were back on the same page. There were still a lot of things about the future that were uncertain but, with Greir by his side, he was confident that he would be able to take them all head on.:: TBC A JP by PNPC Lieutenant Chen Intelligence Officer USS Vigilant NCC-75515 SIMmed by: Captain Diego Herrera and Lt Cmdr Reinard Acting Commanding Officer USS Vigilant

((Somewhere in the Habitat District, Starbase 118)) ::The driving need to touch, and feel, everything around her pushed her onwards and further from the beaten path. From the smooth metallic feel of the handrails that guided others here or there, to the moist, almost grainy feel of the dirt that was now running through her fingers, everything offered her something new and completely amazing. Lost to the compulsion to see, feel, smell, and touch, the Captain's lookalike had left the path behind and now found herself ensconced in trees.:: ::Far overhead, though not as far as one might have thought, an artificial sun began setting to one side of the artificial habitat. Animals, who didn't know the difference, began bedding down for the oncoming night, preparing to seek shelter from others, who only came out when the darkness called. Silently, Anya moved further into the trees, knowing that she was nearing the middle of what might have looked large, but was, in reality, both contained and quite finite.:: ::But she didn't let those thoughts interrupt the idea that she was somewhere else.:: ::Walking along, slower now, she stooped to look at a particularly interesting leaf. Green, with veins of red running through it, she knew it wasn't like the others. Yet here it lived, and thrived, on a vine with others of its kind. Touching it gently, she never saw or felt the stab of pain that shot through her and ultimately took her consciousness.:: ::Almost as if a gentle breeze had simply put her to sleep, the woman's body fell ever so gently to the ground and her eyes closed. To her, the sun had already set and an endless darkness had taken over.:: ((Dreamscape)) ::Drip.:: ::Drip, drop.:: Voice: ::Echoing.:: Aaanyaaa... ::Blinking slowly, and allowing her eyes to adjust to the light that washed over her face, Anya remained still and silent. She had thought she'd heard a voice call her, but after a long moment, she found herself drawn to the sound of dripping water. Propping herself up on her elbows, she allowed herself more room to move her head and look around.:: ::Drop, drip.:: ::In the distance, under shade provided with much taller trees than she remembered, she could see a small pool. The light that made it through the thick canopy above reflected off of a glasslike surface and shone on a nearby grey stone.:: ::Drip, drop.:: ::Slowly, Anya pulled herself up and brushed herself off. The telltale sounds of the station, and people not far away, had dissolved into nothing, but she was not afraid. Finding herself drawn to the pool, leaves and twigs and strange creatures around her were ignored as she stepped softly and quietly closer until she was standing next to the pool and gazing inwards.:: Voice: ::Echoing.:: Aaanyaaa. Time for dinnnnerr.. ::Snapping her head up, she looked around for the source of the voice, but found nothing at all. Even a breeze seemed to be lacking in the new place she found herself in. When the voice didn't go on, her gaze turned back to the water and the reflection of her face that looked back at her. Suddenly, that reflection spoke.:: Reflection: You really should go. Mama will be worried. ::Both of Anya's eyebrows shot upwards and she found herself completely lost for words. How was her own reflection speaking to her? Suddenly, the voice turned deep and sounded familiar, though the face never changed.:: Reflection: It didn't work. ::And then it was gone. Despite looking at the same place in the water, there was no reflection at all.:: Voice: Anya dear, child, it's time to come home.. ::Still distant, the voice seemed to have more coherence to it than before. Still, intrigued by the water, Anya reached out one finger gingerly. Slowly, she let it descend until it touched the surface of the pool. Ice cold shocked danced up her arm and through the rest of her body, but no ripples appeared.:: Cody: ::With a crooked smile.:: It's time to return to a place where time and space end. ::Glancing up, but still feeling the ice [...]s dancing on her skin, she saw the face of a man she thought was unconscious in sickbay and lost to their world. Yet, before her, he seemed so real.:: Anya: I don't understand. ::The form faded slightly, before mutating into another familiar face. Keito Nicholotti:: Keito: Come child. It's time to go home. ::Behind her, a robed figure appeared suddenly, with eyes sunken and a sorrowful look painted across his visage.:: Gareth: It didn't work. ::But before she could say anything, they both disappeared. Standing there, in the grips of a chill that didn't seem to end, Anya felt a million images enter her mind. Long forgotten, memories of eons gone by drifted through at warp speed, giving her only a moment to grasp at them before they were gone once more. Suddenly, she realized that these were the collective thoughts of the Greeters.:: Voice: ::Echoing.:: We're sorry, Anya. You were such a beautiful creation. ::Shadows fell around her from nowhere, filling her with a sense of definite dread. Yet, as scared as she felt, she could not move. Instead, she looked back down into the pool of water in front of her. At first, nothing happened, but as the darkness seemed to get closer and close her in, tiny strands began moving in the liquid.:: ::Slowly, and ever so deliberately, they came together, wrapping around each other into perfectly mapped strands of what she recognized as Human DNA. But pieces were missing. Here and there, chunks had been replaced with something else that didn't belong. The strands tried to take over, replicate and duplicate themselves into a whole, but something went wrong and it all started falling apart.:: Voice: ::Echoing.:: Aaaanyaaa.. ::This time, the voice sounded much farther in the distance than before. Anya shook her head and wondered what she was seeing. To her, it was so strange, so out there, but then again, her mind was full of images and knowledge shared with her by the Greeters. Not much made sense now.:: ::Drip, drip, drop.:: Kalianna: It's alright Anya. We'll remember. ::Whirling around, she saw the woman who she had been modeled after. It was her DNA that enabled Anya to even be created. Still confused by the puzzling nature of the conversations and the people she'd seen, the biomatrix clone finally took a step away from the pool, only to fall into some kind of perpetual darkness that lay outside the tiny pool's circle of light.:: ::Then, only blackness remained.:: ((Somewhere in the Habitat District, Starbase 118)) ::The body of Anya had fallen into a small alcove, with leaves already covering where it lay. Without warning, something changed. Silent, and stealthy, the youthful look faded, and the matrix disintegrated, leaving nothing behind but particles of Human DNA. The strands, physically goo at this point, drifted further and further apart, sinking into the dirt that the body had just lay in. With nothing to hold them together, and the process to convert the matrix to DNA having failed, the being that was Anya scattered quickly.:: ::A signal skittered quickly on subspace bands; the last known aspects of the woman leaving the station and the body behind. Darkness encircled it, pushed it onwards, and chased it along in a long trek towards the end of time. An artificial rain began to fall, dripping on the leaves and washing away the last traces of where she had fallen.:: ::Drip.:: ::And then, she simply was no more.:: -End-

(Biodome 5, Connecting Tunnels)) ::Volhv Oskendu, Eerie, Chen and Greir were among the last to leave. They had reached the junction where Eerie, Bram and the Chairman needed to split from the group to go to the larger sub. The Absolution of Vangr was already rising up through the sea as it could no longer afford to remain and risk permanent damage. They had managed to evacuate a lot of the population and they were still transporting out those they could reach. :: :: Eerie was considered the best person to guard the Chairman and ensure he made it to his sub safely, which was going to leave Greir, Chen and their awkward silence to get on with it. :: ::The foursome split into two pairs and headed for their respective holding bays. Chen jogged alongside Greir as they hurried towards their destination and their escape from the biodome. Other than the patter of their footsteps on the floor plating and the sound of the evacuation alarms, there was little noise. Conversation hadn’t exactly been flowing between them so far anyway, but they now moved with silent purpose, words no longer necessary.:: ::They rounded a corner and opened an access hatch, beyond which lay one more corridor and the holding bay. With their goal basically in sight, the two officers kicked it up a gear, headed for the open access point that would lead them to their waiting craft. Chen was focused but calm. This wasn’t the first exfiltration under pressure that he’d had to take part in and so, ironically, he didn’t feel like he was out of his depth.:: ::On the other hand Greir felt under a good deal of pressure both as a Commanding Officer and because his career so far hadn't put him in many situations like this. He was out of his comfort zone and felt a little anxious because of it but believed the reason he was doing so well was because the end was in sight. He could almost see the sub-aqua craft that would carry them out of this disaster. He was doing just fine.:: ::Until an emergency bulkhead slammed down into the entrance with a set of reinforcing struts shooting across it, sealing off the accessway. Having seen something similar in the farm bubble, Chen knew exactly what that signified. He could feel the adrenaline start to flow as he turned to Greir, delivering his report even