21

"All right, move those cots into the detention area." Delaney instructed a team of Security officers. The forcefield was lowered and they proceeded into the confinement area. Daggit, Radil and Delaney stood vigil over the exposed Starfleet personnel. A team of engineers was erecting a tarpaulin roof over the detainees.

It took the Security team four forays into the detention zone to set up all the cots. Blankets were distributed and rations given at the same time.

"What?" a Solarian agent yelled as he held up a ration bar, "No warm meals?"

Daggit quailed the man with a look. The others shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Delaney grinned.

"Nice trick." he murmured, "They actually think you'll kill them."

"I will." Daggit replied.

Delaney blinked. He was certain he'd misheard Daggit. Although, he conceded, the Angosian looked implacable. Delaney began to wonder if some of the wilder stories he'd heard about Macen's team were true.

Delaney shook his head. There's no way Hannah could be involved with a group as reckless as these people have been described as, he thought. Although, he knew from his own past that dark deeds were occasionally necessary. He couldn't condemn anyone for exceeding the usual bounds of morality in the pursuit of justice.

Still, Macen and company tended to fight criminals by being crazier and more ruthless than they were or so the stories went. The conviction in Daggit's voice certainly hinted at the truth behind the rumours. Radil's lack of response bespoke an intimacy with casual violence. Given her past it was to be expected Delaney supposed.

Delaney mentally shrugged and turned to Daggit and Radil, "It's been a pleasure working with you folks but my duty shift is up and I'm looking forward to a hot meal and some peace and quiet."

"Take care." Daggit replied, "We'll get back to our encampment in a moment or two."

"Tell Hannah I wish her luck." Radil smirked.

"All right." Delaney replied uncertainly, "If I see her that is."

Radil's smirk grew even more pronounced, "You're inventive. I'm sure you'll find a way."

"Right." Delaney was sceptical. He tapped his comm badge, "Delaney to Intrepid, one to transport."

Delaney disappeared in a shimmer of energy. Radil grinned and punched Daggit on the shoulder.

"No matter what happens tonight, that boy's in for an interesting evening."

Daggit nodded, "I'm sure he is. Let's call Rhiann. I'm done here."

"Sounds good to me Boss."

Everyone in McKinley's quarters was enjoying a good laugh. McKinley took another shot of Romulan ale and shook his head, "He honestly thought he was a three year old girl after T'Kir was done with him? Remind me never to call you in on a hostage situation."

Macen grinned, "At least you'd know it'd be resolved."

"I just don't know how I'd be able to present it in my log." McKinley chuckled.

Macen's grin turned sly, "The worst part was when Dinnuvio wanted us to sing him a lullaby."

"You're certain you don't want any ale?" Johnson asked.

"I'm fine with my coffee." Macen replied.

"Just out of morbid curiosity," Johnson began, "may I ask why you don't want any? Do you just find it revolting or is there another reason? As best as I can recall, I've never seen you imbibe."

"And you won't." Macen said with a rueful smile, "I have nothing against alcohol. I just don't like its effects."

"That's why you drink it slowly." Johnson chuckled.

Macen shook his head, "My people have a problem with liquor. It causes dimensional dissonance."

"Dimensional what?" McKinley asked.

Macen smiled, "My people exist on more than one plane of reality at a time. Alcohol causes us to lose our footing on this reality, our baseline, and get lost in other planes of existence."

Johnson and McKinley exchanged glances. Johnson shifted his attention to T'Kir, "And what about you my dear?"

T'Kir finished her glass, "I just screw around in other people's minds."

McKinley cleared his throat, "Want another?"

T'Kir shook her head, "One's my limit. Any more and I'll lose all my restraint."

"It's just as well." Johnson sighed, "It's getting rather late for us."

Macen stood and handed his mug back to McKinley, "It's just as well. We have things that need looking after."

"I'm thinking about inviting Admiral Scipio over." Johnson revealed, "Any chance you'd put a good word in for me?"

"I'll order him to attend." Macen grinned, "He'll show."

"Whatever works." Johnson chuckled.

"I detailed your situation to Starfleet Command." McKinley added, "They're sending a ship to pick up your crew and a salvage team."

"Thank you." Macen said gratefully, "For everything."

