Macen entered the Dark Man and found it to be the same as when he and Elias Vaughn had discovered it fifty years ago. The furniture was newer but in the same style. The sparse wall decorations were still the same as before. It looked lived in without appearing shabby.

Belfast had a history which fascinated Macen. Throughout the 20th century it had been the object of a fierce struggle for independence. The primary antagonist had resorted to terror tactics and lost the sympathy of the world. At the end of the century they began seeking a political solution achieved through negotiation.

Dissidents sought to continue the violence but the former rival factions banded together and drove the terrorists out through an act of popular will. It was an example that helped guide the struggling nations of Earth to come together after World War III. Since his time with the Maquis, Belfast had earned itself a special place in his heart.

Macen surveyed the room and spotted Ryst…he had to get used to her new name…he spotted Rockford sitting alone in a booth that afforded a view of the interior of the pub as well as the entrance. He smiled to himself. That was the spot he would have chosen to sit at if he'd arrived first.

He reached the table and sat down, "Hello Celeste. Have you been here long?"

"Long enough to wonder if you were going to be on time." Rockford admitted.

A pub matron came to their table and they ordered. She immediately brought their drinks. Rockford had a pint of the bitter while Macen enjoyed a cup of tea. Rockford eyed Macen, "So what do you want?"

"I checked your criminal records yesterday." Macen said.

"And you discovered I don't have any." Rockford supplied for him.

"Right." Macen grinned, "Which clears the way for our imminent conversation."

The matron reappeared with their meals. Rockford chose shepard's pie while Macen had a bacon sandwich. Once the server was gone Rockford asked, "What imminent conversation? I thought you were going to offer me a job."

"How would you like to join my SID team?" Macen enquired.

Rockford stared at him in stunned silence. Eventually she dropped her fork and that snapped her out of it.

"You've got to be joking." She sputtered.

"No, I'm not." Macen assured her, "You have all of the qualifications. I've checked your reputation. You're purported to be a highly competent and professional investigator. These reports came from some parties that are very hard to impress. I not only want you for my team, to be blunt, I need you on my team." Macen hesitated and then added, "And if I may be so bold, you need to be on the team as well."

"How can you say that?" Rockford wondered, "How can you offer me this? I've tried to kill you."

Macen shrugged, "I can forgive a lot. You were working for other individuals at the time. It was your job to do as they said. Later, when it became personal, you decided to forgo fulfilling your desire for revenge and instead tried to help." Macen grew intent, "My impression of you is that you're a person searching for something. On Mityr, you tried to warn me of Sindis' plans. You abandoned B'nner's quest for vengeance and fled to forge your own life."

Macen continued, "During the Tarsus Wars you aspired to a goal and an ideal greater than yourself. You sought the greater good. All of your merc jobs gave you a small taste of that pursuit. Now, as a private investigator, you're trying to help people sort out their lives."

"I can offer you more than eking out a meagre existence. I can offer you a dream." Macen promised.

Hesitantly, Rockford asked, "What kind of a dream?"

Macen told her of the dream of the Seekers of Truth, of restoring balance to the galaxy, and of uniting sentient life under one banner. He talked of realising the ideals of justice and equality. He spoke of hope.

In a choked voice, Rockford said, "If I agree to this you have to absorb my agency and retain my employees. They're good people and they deserve a shot at being under the Outbound Ventures umbrella."

Macen handed her a padd, "All you have to do is read the contract and approve of it. Your agency will become a subsidiary of Outbound Ventures, Inc. and you'll always be welcome there even after you decide to leave the SID team."

"How…?" Rockford was astonished, "How could you anticipate my request?"

Macen grinned, "Trade secrets, my dear."


Later, after they'd finished their meal and Rockford had accepted the employment contract and the sale of her agency, they stood outside the pub.

"Need a lift?" Rockford asked as she stood by the curb hailing a cab.

Macen shook his head, "I'm catching a train to Dublin. I'm meeting my wife there."

Rockford grimaced, "I'd forgotten about her."

"She won't bite." Macen promised, "I'll see to it."

"Why're you being so nice?" Rockford had to know.

"Everyone deserves a second chance. Just don't waste yours." Macen advised.

As he strolled down the street, Rockford considered his words. Her cab arrived and she instructed the cabbie to drop her off at the municipal public transporter.


At the Clarence Hotel in Dublin, Macen dropped T'Kir's gear off in their suite. He turned to face her and she came running towards him. Leaping into the air she landed into his waiting, if somewhat startled, arms. Unfortunately, her momentum carried them backwards and they fell onto the bed in a jumble.

T'Kir kissed him fiercely and her body melted into his. She ran her hands down the length of his body until her hand reached his groin. She adopted a wicked smile.

"D'we have time for a quickie?" she giggled.

Macen accepted her offer and they were thirty minutes late meeting Grace in the restaurant. She smiled good naturedly and asked, "Only had time for a quickie?"

