Chapter 2

Lieutenant Aria Mahoney sighed. "Remind me why we're doing this again?"

"You lost a bet to Nog," Ensign Thirishar ch'Thane said sternly. "What were you thinking challenging him to a Damjot match?"

"How was I supposed to know he won the championship three years ago?"

"You should have asked before you said that we would spend an hour in Vic Fontaine's Lounge if he won."

Aria coughed as one of the holograms blew smoke in her face. "I never knew Nog had such a mean streak in him."

Thirishar, or Shar as he preferred to be called, shrugged. "At least he did not make us wear the costumes designed for this time period."

"Speak for yourself."

Shar winced on Aria's behalf. "How bad was it?"

"It was covered in sequins and showed enough cleavage that it would embarrass an Orion slave girl." Aria glanced over to where Nog was chatting with Vic and the band. "I'm getting out of here. You coming?"

"But we promised Nog…"

"Hey, if you want to spend the next hour in here, be my guest." Pushing through the throngs of holographic people, Aria left the holosuite. After a moment's hesitation, Shar followed.

"How are you going to explain this to Nog?" Shar asked Aria as they walked through Quark's.

Aria shrugged. "I'll set him up with a Dabo girl or something. He'll get over it."

The two friends strolled through the Promenade, chatting. "When does the new head of Starfleet Security get here?" Shar asked.

"Day after tomorrow."

"That's the third one this year!"

"Odo has a gift for scaring people off."

"Why doesn't Sisko make you head of security? You know the station, and Odo actually likes you."

Aria let out a bitter laugh. "The day Sisko promotes me is the day the Borg learn to love."

"I think you are underestimating yourself."

"Let it go, Shar. I'm not the kind of person who should be in charge of others."

A new voice sounded behind them. "You would have us marching to our graves in a week." Aria and Shar turned to see a Starfleet Commander with dark hair standing there, a knowing smirk on his face.

"David!" Aria cried. She embraced the Commander, and he gave her a kiss on the cheek before releasing her. When Aria noticed Shar staring, she introduced him. "Shar, this is Commander David Chambers, first officer on the Avenger. David, this is Ensign ch'Thane, our science officer."

Chambers gave Shar a curt nod before turning back to Aria. "Do you have any plans tonight?"

Aria smiled coyly. "Not at the moment. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I believe I promised you a tour of the Avenger the last time I was here."

Aria pretended to consider Chambers' offer. "Doesn't sound too interesting. Got anything more fun in mind?"

"I'll let you find that out for yourself."

Grinning, Aria took Chambers' arm. "I'll see you later, Shar," she said as he led her away.

"Goodbye," Shar called, but he was too later; Aria was already gone.

Shar scratched the base of one of his antennae, not sure why he felt so irritated at the arrival of Commander Chambers. Aria had gone out with him before, but she told him and Nog that they weren't in a relationship. It looked like she changed her mind, though. Shar supposed that he shouldn't be too surprised by her wanting to spend time with other people; she normally just hung out with him and Nog. Still, it bothered him that she was interested in Chambers; he couldn't explain why. Maybe he had just gotten used to having her around all the time. That had to be it.

"Shar!" Nog stormed across the Promenade, still wearing his tuxedo. "You ditched me!"

"It was Ari's idea." Shar gave Aria that nickname not long after he met her. He wasn't sure why he did, but Aria seemed to like it.

"Where is she?"

"She's on a date with Commander Chambers."

"Oh. He's back on the station?"

"It would appear so."

Nog shrugged. "I'll get her back later, then. You, on the other hand, still owe me an hour in the holosuite."

"Come on, Nog," Shar pleaded. "Just let it go; Ari and I don't holosuites like you do."

"You lost a bet, and now you must pay!"

"Ari lost the bet!"

"True, but you still owe me for fixing your quantum microscope."

"You were ordered to do that!"

"Details, details. Now, come on; I told Vic we would listen to him as he practiced for his next set."

As Nog dragged him back to the holosuites, Shar couldn't help but wonder if having friends was really worth all the trouble.

Sisko glanced up at Ezri, who was concentrating on the chessboard between them. "It's your move, old man."

"I know; I'm thinking."

"You used to be able to beat me at this game with your eyes shut."

"I'm trying to rely less on the experiences of my past hosts. I want to be able to contribute to the Dax symbiant, not just live out the lives of the other hosts."

Sisko watched as Ezri took her turn. "Is that why you suddenly wanted to play chess?"

"That, and I had nothing better to do."

Chuckling, Sisko changed the subject. "I read your report on the Kazelons. Do you really think the Federation should postpone their plans for further contact?"

"They were scared of us, Ben, and I can't really blame them. They should be given time to recover before we think of sending more people there."

Sisko nodded, capturing one of Ezri's remaining pawns with his bishop. "I'll pass your recommendation on to Starfleet."

"Thanks. So, what did I miss while I was away? How's Rebecca doing?" Benjamin and Kasidy's daughter had been born a few months after Ezri and Julian's wedding.

"She's standing up on her own now. Shouldn't be long before she starts walking."

"Just you wait; she'll be piloting a starship before you know it." Ezri took a closer look at Sisko's face. "You don't look too good, Ben."

Sisko rubbed his face. "I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in weeks."

"What you need is a vacation." When Sisko laughed, Ezri insisted. "I'm serious! Take Kasidy down to Bajor for a few days; spend some time in your new house. You could even visit Jake! He's still staying in the capital, isn't he?"

Sisko consider it, but then shook his head. "No, Rebecca doesn't deal with travel very well."

"Julian and I can watch her."

"Are you sure?"

"I think we can handle a ten-month-old. Check," she added.

Sisko sighed. "I'll ask Kasidy if she wants to."

"She'll say yes."

Sisko paused, watching Ezri suspiciously. "She put you up to this, didn't she?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ezri retorted lightly.

"You've gotten sneakier, old man. All right, we'll take a small vacation. Checkmate."

Ezri stared at the board in disbelief. "What… how?"

"You should've used some of that past experience. Are you sure Julian won't mind watching Rebecca?"

"He'll be fine. What's the worst that could happen?"

Ezri and Julian babysitting? Should be interesting. Hope you guys were happy to see Aria, Nog, and Shar again. I love writing those three, especially if I'm being mean to Shar. Review for a chess set! I don't have anything better to offer you, sorry.