A/N: And I'm back. I have to apologize. I was not happy with the way this chapter was written. At all. So I started it over, advancing the story forward a bit and have some character interaction. I'm ashamed that this happened and hope it doesn't happen again. I hope you all find this rendition "agreeable" or "fascinating" as T'Pol is fond of saying as well.
Thanks to Madam, CajunBear73, and lelcar for the reviews. Lelcar particularly for his insight. I hope this rendition captures your suggestion. I'd appreciate any more advice you can give. That goes for everyone. I am a very green writer and want any suggestions that will help me improve.
I don't own Kim Possible or Star Trek. If I did, then I would have made more Evil Ron Episodes and more Mirror Episodes of our favorite Terran Empire.
On with a renewed Story.
Kim Possible and the Jackal: The Omicron Frontier
ACT I – PART I
Commander's Personal Log Stardate 41222.30. This will be my last log entry aboard Deep Space Nine. While I have enjoyed the hospitality of the station and its senior officers, I am eager for the arrival of my new assignment. It will not only offer me great opportunities to develop my abilities as First Officer, but also my tolerance and patience concerned with my new captain. He was insufferable during the Akira Project. Maybe now that he's in charge of his own ship, he'll mellow out a bit. Hah! Yeah right!
-KP-RS-
Commander Kim Possible reported to Operations of Deep Space Nine for the last time.
As the main turbo lift brought the central hub of the station into view, the Commander was greeted by smiling faces from all around. During her short stay aboard the station during the interlude of her assignments, she was able to become acquainted and familiar with all senior personal aboard the station. While she made great strides toward all the senior staff, she became most familiar and close with Lieutenant Jadzia Dax.
It was Dax that Kim approached first. "Morning Jadzia."
"Well good morning to you too Kim." Dax grinned back. Kim always liked the fact that Jadzia never concerned herself about Kim's rank and the proper attitude and respect that it required. Perhaps it was due to the bond between Science and Electronic Forensics and Warfare (SEFWAR) Officers. After all, respect and camaraderie between the blue shirts was more based on skill and abilities, not rank and seniority like Command Officers. They were both equally brilliant, successful, and highly accomplished scientists and tacticians within their own departments so they viewed each other as equals, despite the rank differences.
It may also have to do with the fact that Jadzia Dax was a joined Trill, with over three hundred years of experience and prestige beneath her belt. It made someone in her position care not for rank and decorum that Starfleet unintentionally exhibits, and it suited Commander Possible just fine. With only one other Commander aboard the station who has his own personal life of a kid, kid's Ferengi-troublemaking best friend, freighter captain girlfriend, and side job of Emissary of the Prophets, Kim was actually glad the Trill was aboard. She would have been very lonely during her interlude.
"Hey Jadzia, after I make my final report to Commander Sisko, want to head over to Quark's for a last morning breakfast?" Kim asked, already knowing the answer.
Still, Dax actually had to audacity to play with her for a bit. "I don't know, I am kinda busy this morning, and besides," she leaned forward in a conspiratorial way and whispered, "I'm still trying to get Kira to join me on a date with Captain Boday. Should take all day." She shrugged nonchalantly.
"She still won't give him a chance?" Kim asked.
"Nope. But I won't give up until she does. He can be good for her. He can help her let off a little steam, if you know what I mean?" Jadzia winked at a grinning Kim.
"I'm sure you've had firsthand experience with that, haven't you?" Kim leered back.
"I admit nothing, thank you very much." Jadzia shot back, but with just a hint of a blush. Kim was tactful enough to not comment on it.
Kim smirked back and shook her head. Dax was still trying to get Kira and Boday together. While Kim herself found him charming and respectful, she didn't pursue anything beyond friendship due to differences in rank. Even his transparent skull didn't bother her. SEFWAR Officers after all respect and admire a large and strong brain. Still, Kim knew when she was being sidetracked and stirred the conversation back on course.
"You know, I can order you to join me for breakfast." Kim joked.
"Seeing as how we agreed that rank would have no standing between us, I find your argument illogical." Dax shot back with her trademark smirk.