McKinley shrugged, "We were passing by the neighbourhood and thought we'd stop by."

"Do you need assistance find the transporter room?" Johnson enquired.

"We're good." Macen assured him.

"See ya." T'Kir interjected on their way down the corridor.

"Do you think she was reading our minds?" McKinley wore a lopsided grin.

"Will we ever know is the question." Johnson remarked.

"That pair definitely form an unholy alliance." McKinley observed, "I'd hate to be the one threatening them."

"Too true." Johnson mused, "Well, good night Jim. Thank you for the ale."

"As if I need to remind you that the door's always open." McKinley smiled.

After dinner in the Pilot's Mess, Grace had tracked down Alessandro Pedrossi. The two had spent a quiet hour in the Officer's Mess comparing notes on starship navigation. Finding some of her complaints regarding the helm controls mirrored by her younger counterpart, Grace felt rather justified as she left the Mess. She also wondered if she'd ever been as young as Pedrossi.

She was wandering by Delaney's quarters when Delaney appeared. He was walking down the corridor towards his quarters. He seemed distracted. He was staring at the floor and she could swear he was muttering to himself.

Grace leaned up against the bulkhead next to his door. Delaney grew closer and a grinning Grace couldn't resist the urge to speak any longer.

"You aren't very observant." she teased, "And you being the Tactical Officer. For shame."

Delaney snapped to. His eyes focused on Grace and he grinned in relief, "Hannah, it's you. I was just going to start looking for you."

"I'm here." Grace waved her hands up and down her body.

Delaney's grin widened, "I can see that. You make a very inviting sight to come home to."

Grace smiled, "I aim to please."

"Want to come in?"

Grace brightened, "I thought you'd never ask, chum."

They entered his quarters and Delaney called for the lights. The lights came on and Grace took a look around. Holo pictures littered a corner of Delaney's living quarters and she strolled over and began to examine them.

"Is this your family?" she asked.

Delaney came up behind her, "Yes. That was all of us before my parents died. I still have my brother but it's still not the same."

"I'm sorry." Grace squeezed his shoulder, "I know how hard it is to lose someone."

Delaney's eyes met hers, "I guess you would. Losing your family and your entire race must be difficult as well. Why'd you choose humanity over your people?"

Grace shrugged, " I chose my adopted family. I'd hurt the others so badly. All I wanted was a chance to make it up to them."

"Do you ever regret it?"

Grace held herself, "Sometimes. Late at night I sometimes play the 'what if' game."

"And in the morning?" Delaney wondered.

"I'm always relieved that I made the decision I did." Grace asserted confidently.

"Look, I was going to take a shower." Delaney explained, "Do you mind waiting?"

"Sure." Grace said brightly, "Take your time."

"Thanks." Delaney eagerly took off into the bedroom.

"This part was unexpected." Grace murmured and sat down on the couch. She folded her arms over her chest and waited while the sonic shower hummed. It turned off almost as fast as it had come on. A few minutes later, Delaney appeared wearing his uniform pants and a regulation undershirt.

"Do you ever step out of uniform?" Grace laughed.

"When I'm on leave." Delaney insisted, "Or undercover."

"Like on Risa?" Grace asked.

"Exactly." Delaney nodded.

"As I recall, you tried to disarm me when we met. You tried and failed." Grace teased.

Delaney grinned ruefully, "I remember. I was impressed. Still am."

"I have moves you haven't dreamt of." Grace smiled.

"I wouldn't be so sure." Delaney rubbed the back of his neck, "Look, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Don't tell me you've met someone and we can't be friends any more." Grace was crestfallen.

"No." Delaney replied then more forcefully, "No. God, no."

"Thank god." Grace sighed.

"No, it's not that but it is about us." Delaney informed her.

Grace was apprehensive again, "What?"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking." Delaney ran a hand through his hair, "A helluva lot of thinking actually. We share so many of the same passions. You're intelligent, funny and beautiful. I look forward to you letters every day and I spend half my time thinking up reasons to send you a message."

"The plain truth of the matter is that I can't get you off my mind. I'm crazy about you. It's just that lately I've been thinking about what if we explored a relationship. Nothing concrete. No forced commitments but a chance to see if something develops."