as he reached for his tricorder.:: Chen: The holding bay’s been compromised and it’s shipping water. Reinard: ::Slamming his fist on the side of the tunnel:: oO We were so close! If only i'd been faster! Oo ::His chest was tightening by the second and he stared, wide eyed at the now closed entrance for several moments before realising he was holding his breath. He took a deep breath but it did little to calm him. He tried not to show his nerves and was only partially successful, his voice sounded a little on edge even to himself.:: Reinard: We need to find another route... ::Having already downloaded a map from the public information network, it was easy for Chen to access it quickly. The net itself was quite likely to be down by now, with large sections of the biodome now flooded. As he zeroed in on their location, based on the path that they had taken from the inner sanctum, he quickly found that there was a maintenance conduit that they could use to travel upwards. The nearest holding bay was ten decks straight up. His mind was already racing through risk assessments and how best to ensure that they would get there safely.:: Chen: Follow me. We can access a maintenance conduit and climb to another bay... ::he was about ready to start walking but stopped himself:: … Sir. ::He flushed a deeper blue as a result of his near breach of protocol. Evidently he had fallen out of the habit of referring to Greir that way when they were alone together. He was going to have to fall back into that habit quickly.:: ::Right now Chen was Greir’s anchor - the Andorian was so in control and on top of things that he felt it was the only thing stopping him from cracking up completely. He was too busy fretting to realise that Chen's antennae kept pointing towards him as they had always done.:: ::What did unsettle him was how odd it sounded to hear Chen address him as 'sir'. He'd considered Chen as a friend and equal... more even. Certainly not as a subordinate - it felt too formal and stuffy even despite recent their recent falling out. Of course it was just protocol so with only a slight pause he shrugged it off to focus on their escape.:: Reinard: Okay... Lieutenant. ::It didn't feel right addressing him so formally, but the situation called for it.:: Lead the way. ::Chen wasted no time in finding the manual release for the conduit’s hatch once they arrived and quickly got it open. According to the map he’d studied, they weren’t headed towards any sections of the dome that he knew to be flooded. With the holding bay just a few metres from them starting to take in water, it seemed that bringing up the rear would be the best way to keep Greir safest. That was foremost in Chen’s mind right now; anything and everything he could do to minimise the risk to him would be of the highest priority. There was no way he could stand by and allow Greir come to harm; the idea of it was incomprehensible.:: Chen: You’d better go first, Sir. ::Greir didn't really want to go first and would have felt more comfortable following the one person who seemed to know what they were doing. Unfortunately there wasn't much time and since he was sure Chen wanted out of here as desperately as he did he trusted that there was a good reason behind it.:: Reinard: ::Reluctantly:: Yeah if you think that's best but where are we going? ::Quite used to reading maps and internalising details in a hurry, Chen passed on the directions he’d picked up from his tricorder as he ducked into the maintenance conduit, following Greir’s lead.:: Chen: We need to climb past nine access ports. The last one opens into a corridor that’s connected to the holding bay we’re aiming for. ::Greir nodded slowly to show his understanding as he looked up. The tube seemed to go up forever. He was glad he liked to stay in shape but even at that he knew this was going to seriously test him. He admired the way Chen remained to stoic, calm and professional and felt it gave him strength. The Andorian had probably dealt with much worse in his time and he seemed to know exactly what to do.:: Reinard: Nine... ::Groaning inwardly:: Okay but there is a sub in the bay right? ::He wanted reassurance that this was not the path to nowhere.:: ::Although Greir wouldn’t be able to see now that they had started climbing, Chen shook his head, wishing he could give him some better news. He had his own misgivings about having to head for a bay without having being able to check if it was occupied but he hadn’t seen a terminal nearby. He had a crawling feeling that if they had retraced their steps, there would have been a good chance that they could have been trapped further towards the centre of the dome. That would have been disastrous.:: Chen: I have no idea, Sir. There’s no guarantee there’ll be a sub in the bay. If there isn’t, we’ll have to find another one. ::What the map hadn’t told him was that ten Asavii ‘decks’ equated to something nearer to twenty on a starship. The ceilings in this section of the dome were evidently quite high. They were in for a long climb.:: Reinard: Well we’ve no other choice so we best get on with it. ::He started to climb with an even pace that would be sustainable because this seemed more like a marathon than a sprint.:: ::Rather than climbing one continuous ladder, Chen noticed as they made their ascent that they were climbing several and that there were breaks every eight feet or so. It did make sense that they would have to be installed like that. It would have been exceptionally difficult to transport a ten deck high construction without being able to access the dome from the outside, or beam it into place. He thought nothing more of it as he continued climbing.:: ::The path that lay ahead of them was long. There wasn’t a huge amount of room to manoeuver; it was like being stuck in a Jefferies tube aboard the Vigilant, but with almost no end in sight. Both officers climbed in silence, boots and hands causing the hollow metal of the ladders to ring out in haphazard rhythm. The stale air inside the conduit soon seemed to resonate with their grim determination to complete their journey and find their way to freedom.:: ::The climb was beginning to take its toll on Chen and he knew Greir was likely to be feeling the burn as well. They were a little over half way towards where they needed to be and it looked as though they were going to make it. Chen let that spur him on as he stayed as close to Greir’s heels as he could. His antennae twitched; for a moment he thought he could hear the sound of trickling water echoing through the conduit but he dismissed it as paranoia. He was sure the blast door on the holding bay they had tried to access would hold. Rather than report it and cause undue worry, he kept his ears open and continued climbing.:: ::Greir on the other hand was beginning to struggle. His legs and knees ached, his lungs were starting to burn a bit but he forced himself upwards. He couldn't hear much over the sound of his own heavy breathing and he was too focussed on the climb to notice anything else.:: ::And then there was a quiet but definite clunk. Chen’s face almost became a pale grey as the colour drained out of him and his system began to flood with adrenaline. He was hit with the realisation that the reinforcing rods on the hatch they had used to access the tunnel they were climbing through had just slammed shut. He needed to get Greir to a sub, now.:: ::Greir's breathing suddenly stopped and his eyes opened wide as he clung onto the ladder for dear life. Every sense was on alert suddenly as soon as he heard the noise.:: Reinard: oO What was that!? Oo Chen: ::Urgently:: We need to move. Can you climb any faster? Reinard: I'll go as fast as I can! ::Stressed:: ::Chen had heard it too and given his reaction it was not a good sound. With a fresh burst of adrenaline Greir began to climb even faster than before. He was starting to shake a little now and stumbled as his foot missed a rung. Luckily there was no impact so he guessed he'd missed kicking Chen in the face and was glad of it. He carried on with all the determination he had.:: ::Chen saw the stumble; it had happened just a few inches from his face and had been difficult to miss. Worried that Greir might be getting tired, he checked to see whether or not there might be enough space for him to fall past him and down the conduit. It looked like there was and so the Andorian tried to push his body a little further back from the ladder, ready to react in case anything did happen.:: Chen: The lock just triggered on the hatch at the bottom of the shaft. I think the corridor beneath us just flooded. ::The increased pace soon had Chen panting for breath. As physically fit as both officers were, this wasn’t the sort of exercise you could train for. They didn’t have the luxury of getting tired; if they slowed down then there was no telling what might...:: ::Chen cursed himself for even having that thought as he heard something rupture below them. He didn’t need enhanced hearing to be able to hear water pouring into the hatch, followed something slamming shut, then something else.:: Chen: oO The gaps were for emergency bulkheads... Oo ::And those bulkheads were slamming shut, one every second behind them as they attempted to create a series of airtight seals, the ultimate barrier against continued flooding. No amount of training could keep Chen cool under fire here. Andorians naturally became more alert in the face of danger and tended to be slower to panic than some other species. However, there was no way they could make it to the top now...:: ::With blood hammering in his ears and his heart pounding hard in his chest, Greir climbed like a man possessed. There was a dreadful noise from below that made his blood run cold and he stopped in his tracks and clung to the ladder, peering down to try see what was going on. He could hear a rushing sound and when he realised it was water his stomach sank. Spurred into action, he began to climb again and was on the verge of panic.:: Chen: GREIR, STOP!!! ::He