Kim groaned in frustration. "Uhh. Please don't start with the whole logical argument. I'm going to have to spend my entire assignment listening to Captain Logic. I'd rather put off having to deal with those arguments for the time being."
"You're going to have to deal with 'Captain Logic' and 'those arguments' soon enough. You might as well practice with a friendly face. At least I won't comment on your destructive emotions."
"You know you have those emotions too. More so in fact, especially with Curzon's memories."
"Hey," Dax blanched in mock offence, "Curzon worked hard to develop those emotions. You don't get to become one of the most respectable Ambassadors to the Klingon Empire without that skill."
"I doubt Captain V'Du would see that as a skill, Jadzia. More likely he'd see it as a liability. 'Further proof of Vulcan Superiority over the lesser and undeveloped emotionally-led beings' as he would say."
"Well," Jadzia said as she put on her best contemplating expression that nearly made Kim laugh, "I guess I'd better introduce myself and show him the benefits of having an 'emotionally-led' life. I could torture him with my charms." She winked.
"You tell her Old Man." Came a deep voice from the top of Ops.
Like two young kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar, they both swiveled around to the other Commander aboard the station. Commander Benjamin Sisko was observing the two SEFWAR Officers with an amused look. Kim wondered how long he been standing there.
Commander Sisko continued. "If you two ladies are done gossiping, I will see you now Commander Possible."
Kim blushed a bright red. "Sorry about that Commander, I kinda lost track of time." Kim realized that despite her equal rank with Sisko, her lack of an active command justified her reply. Besides, Kim knew that under that affable and understanding look was a serious and devoted Starfleet officer that took duty and loyalty to unprecedented levels. If anyone ever betrayed that trust, she was absolute certain they'd regret it, most likely to the bitter end.
"I'm ready when you are Commander." Kim added.
"Then let's get moving, Commander." Sisko responded, with a twinklw in his eye.
"Good luck," Jadzia whispered facetiously. Kim rolled her eyes before joining Sisko in his office.
After the doors closed behind Commander Possible, Sisko took his seat behind his main desk, with his trademark baseball sitting majestically on the side and a plethora of various PADDs surrounding the poor leader of the Federation's most prized outpost. Still, at this moment in time, his gaze and attention was focused on the slightly nervous Commander standing at near painful attention as if her life depended on it.
"For goodness sake Kim, stand at ease and take a seat before you hurt yourself." Sisko exasperated.
Kim, almost reluctantly, complied. When she first met him at the end of her previous assignment, she nearly gasped in astonishment at the relaxed reception she received from Commander Sisko during her first report. She was a SEFWAR Officer in-between assignments, while he was a Command Officer of DS9 and quickly becoming legend throughout the Quadrant for his tactful strong-arm diplomacy. To be addressed as equals was something short of amazement. She still hadn't gotten used to it.
"Kim, how many more times am I going to have to ask you to call me Benjamin while aboard my station?" Sisko inquired his guest.
"At least once more sir." Kim crisply replied.
"Well, seeing as how this is your last day here, I guess that's all I'm going to get." Sisko half-muttered to himself.
Kim was barely capable of suppressing a grin at that quip. She knew she could be free to express herself around the commander if she wished, and she so wanted to, but unfortunately growing up with less-than-supportful parents and an ever demanding "food chain" had imprinted a sense of subservience within her psyche, something that while non-existent around friends, equals, and subordinates, was painfully obvious to anyone she considered her superior. She wondered how Sisko would respond to that knowledge. Unfortunately, the resulting mental image proved too much, and she did crack a smile, something that Sisko immediately grasped.
"Gotcha! I knew that you could smile around me. You shouldn't be afraid to show that side to me. I actually kind of prefer it to this stiff Starfleet Officer I normally greet." Sisko was almost beaming with pride at his accomplishment.
"Are you serious…B-Benjamin?" The word sounded foreign, but pleasing to the SEFWAR Officer.
At the hearing of his own name, his smile threatened to rival that of a Denobulan's. "You damn right I do. Most Starfleet Captains would agree with me. Stiff and professional are good during a combat situation, Kim, but Captains need an XO who they can talk to and bounce ideas off of, not just another yes man, or in your case, woman." Sisko added.
