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

"Precious Moments" Pt. 1

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

Ens. Marcus Slayton
Engineer, USS Galaxy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Agreed." She replied, then smiled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Who?" Anna asked, curious now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Not Dead Afterall"

Principal Characters

Lt. Ella Grey
Lt (JG) Victor Krieghoff

****

Trill
Akula Impact Zone
Sector Seven

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

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

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

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

****

Trill
Akula Impact Zone
Approaching Sector Seven

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

****

Trill
Akula Impact Zone
Sector Seven

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

His eyes were for the dead.

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

She stood up and calmly started to walk towards him.

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

Knock that off, Ella, she told herself sternly.

But she couldn’t seem to.

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

It wasn’t Victor that turned around.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~~Who?~~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~~What do you do?~~

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

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

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

Then again maybe Victor wouldn't care.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ella raised a tired eyebrow.

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

~~The Trill?~~

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

~~Thank you.~~ She signed.

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

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

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

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

~~Where the hell have you been?~~

“Away.”

~~Elaborate.~~ Ella signed, cranky.

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

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

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

And that did it.

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

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

"If WHAT'S what I want?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"No, I suppose she wouldn't."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineer

Ens Branwen London

Saia Juis (APC)

LOCATION: Nara and Bran's Quarters

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

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

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

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

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

"But I am."

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

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

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

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

"Hello there." She said gently.

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

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

Saia smiled politely, "Nice to meet you."

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

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

"Can I have a look?" Branwen asked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

***Moments Later In 10-4Ward

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

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

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

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

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

Nara nodded, "Of course not."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nara smiled, "I will."

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

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

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

"Five More Minutes"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineering

Saia Juis (APC)

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

"Saia."

She pulled to covers tighter and turned over.

"Saia!"

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

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

"Saia, come on."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saia cross her arms, "I do."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"No," came the grumpy reply.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They were soon walking down the corridor.

"Normal Days Are Here Again"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineer

Ensign Mei Sime (NPC)

LOCATION: Main Engineering

Nara stared at the console. As usual.

Mei stood beside her doing the same. As usual.

George wasn't there. As finally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Detention for Creatives"

Saia & Sam (APCs)

LOCATION: USS Galaxy School Suite

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maybe you could do my illustrations!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Smells So Good You Woke The Dead "

Nara & Miramon

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

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

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

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

"Come in!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Frail The Principle"

Lt. (jg) Naranda Sol Roswell, Engineer

Saia Juis (APC)

LOCATION: Corridor

"Saia?"

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

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

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

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

"In the arboretum."

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

Frail the principle.

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

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

"Fury"

Principal Characters

Cpt. Daren M'Kantu

Commanding Officer, USS Galaxy

1Lt. T'Shani Akledorian

Commanding Officer, SFMC Furies

****

USS Galaxy
Turbolift 4
En route to Main Bridge

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Obviously, she wasn't familiar with Marine ranks.

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

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

"*Akledorian*," Tish corrected.

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

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

****

USS Galaxy
Deck 1
Captain's Ready Room

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Understood, Captain."

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

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

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

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

HERETICS

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

"Milk Run" - Part 1

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

****

Main Bridge,
Deck 1,
USS Galaxy

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

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

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

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

"Come in, Number One."

Nodding to himself, he stepped into the ready room.

****

Captain's Ready Room,
Deck 1,
USS Galaxy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Flight Control?"

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

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

[Aye, sir.]

"Ms. Tarin."

[Aye, sir?]

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

[Aye, sir. Orders dispatched.]

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

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

"Gimme My Blade Back"

Commander Cassius Henderson
Executive Officer, USS Galaxy

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

with... Lieutenant JG Rima Pennington, Tactical Officer

****

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

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

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

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

****

Commander Henderson's Quarters,
Deck 8,
USS Galaxy

The lights were off.

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

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

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

Usually the reports were fairly bland.

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

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

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

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

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

"Quiet."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Where else would you go?"

"True."

****

Outside Commander Henderson's Quarters

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

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

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

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

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

"Why Men are Stupid"

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

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

== Ten-Forward ==

<Moments after "Gimme My Blade Back">

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

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

*SWISH*

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tish finished sipping her drink, thought a moment, then replied, "Men are so stupid, Jazz. You think they'd be happy to see you again, after months and months of being gone, but they just are like," she changed her face to look very serious, " 'Oh, it is you, what are you doing back here', ya know? No 'I'm glad to see you again', o