yelled a terrified warning as he realised that Greir’s head and shoulders had just passed one of the breaks in the ladder. The slamming continued and grew terrifyingly loud. Greir did stop - paralysed dead in his tracks and blissfully unaware of the danger he was in as the thunderous slamming sound roared louder and closer.:: ::Unable to think of another way to prevent Greir from getting decapitated by the emergency hatch, Chen reached up and grabbed onto his calf, pulling downwards as hard as he could to dislodge the Laudean from the ladder, leaning back in the process to stop Greir from falling past him and into the path of the emergency bulkheads that were slamming shut below them.:: ::There was a dull thud as Laudean hit Andorian, a squeak as one of Chen’s hands was forced free of its grip on the ladder and he slipped downwards, followed by an ear-shattering clang and a scream. Chen’s eyes shot open wide as a paralyzing wave of pain shot through him; it was like nothing he had ever felt before.:: ((Maintenance Conduit, Biodome 5)) ::There was a dull thud as Laudean hit Andorian, a squeak as one of Chen’s hands was forced free of its grip on the ladder and he slipped downwards, followed by an ear-shattering clang and a scream. Chen’s eyes shot open wide as a paralyzing wave of pain shot through him; it was like nothing he had ever felt before.:: ::Greir didn't realise what was happening at first as he slammed into Chen from above and the screaming began. It was the most awful thing Greir had ever heard because it pained him to hear Chen's screams of agony. He didn't even had a medical kit on him to administer any pain relief, in fact he still had to identify the source of the pain. He looked down and saw with horror what had happened.:: ::The Andorian’s right foot had been caught in the bulkhead as it had slammed shut beneath him. Another deafening thud tore through his ears and antennae, the only sound loud enough to cut through his pained screams as he and Greir were sealed inside an oversized tin can.:: ::Greir yelled as he tried to make himself heard over Chen's screams.:: Reinard: ::Concerned:: Chen... I'm going to try and free your foot! ::Chen’s mind struggled to interpret the overload of sensation that was being shot through it; he could feelthat parts of his foot were not where they were supposed to be; the crushing pressure of the doors on either side of the crushed exoskeletal plates in his ankle was unbearable. Struggling to regain enough control to answer Greir, he tensed every available muscle in his upper body, breathing rapidly through clenched teeth, eyes screwed shut and antennae bolt upright.:: Chen: OK... please... hhhelp... ::The emergency hatch hadn't fully closed. Chen's foot was firmly wedged in it. He quickly shifted down and positioned himself to look for an emergency release mechanism, or a removable panel which might conceal such a thing. He hadn't noticed anything like that on the way up but he hadn't really been looking either and may have missed something.:: ::Greir's fingers ran desperately along every surface looking for anything that he could dig his nails into and pull away. Eventually he realised he wasn't going to be able to find anything. Chen was suffering badly and Greir wanted to help him urgently.:: Reinard: Ok, that's no good. New plan! I'm going to peel the hatch open so you can pull your foot out. Just... when we get it out don't look at it yeah? Medical will get you fixed right up, it's going to be fine. ::Trying to reassure him.:: ::Chen wasn’t about to start looking at anything; his eyes were still screwed shut as he tried desperately to keep from screaming again. His stomach muscles tensed with the effort and he sucked in rapid, shallow breaths.:: Chen: Please... you gotta help... ::The pain was almost more than he could bear. Seeking comfort, his hand released its hold on the ladder in front of him and dropped down; feeling it contact with Grier’s back, he grabbed onto his uniform, gripping it tightly and not wanting to let him go.:: ::Greir could feel his uniform being pulled tight around him and untucking as Chen grabbed hold of it. He felt the Andorian’s knuckles digging into him and although it was quite uncomfortable he said nothing. He was far more concerned with his frantic effort to try and free Chen as quickly and safely as possible.:: Reinard: I know Chen, i'm trying. I'm really trying as hard as I can. I'll get you out of this. ::He put his fingers into the gap and started to pull, not too hard at first testing to see if it would move or not and applying more and more effort. His fingers slipped and he pulled out a hand, rubbing the tips of his fingers together. They were wet.:: Reinard: ::Urgently.:: Chen I hate to tell you this but the water's coming up! Chen: I know... gnyaaaaaah!... I can... feel it... ::It was a sharp contrast to the warm, wet sensation of his own blood. The salt water was freezing cold and he could still feel it where it was contacting the mangled remains of his foot. The salt stung every part of where his skin had been broken, intensifying the pain. His hands gripped ladder and tunic top, squeezing until his knuckles went white. :: Reinard: I'm going to try get the ship...::Tapping his comm badge:: =/\= Captain Reinard to the bridge. =/\= ::After a few moments there was still no reply and it felt like an eternity. He tried again, increasingly aware of the knuckles digging into him painfully. His tunic was completely pulled out and he could feel cool air on his back. He wondered if Chen was going to rip his clothes right off his back.:: Reinard: =/\= Captain Reinard to the USS Vigilant, medical emergency! =/\= Bridge: =/\=Aye beaming you both out now Sir. Hold on.=/\= Reinard: =/\= Understood. Reinard out. =/\= ::Greir was glad that the freezing cold water wasn't flooding in super fast, but even though they'd got through to the ship it turned out they weren’t in a position where they could be extracted right now. They were going to have to wait for the nearest shuttle to get into position and by that time they both may have drowned. It was an unsatisfactory answer but then anything short of immediate rescue was as far as he was concerned. He wedged his heels into the gap and used his lower body strength to try and force open the emergency hatch. Despite using all his strength it would not budge. :: ::Chen’s desperation was mounting and he could feel himself starting to panic. Fighting to get a grip, he pressed his forehead against the ladder. The seawater felt like it was burning his foot as it rose through the gap in the hatch. He trusted Greir and knew he would do everything he could to save him but what if he straight up couldn’t be saved? What then? There were still so many things that he wanted to say to Greir.:: ::Greir had another plan to free Chen's foot and pulled out his concealed phaser, setting it to the highest setting. He was completely determined in his mission to free Chen. He wanted to save the Andorian for both professional and personal reasons. Either they were both getting out of here on no one was because he was absolutely not prepared to stop trying.:: Reinard: OK I'm going to burn through this metal to free your foot Chen. ::The Andorian’s reply was choked; he nodded to make sure it got through. Anything that Greir was prepared to try, Chen was prepared to go along with.:: Chen: Uh-huh... OK... ::He just wanted it to be over. He’d never felt pain like this and he needed it to be over. He was beginning to shake from overexertion as he continued to clench his muscles, afraid what might happen if he relaxed them.:: ::Greir set about trying to cut away the metal. The hatch was made of a thick highly resistant metal and it was taking a long time to cut through it. He quickly realised that with the rate the water was coming in the hatch would soon be submerged. They were not going to be able to cut enough metal away in time.:: Reinard: Chen, I'm sorry but this isn't going to work. ::He felt anguished that this was dragging out and he really hated to see Chen in so much pain. It was a lot to take and he was determined to free him. There was no way he was willing to leave the Andorian behind.:: Reinard: oO There has to be another way. Oo ::Chen’s beleaguered mind had already led him to an inescapable conclusion that he was terrified to speak aloud. He felt like this was his last roll of the dice and that it was time to resort to extreme measures. His breathing became erratic, sometimes catching in his throat as he wrestled through a mounting wave of emotions that came close to engulfing the pain he was feeling.:: Chen: You’ve... you need to... Reinard: What? I’m not leaving you Chen... ::He couldn’t look at Greir. He couldn’t open his eyes because if he did, if he let reality in, then he knew he wouldn’t be able to suggest what he was about to suggest.:: Chen: The phaser... you have to... ::he stopped talking as he steeled himself, gasping in enough air to finish his thought:: ...cut my foot... ::It was all he could say before terror paralysed him again for a moment. What would it feel like to have his foot phasered off with no anaesthetic? What would happen afterwards?:: ::The suggestion was unthinkable! He was horrified by it and yet he could think of nothing else to try. The water was still pouring in... there were no more options and yet he just didn't want to believe this was what he had to do.:: Reinard: There must be another way Chen. We just have to... we just have to think. ::Letting go of the ladder, Chen grabbed onto Greir’s arm, holding on for dear life.:: Chen: Help... help me... sit down... Reinard: ::Wincing slightly at the tightness of the grip.:: Right, okay, hold on then. ::Greir did as he was asked, putting the safety on the weapon and wrapping his arms around Chen to ease him as carefully as possible onto the floor. A sweet, floral scent caught his nose as he strained to lower him into a seating position without causing too much additional discomfort.:: Reinard: oO