She had heard it all before, mostly from her old CO aboard the USS Majestic, but hearing it from a larger than life figure of Benjamin Sisko, who, damn him, had a reassuring smile on his face, increased the validity of the observation. Because of this, she was able to grace Sisko with an accepting smile that seemed to light up the room.
"Now that's more like it. Pretty soon you'll be able to do the same to that 'Captain Logic' I overheard."
At the mention of her future XO's unofficial nickname, Kim's fledging smile vanished and was replaced by a look of apprehension. "Somehow, I doubt that Captain V'Du would appreciate my opinion regarding ship and personnel operations."
"He's going to have to if he wants to run an effective ship. A captain can't handle everything himself, even a Vulcan, and as a Starfleet Officer, you're going to have to remind him of that every day."
"I understand, Benjamin, but it will be difficult." Kim meekly replied.
Sisko must have recognized the knowing look on her face and sound in her voice due to his next question. "Are you more familiar with the Captain than what is recorded in the personnel files?"
Kim paused for a moment. Should I answer that? Will he think of me less for it? I sure do. V'Du sure does. Ahhh! Come on Kim, pull yourself together! He's here to help. Tell him. Maybe he can offer more advice. Realizing that Sisko was looking more concerned by the minute, she took a leap of faith. "Yes Benjamin. We go as far back as the Academy, and it was not a pleasant experience."
She then proceeded to tell Sisko of how she was first paired with a Red Squad Cadet named V'Du as part of the standard mentoring program. Kim then proceeded to inform him how instead of offering advice, expertise, and assistance with her classes, assignments, and exercises, he would spend every waking moment criticizing her emotionally driven mind and reckless human attitude while systematically downplaying her achievements and successes to the probability equivalent of luck. She explained that by time V'Du graduated from the Academy, Kim had suffered almost two years of emotional and psychological damage to her confidence. Kim's face was ashen when she told Sisko that she herself barely graduated as a Command Officer in Piloting.
While she was explaining her history, Kim noticed that Sisko's face was becoming darker and his expression more grim and fiery with every word. When she finished, she noticed the barely contained fury in his deceptively calm voice. "Why didn't you report him to the Academy Disciplinary Board (ADB)?"
Kim shook her head in resignation. "And what would happen? He was their 'Top Cadet' and 'Top Graduate.' They would never believe the word of an academic-borderline and isolated cadet to that amount of prestige and honor. Besides," she added, "you know as well as I do that it's almost religiously required for senior cadets to pressure and haze the freshman and junior cadets. You know, to 'build character.'
"If I went to the ADB, they would've thought I was just another weak and useless cadet who couldn't take what they saw as constructive criticism. Knowing my luck, I would have most likely been kicked out of the Academy for attempted slander against one of their most successful and respectful graduates."
Kim felt emotionally drained after finally revealing the difficulties she faced at the Academy, so she was grateful, yet surprised, when Sisko's hands were placed on her shoulders in a soothing and reassuring gesture, almost as if in understanding. "I can see how that reasoning could be accepted from your point of view Kim, but know this: the ADB would have investigated your report in full seriousness. That's what they're there for after all. If they detected any foul play from V'Du, they would have expelled him from the Academy and offered their fullest apologies to you for allowing that behavior to go around unpunished.
"Furthermore, now that this has been brought to my attention, I would like to pass this along to Starfleet Internal Affairs for investigation." Kim was then filled with shock and horror at that announcement. It must have shown, because he quickly added, "With your permission of course; otherwise, this will remain confidential."
Kim initial instinct was to refuse that offer. Despite what Sisko said otherwise, Kim was still adamant that she did act weak and brittle when she considered going before the ADB. She spent the next 15 years meticulously building an iron-skin towards criticism and constructing the militant and professional façade that she showed towards her superior officers. She was a firm believer of junior hazing, though she never applied that philosophy towards her own subordinates. It was the Order of Things. Who was she to challenge that?
The reason was for hesitation however was for a different reason. "Commander, I'm confused. Why would want to investigate something that happened over 15 years ago? The damage has been done and I've moved on from it, what is there to be done?"