Macen blushed but T'Kir plopped down in her seat, "Yeah, but what a rush after being stuck in the middle of nowhere."

Grace looked to Macen, who was settling in his chair, "She missed you."

Still blushing, Macen smiled, "I got that."

T'Kir pinched his cheek, "Isn't he cute?"

"I suppose." Grace allowed.

"What d'you mean?" T'Kir growled.

"T'Kir, I don't think of him in those terms. I acknowledge the fact that he's a reasonably attractive man but he's my Captain. That fact supersedes anything else. Hands off. Out of bounds. Plus, he's married to you."

"Thank you." Macen gratefully replied.

"Well, when you put it that way…" T'Kir relented.

"Since I've had plenty of time to study the menu," Grace smiled, "let me make a few recommendations…"


As the meal wore on, T'Kir's enthusiasm went up a notch as she and Grace described their trip to Macen. Other patrons unabashedly stared. They weren't used to seeing an emotive Vulcan.

T'Kir's parents had been followers of the tenets of Sybok rather than Surak. Emotional expression was the highest form of personal fulfilment. As things stood, T'Kir was highly fulfilled.

A more pressing point was that she'd been an extremely sensitive and powerful telepath. Others' thoughts had been her own without desiring them or trying to access them. That had driven her to the brink of madness. Truth be told, she'd never fully recovered.

Her abilities were drastically paired down now so any intrusions were done with intent and purpose. Of those sitting at the table with her, Grace was immune to her telepathy. Macen could block her out despite a permanent and private rapport that they shared. Despite her abilities being limited in range, her connection to Macen seemed boundless.

Although they were enjoying their meal, T'Kir took an opportunity when the conversation lulled to ask, "Why are you blocking my telepathy now. Earlier you felt guilty but I didn't probe deep enough to discover why."

"I have news you won't like." Macen confessed, "I've been holding back in order to avoid talking about it."

"Too late, buster." T'Kir decided, "We're talking `bout it now."

"I've found someone to take over Rab's role on the team." Macen revealed.

T'Kir was surprised. He'd nearly given up on placing someone in that slot. Intrigued, she asked who it was.

"It's someone you know and don't like." Macen warned her.

"I'm a big girl, Brin." T'Kir replied, "I can play nice. Now, tell me."

"It's Annika Ryst." Macen blurted, "Only it's not. She's assumed a new identity. She's Celeste Rockford now."

"Are you out of your frinxing mind?" she hissed between clenched teeth, "She's tried to kill us. Twice."

"Read my thoughts and you'll see why I made the decision I did." Macen suggested.

T'Kir hesitated and then her brow furrowed ever so slightly and she perused his memories. When she finished, she whistled, "Okay, good call."

"What?" Grace protested, "I don't get to know?"

"T'Kir can tell you later. Right now let's finish up and then take in some of the local sights." Macen said.

"Yes, Captain my Captain." Grace retorted.

"Ain't she somethin'?" T'Kir wore a Cheshire grin.

Macen rolled his eyes and went back to his meal.


Tom Riker swung through Outbound Ventures' offices. He was headed for Christine Pike's lair. Pike was a former Starfleet administrator that now served as Outbound Ventures' official liaison with the SID.

Riker poked his head into her office and grinned, "Hiya Chris, got a minute?"

"For you, Captain," Pike returned the grin, "always. Take a seat."

Riker turned a chair around backwards and straddled it "Any news from Brin?"

"About his reinstatement?" Pike sought clarification.

"Is there anything else?" Riker wearily smiled. Riker had recently left Macen's SID team to assume command of the newly refurbished Emden-class escort. The SS Indomitable was her name and she'd already proven that she was a tough little ship. In fact, she was the most powerful ship in Outbound Ventures' privateer fleet. She was rivalled only by the SS Jack Aubrey, an Iotian built Constitution-class analogue.

Riker was the second Outbound Ventures captain to secure work as a SID team leader. In Macen's absence and with his years of experience serving with Macen Riker had taken up the shortfall created by Macen's suspension. Needless to say, the entire crew was exhausted.

Riker waited for an answer. Finally his brow raised, "Well?"

Pike laughed, "Brin's back. You've earned a vacation. Take it easy."

"I will." Riker assured her, "Thanks."

"Any plans?" Pike wondered.

"We're starting off by having dinner with Rab and Parva tonight." Riker informed her.

"Sounds fun." Pike turned to her desk and handed Riker a padd, "You may be interested in this."

"What is it?" Riker asked.

"Brin just bought a detective agency." Pike revealed, "They seem quite competent."

"Why'd he do that?" Riker enquired.

"He hired the head of the agency on to the SID team." Pike answered, "It's all in the file."

"I'll be sure to check it out." Riker said as he rose, "For now, I'm meeting Lees, Radil, and Abby for lunch. See ya."

Pike wished for the umpteenth time that she'd landed Riker before Danan. "Oh well." She said to herself and went back to work.