What’s that smell? Oo ::Once he had endured the pain caused by shifting into a seated position, Chen finally opened his tortured green eyes; they met Greir’s and begged that he would have the strength to do what needed to be done as well as forgiveness for Chen’s own weakness.:: ::Greir looked away. He could not bear to look into the Andorian's eyes and felt guilty and miserable about what he had to do. He couldn't begin to imagine the pain Chen was in, or the pain he was about to inflict upon him. It was either that or lose him for good though and so he knew there was no way he could delay. The waters lapped at his feet, reminding him that his time was running out.:: Chen: Gonna... pass out... not gonna be... able to... bear it... ::He reached out and took hold of Greir’s leg, quaking with fear and pain and feeling like he wouldn’t be able to do this without some kind of physical reassurance. The cold of the water that was beginning to spread across the surface of the hatch started to soak through his uniform. The icy sensation of it was far less chilling than the terror of what he was about to face.:: Reinard: I'm sorry Chen. ::Heartfelt:: ::With no further delay he set the phaser to the appropriate setting and knelt down, getting himself into position. He held the phaser out, with finger placed on the trigger barely daring to breathe as he looked at the ankle he was about to cut through. His hand was shaking badly and if he didn't sort himself out he was going to make a complete mess of this.:: ::He used both of his hands to achieve a steadier grip and slowly squeezed the trigger. The red phaser beam sliced through the air right next to Chen's leg, mere centimeters from the skin.:: Reinard: ::Choked up with emotion:: Forgive me. ::He didn't want to do it, but he did. He moved the beam in as smooth an action as he could. The sight was truly sickening to him and he hated every second with a passion.:: ::Chen screamed in agony as the beam contacted his leg. The pain was more intense than he ever could have imagined. It felt like there was fire shooting up through his leg and spreading through the whole of his body. He saw the world go blue and the scream turned hollow and died in his throat as he lost consciousness, releasing Greir’s leg and slumping back against the shaft wall with an abrupt thud.:: ::The beam soon cut through the other side and Chen was now free. When Greir stopped staring, mouth agape at Chen's amputated foot he got himself together enough to check that Chen was still in fact alive. Afterwards, he lifted the wound out of the water, which was quickly covering it to check it over. The phaser had effectively cauterised it.:: ::He slumped back against the wall of the tube, cold water soaking into his clothes and chilling him..:: Reinard: oO What now? Oo ::He felt lost and useless. He knew he didn't have the strength or the energy left in him to pick up Chen and climb the ladder. Even if he did, where did he think he was going to go? The emergency hatch above him was sealed too.:: ::He wrapped his arms protectively around Chen and waited. The moments seemed to drag out endlessly and he felt alone. Chen was there but he was unconscious and there wasn't anything Greir could do to help him. He was useless, helpless and very, very afraid. As the water rose he became more and more certain that they were going to die in here. It was so cold it felt like the very life was being sapped out of him. When the lighting flickered and died Greir's grip on Chen tightened. He felt a panic attack come on as he started to hyperventilate.:: ::He didn’t know how much time passed but the water was up at chest level when the familiar sensation and aura of blue finally took them from the wretched place.:: A JP by: Lt Cmdr Reinard Acting Commanding Officer USS Vigilant and PNPC Lieutenant Chen Intelligence Officer USS Vigilant NCC-75515 SIMmed by: Captain Diego Herrera

((USS Avandar, Holodeck 1)) Vetri: Whilst I'm only handing out one in person, that's because I don't want to hold up the party any more than I have to. Every member of this crew that participated in the Avandar's recent exploits is now entitled to add the Explorer's Ribbon to their collection of things to stick to your dress uniforms. You earned it folks, well done. :: She reached over and snagged her empty mug off of the branch again, then gave a little shooing wave to everyone, as well as a definite grin.:: Vetri *Now* I'm done. MacRae: Well, I think I'll have that Laphroaig you mentioned earlier, would you care to join me in a glass? tr'Khellian: reaching across the bar and handing MacRae the bottle:: my gift to you. Iwish you the best in your future endeavors. :: When she stepped down from the stump, Della laughed softly at the by-play between the two of them, then raised her voice to chip in herself.:: Vetri: Do we need to add "staff mixologist" to your job description? :: The sound of someone clearing their throat - loudly - caught her, and everyone else's, attention, and Della looked at t'Lea with a faintly puzzled frown.:: T’Lea: Before you all continue your endeavours of gratuitous self-inebriation and celebration I have a brief… :: Whatever it was, it had the Romu-vulc feeling jittery - and that had Della wondering just what was going through the woman's mind. Not that she could tell, as she was being blocked out *very* well...:: T’Lea: … presentation to make. :: Presentation? What presentation? Hadn't she already done those? :: T’Lea: ::at Vetri:: If I may? :: She gestured at the stump Della had been using as a platform. Increasingly puzzled, and perhaps a little concerned as well, given what she was feeling from her bond-mate, the Trill nodded.:: T’Lea: Thank you, Captain. :: Instead of getting onto the stump, T'Lea stood in front of it, hands behind her back as she surveyed the assembled - and curious - crowd with no trace at all of any visible emotion. A moment or two later, she gave a nod to someone, and when Della glanced that way she saw Tan skulking within the mob.:: oO What are you up to...? Oo :: Nearby, the scene of the Rolumus park changed, a flat image like a screen in mid-air coming into being with the same Starfleet emblem she always saw when waiting for a call to connect.:: Vetri: Is someone going to regret me asking just what you two are doing? :: Tan held up his hand in a placating gesture, but she was undecided as to whether she was going to pay any attention to it at all.:: Tan: Nothing to worry, Captain. :: Really. In that case, why did T'Lea feel like she was about to melt into a puddle of nervous goo? Since she was left with no real answers, and even less idea of what to expect, she was actually starting to get more than a little annoyed... Especially when T'Lea's aura suddenly sharpened into something a lot more determined.:: :: Opening her mouth to ask - *politely* - for someone to tell her what the frell was going on, she felt it drop open a little more in surprise as the projected screen suddenly shifted to show the inside of a room she knew very well indeed - and a pair of people she knew even *better*:: Tan: ::softly:: Brilliant. T’Lea: Thank you, Alleran. ::to the Maren family on screen:: And thank you for taking time for this. :: A little part of Della's brain registered the amusement pouring off of Tan and made a note to arrange for something suitable to happen to him in the near future.:: Tan: You’re very welcome. Lyssa Maren: Oh, I think it's worth a little rescheduling, T'Lea. And the look on our daughter's face, of course. :: And there was no mistaking the laughter in her mother's tone, or on her father's face, as she stared at them and tried to work out why she was seeing what she was.:: :: Managing to get some sort of control over her mouth again, Della looked at T'Lea, lips forming the stat of a demand for information, when the Romu-vulc raised a hand to stop her and began speaking.:: T’Lea: People say that I am cold, cruel, and unfeeling. They say that I do not have a heart. oO Because you *act* that way, given half a chance? Oo T’Lea: And they are correct, because I gave it to you. :: ... :: oO Did she just...? Oo :: ... :: oO That's kind of sweet, but... Oo :: ... :: :: Della felt T'Lea take her hand, her touch far more gentle than many might have thought possible. Their gazes locked on each other, Della wasn't sure if she was hearing what T'Lea said with her ears.. or by other means entirely.:: T’Lea: It hasn’t been an easy road, you and I. :: That was putting it mildly. The first real conversation they'd shared had scared Della so much she'd thrown up almost immediately afterwards.:: :: And then there had been the time she'd all but told the Romu-vulc how she was starting to feel about her.. and then had the fun of knowing *exactly* what T'Lea and Tash had gotten up to in his hammock in the jungle that night.:: :: And then there was the time-:: T’Lea: I know at times I have made things difficult for you, but amazingly you have always been there for me, through the best and worst of it all. :: Swallowing hard, Della tried *very* hard not to remember what it had been like to feel T'Lea die in her arms, to be totally sure that everything they'd done to try and save her had failed.:: :: Of course, that *had* led to one of the most intimate "getting-to-know-each-other" sessions in history, with T'Lea's katra residing in Della's mind and the two of them becoming closer than it was possible to imagine...:: :: But the biggest example of all was standing a short distance away, radiating a sense of puzzlement as to what her mothers were doing... and why a picture of her grandparents was in the air.:: T'Lea: I’m not sure if that is a testament of your devotion or if you are slightly crazy, but I’ve come to realize something… ::more serious:: That even when times were bad, things were still good because I had you. :: For some reason, it was hard to actually *see* T'Lea, despite the fact that she was standing right in front of her. It was only when she blinked that Della realised what the