Sisko removed his hands from her shoulders and crossed his arms while leaning back on the table. "Because from what I've seen, there is still some lingering damage. For instance, the way you subconsciously went back to addressing me as 'Commander' or 'sir.' He needs to be held accountable for what he's done.
"Also, based on what you've told me, it sounds like V'Du's conceptions of Vulcan superiority may not just have been limited to you. Who knows how many junior officers he's damaged throughout his career? How many officers or crewmen have resigned or quit do to his cutting remarks and snide comments? No Kim, I'm not doing this just for you, but for all the other officers or field-training cadets who had the misfortune to be placed under his command."
At that perspective, Kim realized that this was much bigger than her own personal problems. Now she was worried about the moral-state of her new assignment. They were going to a hostile frontier in the Gamma Quadrant, a situation that required every crewman, officer, and marine to be at their best, but with someone like V'Du as the captain, someone who took every waking moment to point out non-existent emotional fallacies due to a racist attitude, they would be more at risk from themselves rather than from the outside.
She knew her answer.
"Very well Commander…Benjamin. I accept your offer. Not for myself, but for my crew. We need a Captain that the crew can look up to and fight their hardest for. Based on my experiences, that isn't V'Du of Vulcan."
Sisko nodded solemnly, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. "Very well Kim. I pass along the information to Internal Affairs. I'll make sure they keep it discreet and keep your name out of it, but in the mean time, you are going to have take care of the Jackal and its crew during the investigation. That means being an insulator for V'Du's arrogance. While it will undoubtedly strain your impressive professional façade, it will inspire confidence for the crew, as well as their loyalty towards you. It will help you should you have to make that difficult decision."
Kim knew exactly what Sisko was talking about. It was the word that all Captains feared, a word that not only puts them in extreme danger from their very own crew, but also shows just how ineffective they are as a Captain. Kim was again shocked that Sisko would even suggest such an action.
"I don't have to remind you how important the USS Jackal is to Starfleet, do I?" Sisko asked in dead seriousness.
He didn't have to. Kim knew the Jackal was the first-in-line for a new deep space tactical vessel that takes full advantage of the Akira-Class Hull. Created specifically for the Gamma Quadrant and the Borg, the Jackal will hopefully be the first of many vessels to stand alongside her already proven Defiant-Class sisters of a modern Re-militarized Starfleet. Wolf 359 would never happen again.
But Kim recognized that all depended on the crew capability of the Jackal. She would set precedent for all future vessels along her registry, and if the Jackal's crew were being hindered and restricted by an inflexible and sadistic Captain, it could jeopardize the whole project and the very success of Starfleet to adequately address and defend the Federation. Yes, Kim knew what was expected of her.
"No sir." Kim replied, now back to full attention.
Sisko nodded, confident that his message was acknowledged. "If I remember from earlier, you said that you graduated as a Command Officer. A pilot, yes? Yet I clearly see you in SEFWAR blue. I'm assuming that's a good story?"
Thankful for the change in topic, Kim relaxed and even let loose a warm smile in fond of those memories. "Indeed it is Ben, and it's all thanks to a gruff Andorian named They'lik Barkin."
Kim was glad that she was able to surprise Sisko if his widen eyes were anything to go by. "You mean the same Barkin who is now Theatre Commander for the entire Gamma Quadrant?"
Kim smirked, "the one and the same. Although at the time, he was merely Captain of the Majestic, one of the old Miranda-Classes."
Sisko, now back behind his desk, leaned back in his chair with awe. "Wow, and he was the one who saw your true potential in Science and Technology?"
"Yup. He noticed how I preferred to be behind the survey console instead of the helm of a shuttlecraft, or how I preferred generating photonic and phaser trajectory patterns instead of flight paths for my Talon Fighter wing."
"I bet they thought you were wearing the wrong uniform." Sisko joked.
"It actually got that bad. I knew the name of every officer and crewmen within the SEFWAR Department of the Majestic, yet not a single pilot or other Command Officer." Kim laughed.
"So when did our illustrious Theatre-Commander decided to make the switch official?" Sisko smirked.