reason was, and she dropped the mug in her hand - the one that wasn't being held quite possessively by T'Lea - to swipe at the moisture that had started to fill her eyes.:: :: She could do little for the weird feeling in her stomach, though, and the fact that she was starting to feel a little light-headed...:: :: She *knew* how T'Lea felt about displaying her feelings, and it was the way she was doing just that so plainly in front of all these people that had Della wondering for a moment if she was, in fact, hallucinating this whole scene.:: T’Lea: Now, I know that this isn’t the proper way to do this according to Archipelago tradition, but this crew has been my family for a while now, and well… ::she took breath:: … Della Vetri I love you in a highly illogical and insanely emotional way. You’ve not only saved my life, but given me a reason to live it better. You’ve seen up-close exactly how ugly my katra can be, and yet you are still with me -- braving the best and worst of me. K’diwa, I do not ever wish to be without you, so…. :: She paused just enough to turn her attention to the images of Della’s parents, who were looking on with every sign of acceptance and satisfaction at over what was happening.:: T’Lea: If you and our families will permit it… :: For some mad reason, T'Lea released her hand, giving the watching crowd a nod.:: T’Lea: ::in the Trill language:: Will you join me in uniting our families as one through our betrothal? :: Della blinked, not sure she'd heard right. Not that the *language* was an issue - she'd grown up with it, after all - but the choice of words. That kind of phrasing was only used on one kind of occasion, and-:: :: Abruptly, her whole mind froze.:: :: Total.:: :: Mental.:: :: Lock up.:: :: Dimly, she was aware of Tan translating for everyone else, but it didn't really register. There *was* only one time a person would say something like that to another, and even then only if they were following a very traditional mode of...:: :: Asking someone to marry them.:: :: T'Lea. The stone-cold Romu-vulc psycho, had set all this up specifically so she could ask Della to marry her.:: :: Numbly, she looked down at the hand T'Lea was holding out to her, seeing but not really processing the seashell that sat in the extended palm. This wasn't just a traditional approach. This was the way it had been done in the islands Della had grown up in for nearly a full millennium, adapted only as much as was needed to accommodate the realities of where they were.:: :: That meant that T'Lea had looked. Studied. Leaned. And made far more effort to make this as right as she could than Della might have expected... and suddenly Della knew *exactly* why the Romu-vulc had been giving off such nervous vibes. This had to have been torture for her...:: Vetri: I should drop-kick you out the nearest airlock. :: Still scrambling to get a grip on what was happening, she wasn't *totally* aware of what had just come out of her mouth. She was, however, hard-wired by her upbringing to recognise the tone of what she heard next.:: Lyssa Maren: ::flatly:: Della. Vetri: ::absently:: Yes, Mother? Lyssa: Switch your brain on, dear. :: There were any number of reasons she should say no. There were even more reasons why she should handle this whole situation with the composure and dignity befitting not only a Starfleet officer but the commanding officer of a starship. With the eyes of her assembled crew on her and T'Lea, as well as those of her parents and daughters, there was a great deal weighing in on the side of a measured, carefully considered reply to the question that had just been asked of her.:: :: She didn't care.:: :: Since the night she and T'Lea had bonded, the desire for what was happening had grown. Drop by drop, her wish for T'Lea to ask her this, and *mean it*, had grown until it was something she wasn't really aware of any more. She was happy the way they'd been, she didn't *need* anything else...:: :: But there was no way to describe how much she'd wanted it.:: :: Captain Vetri was summarily ordered to shut the frak up, and the answer to the question came with blinding speed. Snatching the shell from T'Lea's hand, Della threw herself at the Romu-vulc hard enough that even the Vulcanoid strength of her target nearly failed to take the impact as her arms wrapped around her mate with no intention of letting go.:: Vetri: ::softly:: Yes. Roget Maren: 'Bout time. :: Her father's obviously fake gruffness brought a smile to her lips, and she looked over T'lea's shoulder at her parents' image, her gratitude for the way they'd understood and supported her choice of this woman plain in her eyes.:: :: Of course, she *did* know her fiancée very well, and that was why she let a particular thought slip along the telepathic bond they shared.:: Vetri: ~~ Too many witnesses, lilyali. You are *not* ducking out of it this time. ~~ T’Lea: ~~ I'm not going anywhere. I promise. ~~ :: The Romu-vulc sealed her promise with small smile and a kiss, and then with the Trill still in her arms she turned to the crowd seeking out one face in particular.:: T’Lea: I’ll take that bottle of Romulan Ale now, S’Lone. ::with a fake scowl aimed at the rest of the crew:: What are you all looking at? Stop staring at us, or I will make horderves out of your eyeballs and serve them back to you. :: Ahhhh, that felt better, thought T’Lea.:: Captain Della Vetri Commanding Officer USS Avandar

((Brice’s Quarters, USS Apollo)) :: Walking into his quarters, Ethan rubbed his hand over his eyes. He was tired. Strike that, he was knackered. Every muscle ached. Muscles that he wasn’t aware he had ached. His brain felt like a rubber ball bouncing around in the empty space between his ears. What time was it? He knew it was late and he was late. He was supposed to be calling Matthew. Going to the replicator he replicated a bottle of synthetic beer, popped the cap off and collapsed onto the sofa.:: ::The dimmed lights in the room made the stars outside the window shine like glitter thrown over a dark blanket covering the vessel. Ethan lay on the sofa, one arm tucked behind his head watching the universe float past the window with a gentle softness that he hadn’t felt before. He couldn't’ describe what he felt inside. Calm? Tranquill? He couldn’t put his finger on it. Half the time he felt as though he were balancing on the edge of a knife; one slip and the “half the time” might be a permanent condition.:: :: But then another part of him poked his heart and yanked on the strings. His wife, Karynn, was out in the universe somewhere, maybe missing him, maybe not. He longed for her, yearned for her and wished they could be together.:: :: Man, she bowled him over sometimes. He grinned in the darkness of his quarters, lifting the single serving beer bottle up to his lips. He remembered the first night he saw her. Was it love at first sight? Probably not, she would say. It was a chemical reaction in the brain that caused the feelings of attraction. His heart had pounded to the beat of the bass drum pedal. Counsellors were always a pragmatic bunch. She was Pavlov, he was the dog.:: :: She was his strength, his faith, everything that held him up. Without her by his side, filling him with that courage he felt empty. His hand fell on his stomach and he raised his head slightly, looking at the holo-image of Karynn and Matthew. Matthew. He couldn’t bring him on board the Apollo. It was far too dangerous being out in the Expanse to have him there. He missed his little face, his little laugh... he didn’t miss finding FederationMan accessories sticking out of the carpet though. His feet were on a break.:: :: By now, Matthew would be asleep. He would have been asleep hours ago, if Rebecca was sticking to their routine. Ethan let his head fall back against the cushion again.:: Brice: Computer, compose a message. “I wish you were here.” Transmit to Commander Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) K. Brice: Lights. Half. ::The door closed behind the Haliian officer as the room brightened. With a slow sigh she looked around. The emptiness hit her in the pit of her stomach - not a lack of things, but a lack of his things. She missed the shoes in the middle of the floor, the engineering journals on the couch, the coffee mug on the table instead of a coaster. After unzipping her uniform jacket and dropping it on the arm of the sofa, a soft flashing caught her eye. She had a message.:: K. Brice: Computer play message. ::The welcome sound of her husband's voice, sent from lightyears away permeated the air. Not only was it a salve to soothe the pain of separation, it was confirmation that he was still ok. The message was simple, direct. A glance at the monitor showed her that his message hadn't been sent that long ago.:: K. Brice: Computer. Record message. "Me too." Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. ((USS Apollo)) :::A beep from up above his head signalled that a message was being received. He wondered if it might be Karynn. Something doubted that. They had both been so busy lately that they hadn’t been able to find the time to speak. He, playing Engineer of the Year, she doing Science in another part of the Universe.:: E. Brice: Computer, play message. ::His stomach turned to mush as he heard her voice; soft and gentle, a reminder that his wife was out there and she hadn’t changed at least that aspect of her wonderful self. He smiled to himself. If she were there, they would be cuddled up on the sofa, perhaps doing different things, but they would together.:: E. Brice: Computer, compose message. “What am I doing without you, Mrs Brice?” Transmit to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) ::The computer beeped. Karynn smiled. Bandwidth was limited, especially for personal calls, and they were saving up. But bouncing these messages back and forth was essentially free.:: ::She laid back on her bed and put her feet up.:: K. Brice: Computer. Play message. ::It was a simple question that she could answer in one of two ways. She decided on cheeky.:: K. Brice: Computer. Record message. "Falling to pieces?" Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. ((USS Apollo)) :: Another beep. He smiled again and asked the computer to play the message. Karynn had a good sense of humour, although it revolved around poking fun at him. He missed that. Looking at the table, he realised his beer bottle was sitting pleasantly on the coffee table without a coaster underneath it. She would have had his head if she could see.:: ::He got up and ordered another from the replicator before lying back down on the sofa.:: E. Brice: Computer, compose message. “Keeping it together, just about. Enjoying the peace and quiet?” Send to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) ::Karynn had gotten herself a White Russian from the replicator while she waited. It was synthehol, of course. She could almost hear her human husband's complaints, but she had grown to not mind the stuff... much. After all, it still had effects, but they were more easily reversed should she find herself suddenly called back to duty. And she could really only taste the difference between the synthehol and the really good stuff.:: ::It was quiet. Too quiet. The silence was almost deafening really. She missed the sound of Matthew playing, of Ethan getting ready or coming home.:: K. Brice: Computer play instrumental music, Europe, Earth, Nineteenth Century. ::Having been raised by a professional musician - her mother played a Haliian stringed instrument akin to the terran violin in their city’s symphony - the scientist had great appreciation for orchestral music from all cultures. And with Ethan being from Earth, she had developed an interest in terran music.:: ::Through the melody she heard the distinct sound of the computer beeping, alerting her to a new message.:: K. Brice: Computer pause music, play message. ::There was a momentary pause of silence between the end of the music and the start of her husband’s voice. She laughed lightly to herself. He knew her too well.:: K. Brice: Computer. Record message. "Not really. I can understand your love for the ambient noise in engineering now. What about you? Have you put water marks on your coffee table yet?" Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. ((USS Apollo)) ::The new message came through. He placed the rugby ball back down on its stand and looked at the ring markings on the table. He had, though he doubted she would have been in such good spirits about it had it been their coffee table. The young man laughed aloud in the dark room.:: E. Brice: Computer, compose message. "I don't know what you're talking about. I heard that you're posted in the Science department. Set anything on fire yet?" ::Remembering her mishap with a locked door on her training exam brought a smile to his face. He had to wonder, what she'd be like around a bunsen burner.:: E. Brice: Transmit to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) ::With a laugh, the Haliian set down the PADD containing the issue of the scientific journal she had been reading. During her stints as Counselor and First Officer in her last posting she had gotten out of the habit of keeping up with the latest developments in the scientific community. Now that she was back in science - her first love - she realized that she had a lot to catch up on. She had immediately subscribed to a few general journals as well as a few more specialized ones, including the main publication for biochemists in the Federation.:: ::To be sure, it was no Vulcan epic poem. But it was interesting, and even fascinating, to see what her colleagues had been up to. It reminded her of why she decided to join Starfleet in the first place.:: K. Brice: Computer, record message. “I’ll have you know that I can find my way around a science lab just fine. It’s you darn engineers that make things overly complicated.” Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. (( USS Apollo )) ::The message made him laugh, taking another swig from the bottle. Karynn was more adapt at most things, not that she would ever think she was or profess to being. There were a few memories he had that he treasured the most; memories that he would treasure until his dying day, holding his wife’s hand while he slipped into the next big adventure. They used to watch stars together, laugh about the most ridiculous things, look forward to tomorrow, caught up in the moment as the universe carried on revolving around them.:: ::He looked over at the images on his desk of their wedding day and a smile crept onto his face.:: Brice: Computer, compose message. “Are we too old to run away together?” Transmit to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) ::The Terran music was again punctuated by a computerized alert and the haliian couldn't help but grin. Even though she knew it was all in her head (they had been separated by lightyears for far too long for any true residual connection to remain for the touch empath), it was almost as though she could feel the pair growing closer again as they talked. She sipped her drink as she played his message, a smile playing across her lips.:: ::She did wish they could just take off together - some days more than others. But her sense of duty was too strong for that, not to mention her love of knowledge, exploration, and adventure. She felt far too young to return to civilian life.:: K. Brice: Computer, record message. “Not too old, too responsible. Besides, could you really see yourself as a civilian?” Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. (( USS Apollo )) ::His chest was starting to niggle at him again. He rubbed it absent-mindedly, skimming through some of the repair reports on his padd. The last few days had been hectic; for one, he still needed to shave, the face fuzz didn’t look too professional, and for two, he was knackered. At one point, he had resorted to bunking down in the office from sheer exhaustion while the night shift worked. At least everything was going well now.:: ::Karynn’s message came through, bringing a slight smile to the man’s face. She was right, he couldn’t see himself in civilian life any more. Maybe a few years ago, but now it was ingrained in his very being. There wasn’t anything in civilian life that could come close to what they felt as part of the Federation, as part of Starfleet, flying the flag out in the nethers of the Universe.:: E. Brice: Computer, compose message. “No, I couldn’t. We’ll retire from this life, but it doesn’t mean I can’t dream. There’s something inviting about a family house on the bank of an estuary somewhere where starships don’t torpedo us in the night.” Transmit to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) ::The beep startled her and the haliian’s eyes shot open. Without meaning to, she had drifted off into a nap. From a scientific perspective, the journals were interesting, but for someone who was increasingly tired, it wasn’t exactly easy to stay awake while reading the dry, precise language employed by scientists. It took her a few moments to realize what was going on. When she finally had enough clarity to listen to his message she smiled.:: K. Brice: Computer, record message. “I agree. Retirement will be nice someday. I’m just too young yet.” ::She paused.:: Computer pause recording. ::She was tired, and no doubt he was too. But talking to him - it was easily the highlight of her week. Her brain told her to say goodnight, her heart told her to keep talking until she collapsed. Of course, Dr. Shelley would not be happy to hear that her charge had collapsed from exhaustion. After a moment more of debate she spoke again.:: K. Brice: Computer resume recording. “Got a place in mind for when we’re old and get drummed out of service?” Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. ((USS Apollo)) ::Ethan’s head was resting on the arm of the couch, his eyes staring up at the ceiling. He remembered the last time that he and Karynn and been in the same room, when they were saying goodbye on the Tiger before their transfer; he to a posting at the behest of Captain Jaxx while Karynn to a Science calling in the mid- galaxy, unable to do such a large journey so soon after her illness. Neither had wanted to leave, both were at the mercy of Starfleet. He could remember her smell, the sound of her voice, almost hear her soft footsteps walking around.:: ::He closed his eyes as he listened to her message. He could picture a house somewhere in the midst of civilisation, at the edge of a lake with a vineyard spreading out beside it, not that either of them knew anything about growing grapes or making wine. A dream was a dream after all.:: ::He looked at the digital clock on the computer screen, spinning around. The hour was late and he knew Karynn would be tired; he could hear it in her voice. He needed some sleep as well, it hadn’t come easily lately and the more he tried to reach satisfying slumber, the less likely did he grasp it.:: E. Brice: Computer, compose message. “As long as I have you, we could go anywhere you like. We should take Matthew to Halii. What do you think?” Transmit to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) ::Karynn let out a yawn, stretching her arms above her head, as the alert of a new message interrupted the tranquility of her quarters. With a smile she played her husband’s communication.:: ::Halii. She hadn’t been back since about halfway through the academy. She’d seen her parents at their wedding, but she hadn’t really been “home.” Not that Halii felt like home to her any more. Home was on her ship, with her husband and stepson now. That was part of her difficulty in adjusting after this move. She would love to go back, though - and the opportunity to share her heritage and the planet where she had grown up with her family would be amazing.:: ::She had been able to go to Earth with Ethan several times. They had explored all sorts of locales on his home planet together. She remembered their trips to Japan and the British Isles quite clearly. She was already thinking of places she would love to take Ethan and Matthew. Her home town of Larysta had an animal preserve that she was sure Matthew would love, for one thing, and she was pretty sure that they would both love the pink beaches that dotted the western coast. She also wanted to introduce them both to some of her culture: music, art, and architecture for example.:: K. Brice: Computer, record message. “I would love that and I bet he would too. I bet Will would let me coordinate leave with you sometime.” Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. ((USS Apollo)) ::It was a distinct possibility that Jaxx might let him do that very thing; synchronising his shore leave with his wife’s with enough notice. It would have to be when they had come out of their first delve into the abyss in the sector that they were currently inhabiting. He stretched up off the sofa, pushing his hands into the flat of his back to achieve the backstretch he so desired, lifting onto his toes to really get it right. He moved slowly into his bedroom, the light coming on automatically to a dim level.:: :: He sat on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh as he started to pull his socks off his feet, listening to her message before lying back on the bed, one arm beneath his head and eyes closing.:: E. Brice: Computer, compose message. “In the words of our dear Ben Johnson, “In the hope to meet shortly again, and make our absence sweet.” You realise that if I get you in my arms again, I may never let you go.” Transmit to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ((USS Drake)) ::Karynn had given up most pretenses of trying to stay awake. She woke with a start, breathing in sharply at the sound of a new message. Shaking the sleep out of her head (or at least trying to) she listened to the communication from her husband. With a sigh she smiled.:: K. Brice: Computer, record message. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I certainly wouldn’t be in any hurry to let you go either.” ::She paused, reticent to end their conversation but knowing that they both need sleep.:: K. Brice: “I’m tired ... knackered is the way I think you put it.” ::She laughed, hoping that her husband would appreciate her attempt to pick up his idioms.:: K. Brice: “As much as I hate to say goodnight, I think I must. Sweet dreams, Kiimosa. I hope to see you soon.” Save and send to Ethan Brice, USS Apollo. ((USS Apollo)) ::Ethan listened to the message, hearing his wife’s voice for the last time that evening as he asked the computer to switch off the lights. His eyes were heavy, his breathing now shallow in the quiet room, lying back on his bed with little thought to what was going on inside the vessel. Sleep found him and tonight it wasn’t letting him go so easy. Before he slipped off into the night, he managed to get a final message across to his love, thousands of lightyears away.:: E. Brice: Computer, compose message. “I’ll only dream of you. Goodnight, Kiimosa.” Save and transmit to Karynn Brice, USS Drake. ::For the first time in many nights since they parted ways, the young Engineer fell asleep with a slight smile on his face.:: TBC Commander Karynn Brice Chief Science Officer USS Drake & Lieutenant Commander Ethan Brice Acting Chief Engineer USS Apollo

Voting closes Sunday, September 30th, 2012 at 23:59 PM. This round of voting only qualifies one sim to move on to the next round of judging. REMEMBER: This is NOT a popularity contest. Vote based on MERIT, not the fact that someone is your crewmate. Any crews found “stuffing the ballots” or ratings, will be disqualified PERMANENTLY. Yes, that means the whole crew!

((Diplomatic Building ; Brek's Office)) ::Between internal reports and requests, time was passing by pleasantly for Brek. Most diplomats wanted reassurances that the Federation wouldn't let its allies down during the Klingon conflict. The skill here was to emphasize the positive actions that SB118 would be taking, without disclosing too much information, since some of those cables would no doubt be intercepted. In fact, ever since Lt Zehn had spoken at the meeting, Brek couldn't help thinking that the Starbase was infested with spies, all with their secret agenda and even the desire to kill, it seemed. His door chirruped and within second his aide appeared with a batch of documents that needed to be signed. Those could have been sent directly to his message box, which implied that Dakarai was here for a different reason. Terrans often arm themselves with a fake objective when they have something important to ask.:: Brek: What is it this time? ::The Ensign sighed and allowed himself to drop in a chair, doing a pretty good impression of anxiety.:: Dakarai: I'm afraid that this time it's our department that's likely to be the victim of gossip. ::That got Brek's undivided attention. He had been about to open a packet of biscuits, (conveniently stored in his desk), but abandoned the idea right away.:: Brek: How so? Dakarai: It's to do with Ensign Evprak. See, she was dating this strange bloke, Patrick something... or Patriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick as she used to call him. I warned her right away that he was a swindler. He looked the part too; wearing the type of old fashioned three piece suits you only see in the Dungeon, but she wouldn't listen, of course. The silly goose was in love. Brek: ::Raising a hand.:: Stopping you there, Monsieur Dakarai. You don't happen to have a short version of this tale? I've already been subjected to Evprak's antics and I'm that close to nailing her on a fictitious wooden cross. Dakarai: Très bien... As I feared, he took her to the cleaners. Pretended he was stranded on Duronis, needed some funds to come back to the Starbase. This developed into various complications where he always ended up either losing the money or where his life was in danger... And now that all her savings are gone, he dropped her. Brek: ::Scratching his chin.:: When you entered into my office, was it written `Counselor' on the door? Dakarai: Non. Brek: You came to the wrong office, then, my `little' Jean Baptiste. I happen to applaud what this Mr Patrick did. He saw an opportunity, and he took it. I've seen this type of operation in action on Risa. Believe me, each target demands a lot of work, finesse and preparations. ::He reopened his top drawer and grabbed the box that was there.:: Besides, let's not forget that in a case like this, the fake lover always provides a service. He offers a dream, albeit a fairly costly one for the victim. Do you want a biscuit? Dakarai: Non, merci. Think what you want, Lt Cmdr Brek, there is only one outcome to this: the reputation of our department is going to suffer. One of ours has been conned and the CDO didn't provide any assistance to his own secretary. Brek: ::Indignant:: `Assistance?!' Are you completely.... oO What's the funny word they use in such circumstances... oO off your trolley? I couldn't comfort a female even if I had memorised an A to Z method on the subject. ::He took a biscuit and began to eat it, making as much noise as possible.:: Dakarai: That's not what I meant. Something needs to be done to stop this scammer before he makes more victims in this sector. With your financial savoir faire, I think you are the best candidate to tackle this problem. Brek: ::Spitting out a few crumbs as he speaks:: Dishing out compliments at a moment like this, Dakarai... this is low. Dakarai: I am not asking you to do it for Evprak, but for the department. Think of the impact such an action would have for our image. Isn't it best that, as diplomats, we stick together? It would also paint you as a Chief who cares for his staff. Brek: Which isn't essentially good for my reputation among Ferengis, I might add. Dakarai: Unless you appropriate the riches that this scammer has amassed, for yourself. In which case you get the best of both worlds. ::That got Brek thinking, but he soon concluded that before long he would have half the Corps asking him to restitute the money that his dumb secretary had lost. Terrans aren't afraid of begging and they never know where to stop.:: Brek: ::He took the time to eat another biscuit, and then made up his mind.:: Right... I've got the perfect solution to this pathetic little issue: I'll ask my grandmother to deal with it. She is relentless when she believes in a cause and I feel sure that this case will be right up her street. Dakarai: Oh mon Dieu... your grandmother. I had forgotten about her. Brek: Oh mon Dieu all right. This means that if there are any complications in this affair, you and Evprak can deal with the old crone directly. I don't want to hear another word about it, is that clear? Dakarai: Oui mais, what if she... Brek: ::Getting up and heading for the doors, with his packet of biscuits.:: Time to move on, Ensign. We are going to visit the main Embassies. If we play it right, we might learn a few things here and there... The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can talk to my wearisome relative. tbc Lt Cmdr Brek Chief Diplomatic Officer SB118/USS Victory