"After I beat his Chief Science Officer, a Vulcan sixty years my senior ironically, at Kal-Toh." Kim smirked back. "After that, he finally decided that my talents would be put to better use, so he promoted me and transferred me to the department."
"He always could sense potential a light-year away. Must be those antennae."
"I'll be sure to let him know you're on to him, Benjamin." Kim noted Sisko's gawked expression and instantly lost it and laughed uncontrollably for a minute.
They spent the next thirty minutes reminiscing about old times at junior crewmen. Lieutenant Dax even joined them when she realized that her breakfast date was missing. It was pleasantly shocking to all three of them how similar the path of their careers took and the lessons they learned from it. They were on their fifth story when Major Kira COMMed.
"Yes Major, what can we do for you," Sisko asked with a smile amidst the laughter.
"Sorry to disturb you Commander, but I have a PRIORITY Message from the USS Jackal. They're demanding that Commander Possible report to the hanger bay for transportation aboard." Kim could hear the anger in Kira's voice at the message.
Sisko seemed to be of similar opinion based on his response. "Thank you Major. Inform the Jackal that station protocol dictates that all Starfleet vessels must dock to transfer personnel. Also, inform the Captain that he is to personally great his new XO at the docking port as per Starfleet Regulation 365.25a."
"Understood sir, Kira out." Kim could almost hear the evil smirk in her voice.
"Ladies, shall we join the rest of the crew at Ops?" Commander Sisko asked as he rose for the door.
Joining them at Ops, Kim overheard the Jackal acknowledging the command. "Major, which docking ring are they cleared for?"
Kira looked at the console. "Docking Ring 3 Commander Possible."
Nodding, she then asked, "Would you display that port on the view-screen, please?"
"Of course Commander."
As all heads in Ops now turned toward the empty screen, they all watched in pride as Starfleet's new modern warship decloaked and docked at the ring with accurate precision. She couldn't attest for the rest of the station crew, but Kim always loved watching Starfleet ships decloaking. It gave her a sense of nationalistic pride at how the fledgling Federation defeated the Romulan Star Empire in their first war, forcing them to surrender their precious cloaking technology as part of the Treaty of Algeron.
"It always warms my heart to see a new Starfleet ship decloak." Chief Miles O'Brien commented.
"Especially if you get to tinker and mess around with the cloaking device on the first of its class." Jadzia added, wiggling her eyebrows at the Jackal's new XO and Chief SEWAR Officer.
"Indeed." Kim shot back. "Indeed."
"Sir," Major Kira addressed Sisko, "the Jackal has completed docking procedures and Captain V'Du is again demanding that you greet him at the docking port."
Sisko rolled his eyes and turned towards Kim and Dax. "There he goes on demanding again. Well Commander Possible, shall we greet his Excellency?" Kim rolled her own eyes and nodded. Sisko then turned, "Dax, you joining us?"
"Oh, you can't stop me from missing this. Besides, something tells me that you just might need a diplomat."
As Jadzia fell into step behind her Commander and friend, Kim whispered, "I don't think V'Du will be too happy with an Ambassador of Klingon expertise."
"Too bad… for him." Jadzia smirked. Her expression became cold all of a sudden. "Also, even though Benjamin is the Commander of the Station, V'Du still outranks him. I'm here to temper the scales. Right Benjamin?"
"Exactly Old-Man." Sisko responded, in the same deep cold voice, without looking back. Kim then realized he was indeed talking to Curzon right now. Curzon will keep V'Du from undermining Sisko's authority while on the station. Crew Morale demanded it.
In a few minutes, the collected gang of leader, ambassador, and guest arrived at the docking port of Tower Three. There were still a few docking procedures still taking place, so Kim took the time to mentally brace herself and place the protective mental armor around her mind. This time, when she faced V'Du, she would be a bastion of calm, detached professionalism.
She would Out Vulcan the Vulcan.