((Dreamscape, Jaxx's Mind)) ::Standing in the bright white abyss, Jaxx looked at himself noticing he was wearing a silk Betazoid ceremonial robe. He was confused. There was nothing around him but light. He felt alone, not being able to see anything. He started walking, but quickly realized there was nowhere to go. The longer he walked, the more he was confronted with the same sight. Andrus felt lost, with no clear direction in mind. He became anxious as he realized he had no control over the situation. No matter how hard he tried, there was nothing he could sense. It was as if he were in a void that did not exist. After what seemed like hours, he finally stopped walking and sat on the ground. It had been years since he meditated. It was another part of his culture that was easier to neglect. Closing his eyes, he found it hard to center himself. There was no noise, no distractions...only light. After a few moments, he heard a voice.:: Saraa: ::in an angry tone:: What are you doing? ::Quickly, he opened his eyes. He looked around him in a panicked manner. Still, he could see nothing, feel nothing, sense nothing. He began taking deep breaths to enhance his level of calmness. A loud bang echoed around him. In an instance the light turned to darkness. Quickly jumping to his feet he began looking around once more.:: Saraa: ::in a voice from behind him:: You have forgotten? ::Quickly turning around, he expected to find someone. For the first time he could feel something other than the ground beneath him. A subtle breeze was flowing from what seemed like every direction. The air was warm and moist. Andrus could still sense no one. The vast existence that was now black, continued to house nothing. His emotions began to race. Was it her? How could she be there? Was he dying?:: Saraa: ::whispering:: Not yet... ::Turning around once more, he saw a shadow emerging from the darkness. The woman in front of his was an older reflection of the girl that died in his arms. He could not understand what was happening. He remembered his visit to the Mercury...returning to his quarters, but nothing afterward. He was flooded with questions that seemed more illogical than anything he had ever faced.:: Jaxx: Who are you? Saraa: Andy, you were never one for stupid questions....::coyly:: why start now? ::There was a slight gasp. He had not been called that in years. Even then, she was the only one that did. It was a sort of pet name that he allowed her to call him. The truth was, he hated his first name. Andrus was his fraternal grandfather's middle name. It was something that his parents thought was important. His brother Leton, was named after their maternal grandfather. His parents thought it was important to honor their memories. Jaxx watched the figure closely as it neared him.:: Jaxx: I find the question to be as valid as any other. ::shrugging:: I know very well who you look like, but since she is dead...you cannot be real. Therefore, you are either a figment of my imagination, or something else. ::The woman smirked slightly and folded her hands in front over her.:: Saraa: Something else will do for now. ::Jaxx felt as if he had no control whatsoever. He prided himself on his ability to command a situation. There was once when he was more docile, but the death of the woman appearing in front of him changed all that.:: Jaxx: Dammit, I want some answers! Saraa: ::snickering slightly:: Temper, temper. That is not the boy I once knew...he was so ::pausing:: carefree. Jaxx: ::rolling his eyes:: Things change, you for one should know that. ::Her death hit him hard. He was unable to stop it from happening, and her final breath was taken in his lap. They were betrothed, another great idea his parents had. He grew up with the girl and knew her well. As they matured, their parents thought genetic bonding would be the best course of action. She was the daughter of another house, and developing strong abilities. His mother, Bjenta, thought she was a prime candidate for introduction into their family. Back then, Jaxx did was he was told. He desperately wanted to do what was right for his family.:: Saraa: Life has a funny way of facilitating that change. So...I ask again. What are you doing? ::Jaxx looked at the woman quizzically. He was never one for mind games, and came to the realization that he was not in control. There was nothing he could do to change that fact. He stowed his anger, and shifted to his [...]y, sarcastic self.:: Jaxx: Apparently, I am standing here talking to the ghost of wars past. I figured you would have chains or something. Saraa: Well, that is a complete dramatization. Jaxx: ::laughing:: And you are not? ::tiling his head:: Tell me...what emotional response are you looking to illicit? ::The woman kept that smirk on her face as she began walking in a circle around him. He could hear her heals hitting the ground. It was the first time he could hear anything outside of her voice. It was growing hotter, and the air was slightly heavier with moisture.:: Saraa: Do not know...what is there? Jaxx: What is that supposed to mean? Saraa: Are you daft? Jaxx: I guess so...so how about you take a moment of your non-existence to explain it to me. ::shrugging:: I am obviously going nowhere, ::lowering his brows:: and I do like a good story. ::Jaxx kept spinning in one place as the woman did laps around him, slowly.:: Saraa: I die, and look at you! You have become a joke. Jaxx: I have actually been quite successful, thank you very much. Saraa: ::scoffing:: I forgot, captain sir...::giving a mocking salute:: That is not what I mean. You have never moved on. You have halfheartedly approached everything in your personal life since. So what? I died, Jazra died...it was WAR. What did you expect, uttaberries and sugar blossoms? ::Jaxx thought of the two women. He always felt guilty for falling for Jazra so quickly after the loss of Saraa. He tried over the years to justify what it was they shared. They were young, and he was grieving. Did he really use her to help get his mind off of Saraa? Or was it that she reminded him of Saraa so much? They were both among the strongest women he had never known.:: Saraa: Then Talon gets attacked and almost dies. As soon as that happened...BAM! You shut down emotionally. ::rolling her eyes:: Then there was the Morgan girl...do you have any idea how much she loved you? She knew that you were so unsure and so scared, ::raising her voice:: She was Betazoid! Did you think you could hide that from her? ::maniacally laughing:: Then there was the little Gideon...what was her name? Tressa? Way to screw that one up! Jaxx: Do not presume to know me! ::yelling:: You have no idea what I have been through! Saraa: Are you so certain about that? I know everything you are too afraid to admit to yourself! One of the most brilliant psychologists, and you are clueless when it comes to yourself. Your mighty career...does it keep you warm at night? Does it share your joy? Your fear? Your anger? ::leaning in and yelling:: NO! So, I will try again...::in a loud tone:: What...are...you...doing? ::Jaxx looked that the woman. He tried to wrap his head around what was going on. He could sense nothing from her, and felt at a disadvantage. What did she want from him? To talk about his personal life? It was irrelevant next to his career. He watched the woman and her expressions. It was as if she could sense every thought, even though he could not even sense her presence.:: Saraa: Your career is a pathetic replacement for love. You hated StarFleet! ::mocking his words as a teenager:: 'I will worry about Betazed, they can worry about everywhere else.' What happened to that, you sure seemed to join awfully quick. Jaxx: I finished school, and took a year off. Saraa: For your own form of retribution! What were you doing on Romulus? You ran right into the arms of the Federation and became their bloodhound! ::His eyes widened. His history between college and the Academy was classified, beyond StarFleet. He had never uttered a word about what he had done. It was not something he cared to remember. Those were different times, and he was still raging over the memories of the war.:: Saraa: Then you join the Academy, become an officer and you have never looked back. Offering up any personal joy as a sacrifice to the mighty pip! Jaxx: ::raising his voice:: You have no idea what you are talking about! ::In a moment, the woman morphed into the likeness of Sidney. His eyes widened slightly at the unexpected shift. A different flood of emotions began to surface. He recalled the night before, and the sleeping woman he left in his bed that morning. He centered himself and looked at the figure in front of him.:: Saraa(Sidney): And how long until you push me away? A month? Three? What is another broken heart? If you cared at all, you would end it now! We both know you are incapable of being happy. You still cling to all the pain in your past, and you use it as a scapegoat to seclude your feelings. Jaxx: ::shaking his head:: That is not true. I did all I could! ::Once again, she morphed into the likeness of Jazra.:: Saraa(Jazra): ::rolling her eyes:: Did you? It seems like the bare minimum is all you could muster. How long did it take you to see someone after I died? Six years? Eight? Jaxx: ::quietly:: Ten. ::The woman morphed into the likeness of Saraa once more. She stopped walking in he circles and stopped. She walked toward him and softly touched his face. The feeling of her skin was cold. He did not pull away, as there was no fear within him.:: Saraa: Why? You keep pushing them all away..what are you doing? Jaxx: I am not... ::Before he could finish his sentence the woman morphed once again into a copy of Jaxx in his uniform. Taking a step back, he looked at that man in front of him. The only thing he could sense was his own feelings. The man employed the same [...]y grin Jaxx had trademarked over the years.:: Saraa(Jaxx): What am I doing? ::Thinking for a moment, Jaxx looked at himself. He took a second to relieve everything in the past. It was all true. He was using his starship to run away from the very thing he could never escape...himself. Inside, he was still that boy fighting a man's war. The scars had never healed, and as soon as he was reminded of how great life could be...he shut down. For the fist time, he was able to identify the problem. Fixing it was another story altogether. Looking at himself, he finally had an answer...even though it was not much.:: Jaxx: I do not know, but I intend to find out...and fix it. ::The darkness deepened and once again there was nothing. The light, the voices...it was all gone and there was nothing there to replace it. He was unable to continue with his train of thought, but mentally he found himself reaching out...with nothing in sight. The darkness was all he knew, and all he could know.:: TBC Captain Andrus Jaxx Commanding Officer USS Apollo, NCC-71669 Captains Council Magistrate