Finally, the last mechanism set itself in place, and the gear-like doors swung open from each side. Out of the opening, two men walked out the airlock. They were both around the same height and carried the same professional authority. For one, it was simply his annoying character stance, a stance that Kim would have to deal with for the remainder of her tenure aboard the Jackal. The other, dressed in stellar-gray camos and sporting close crop-cut sandy-blonde hair, carried his militant stance purely due to his genetic purging. He would most likely be as emotionally rigid as her new CO, but Kim didn't know if he would flout his detached mindset around like the Vulcan.
Before Kim could properly report herself to him, Captain V'Du of Vulcan turned his slightly upturned nose towards Commander Sisko, and addressed him in a calm but steel-cold voice. "Starfleet Protocol 86.7.530 Subparagraph 9 states that all junior officers must great their superiors with a salute." Kim swore she heard V'Du stress superior, though she knew he would never admit it.
Kim saw Sisko began to seethe, his nostrils flaring ever so slightly, but managed to repress his anger and presented V'Du with the crispest salute she had ever seen. It looked as if it could cut through steel, but she suspected he'd settle for a green-blooded narcissist. When V'Du turned his blank eyes toward herself, she also knocked off a salute, not giving him any ammo to use against her. Not now at least.
When his piercing gaze fell upon Lieutenant Dax, instead of a salute she just glared at him. He raised an eyebrow in response. "Lieutenant, are you not a member of Starfleet High Command?" He asked in a dispassionate tone.
"Indeed I am, Captain." She replied in the same format, never breaking gaze.
"And are you familiar with protocol?" He continued, and Kim could tell he looked eager to reprimand the SEFWAR Officer.
"Don't tell me you already forgot it already? I thought Vulcans had a superior memory, much more superior than us lowly emotional beings." Jadzia responded sardonically. Kim's mouth dropped a bit in shock. Sisko could care less and let out a gawk of laughter. V'Du's Marine Commander even let out a small smirk. Kim liked him immediately.
"V'Du on his part, just stared at Dax with his lofty eyes quickly filled with a rage that he quickly suppressed. Kim smiled inwardly at Jadzia's victory and prayed that she wouldn't be booted out of Starfleet for her insubordinate remark. "You dare mock your superior with an emotional response?" He calmly asked. "It seems my hypothesis regarding other Non-Vulcans has just become more viable. Fascinating."
Jadzia then sneered back maliciously at her opponent. "For the record, you are not my superior, both professionally and biologically. Commander Sisko is my superior in regards to regulations, and no-one is my equal in terms of species. I carry eight lifetimes within me, all who have lived spectacular and glorious lives, something that you have yet to experience in your one life. So if anything, you should be saluting me."
V'Du raised his eyebrow again. "Vulcans do need the drug of 'spectacular' or 'glorious' lives. Logic leads us to personal perfection. Without it, we would still be just as barbaric and primitive as you."
"Only a Vulcan would claim logic without emotion as perfection." Jadzia shot back. Kim detected a Klingonish growl imbued in her words.
"I'll let my career speak for itself." V'Du raised his nose and turned towards Kim, apparently considered the matter closed. Kim saw Jadzia prepare another cutting-retort, but relented after a look from Sisko. V'Du didn't seem to notice. He was focusing on his new XO.
"Commander Kimbrelika Possible. Age 35. Graduated Starfleet Academy, minimal marks, in Command piloting. Assigned USS Majestic, low-key planetary survey ship desperate for any pilots they could acquire, and expected to fall into obscurity. During tenure aboard, discovered to possess a mind intelligently geared towards Science and Electronic Forensics and Warfare. Promoted and Reassigned.
After tenure aboard Majestic, transferred back to the Academy for further education. Received three doctorates in Stellar Mechanics, Electromagnetic Warfare, and Sensor Forensics. Promoted and transferred to Utopia Planetia Fleet Yards after the Massacre of Wolf 359. Assisted in the Defiant Project, with focus on EM Interference and Particle Disruption. Success in both areas led to commendation and assignment as SEFWAR Department Head of the Akira Project. Also a success. Received commendation, promotion, and reassignment to its first prototype: USS Jackal.
V'Du catalogued Kim's career as if reading from a shopping list. She wondered if he was impressed at how far she had come after his brutal mentoring during her early years. "And they made you my First Officer. Disappointing." Nope, he was not.
Kim felt a need to defend herself at his accusation. "High Command believes that my command skills cultivated during my tenure at Utopia Planetia are adequate to act as your First Officer. I have the ability to command, even if it's not in the environment that I'm used to." She replied in iron professionalism.
"That remains to be seen. Command of a starship, let alone a tactical one, is much more difficult than a comfortable desk job. Especially with your emotional needs I might add. Wouldn't you agree Commander Sisko?" V'Du turned towards the Station Commander.
Kim found herself smiling, despite herself, at his response. "I agree that the two commands are far different, each with different challenges and duties, but there also benefits that Commander Possible's previous assignments can bring aboard your ship, not to mention that there is always a chance to learn new skills. Something that I believe Commander Possible is quite capable of doing."
V'Du nodded. "A logical response." Then he stared straight at Sisko, "but flawed. While she may be capable of learning those skills, there is still a bridge of time between her current incompetence and adequate mastery. I believe, that based on my previous history with the Commander, it will be a long bridge indeed."
Those words struck a chink in Kim's armor. How dare he use his tormenting and humiliating mentorship against her abilities. Every move she made, every accomplishment she achieved, every victory she gained in his eyes would always be referred and compared back to those miserable two years. So long as V'Du was her CO, he would never allow her to move past her beginnings. They weren't even her fault!
She was just about ready to throttle that smug Vulcan look off his face when she caught the eye of the marine next to him. He was eying her intensely, with a knowing look and determined expression on his face. His deep brown eyes which complimented his spots that marked him a Trill were warning her against such an action. In an instant, she realized what he was doing.
He was protecting her. He was making sure she didn't make a fool out of herself against her CO. At the same time, he was gazing at her in understanding of the situation. That gaze was filling her with calmness and peace. She was pleasantly surprised. Stellar Marines weren't generally known for being caring or understanding. All those emotions were genetically spliced out of their system, leaving only unbridled loyalty and obedience to their CO and the Federation. Seeing that look on his face made her wonder. Why was he so different?
Apparently though, this whole visual exchange was lost on V'Du. Seeing how he wasn't getting any reaction from his probing except a calm acceptance of the imposed challenged, he raised his eyebrow in astonished acceptance, about faced and began walking back to his ship. "Indulge in your goodbyes Commander, then report aboard my ship. Major, you're with me. I see no reason for your presence here." He called over his shoulder.
"By your command, sir," the Major smartly replied, standing at quick attention and moved to join his Captain. Before he turned away, the Major quickly nodded to each Starfleet Officer. When he turned to Kim, she again felt the understanding and warmth radiating from his eyes. How interesting.
As soon as the Vulcan and Augment left the airlock back onto the ship, the atmosphere quickly lightened and the stress levels dropped completely. Kim quickly gave her goodbyes to both Sisko and Jadzia. After Sisko provided the normal reassurances that she'll do fine and to keep her chin up, he left, leaving the two SEFWAR Officers standing alone. Jadzia, it seemed, was more interested in the Trill Augment.
"I'm so jealous of you right now." Jadzia almost whined.
"Why? Because of V'Du?" Kim asked shocked at the announcement.
"V'Du? Yeah right. No, the Major. Kim, do you know who that was?"
"Obviously not, seeing as how you're going on about like he's some sort of celebrity." Kim joked.
"He might as well be, seeing as how he's the only one of his kind."
"What do you mean? He's a Trill, just like you." Kim was now confused.
Jadzia shook her head. "No Kim, he's not. He's an Augmented Trill."
"So? There are plenty of Trill Augments in the Corps."
"Not like him. He's special. Did you see the way he looked at you? With emotion? He actually likes you."
"Will you just cut to the part where you tell me who he is," Kim exasperated, desperately trying to fight down a blush.
"He's Rondexus Stoppable, the first Joined Trill Augment."
A/N: So, how exciting. More exciting than my first attempt at this chapter. I hope you agree. If you're wondering why our heroes names are a little skewed, there's a logical reason for that, and the answer lies in the connection between the Trill Symbiot and the MMP. I hope you figure it out before my next chapter.
See you soon. And be sure to review. It makes me happy and longing for more. Holla!