Delaney looked expectantly at Grace, "That's it. I've spilled my guts, laid my soul bare. All I can do now is ask you, what do you think? Am I crazy?"

Grace bit her lower lip. She stared at Delaney for several moments and then she dove off the couch and tackled Delaney. Her lips met his and she kissed him hungrily. After several kisses, she sat up, straddling him.

"Does this mean yes?" Delaney grinned.

"Shut up and take me to bed." Grace ordered in a husky voice as she lowered herself atop Delaney.

"Gahhh!" Danan came awake with a start. She found herself drenched with sweat, sitting atop a pair of cots in a…tent? She scooted to the edge of the cots and gingerly put her feet on the ground. Socks? she wondered.

Danan had no memory whatsoever of taking her boots off much less arriving in this tent. The last thing she recalled was working over the Omicron corpse. Danan groaned. Has that bloody thing done something to me? Danan began searching for her equipment belt in the gloom that permeated the tent.

"Ow!" Danan cried out as she ran her head into a hanging object. She examined it with her hands and discovered that it was a field lamp. She switched it on and its light illuminated every corner of the tent. Standing stocking footed, she planted her fists on her hips and surveyed the area.

Sonic shower, hmmm. I could use that. Danan mused, wrinkling her nose at her own stench. She noticed the duffel bags across the way and she knelt to inspect them. Definitely my clothes. she concluded. Grabbing what she needed, she went to the refresher portion of the tent and zipped the "door" closed.

Using the portable toilet first, Danan finished stripping and activated the shower. Modulated sound waves washed over her, stripping her body of the unwanted debris and secretions. Danan groaned and stretched. A side effect of the harmonics was that they gave you a total body massage.

Reluctantly, Danan deactivated the shower and bent to retrieve her change of clothes. She dressed quickly. She unzipped the room divider and emerged clothed in sweat pants and a tank top. Using something T'Kir described as a "scrunchie", Danan pulled her hair back. She moved to the foot of the cots and found her boots and equipment belt. Retrieving her tricorder, she sat down and began reviewing the data she'd collected from Ezexial's corpse so far.

"Damn it." she muttered, "I'm missing something."

You're missing a laboratory. her mind taunted. Danan sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. I'm getting nowhere fast.

She heard voices outside of her tent and a shape loomed in front of her "doorway". Danan scrambled for her phaser and pulled it free in time for the "menace" to speak.

"Lees?" Riker softly called, "Are you up?"

Danan sagged in relief. She stood and went to the flap. She unzipped it and found a grinning Riker holding two trays of food. The smells were tantalising her.

"Going to shoot me, huh?" he teased.

"Shut up and get in here." Danan demanded, "Don't drop the food."

Riker bowed, "As you command."

Riker stepped into the tent and placed the trays, side by side, on the cots. He then retrieved the wrapped silverware from his flightsuit's breast pocket and laid it out next to the food. Danan was mesmerised.

"It's all yours." Riker coaxed her, "I've already had mine. Kort dropped by a few minutes ago and said you'd be rousing soon so I grabbed you one of everything."

"It's beautiful." a salivating Danan murmured. She plopped down on the cots next to the trays and grabbed a fork. She began tearing away at her food wolfing down one bite after another.

Riker chuckled, "Easy Lees. You don't want to get cramps."

"I haven't eaten in two days." she protested through a full mouth.

"We'd guessed that." Riker revealed.

"'We'?" Danan repeated, taking a pull from her glass.

"You've had a very thorough going over first by Dr. Sikorsky and then by Kort." Riker explained, "They're mutual prescription was for rest and refreshments."

"Andreja?" Danan's eyes went wide, "I needed to talk to her. I need a lab…"

Riker smiled, "It's taken care of. Brin arranged for that brute of a corpse to be transferred to the Intrepid. Sikorsky herself will assist you in performing the autopsy."

"When?" Danan asked eagerly.

"As soon as you're up for it." Riker revealed.

Danan stood, "Let's go."

"At ease Space Cadet." Riker laughed, "You still haven't filled all of your prescription. Besides, Sikorsky's off duty and probably asleep by now."

Danan subsided, "First thing tomorrow morning then."

Riker held up his hands, "I won't try and stop you."

Danan hesitated, "Thank you." She paused again, "You know, I'm starting to get glimmers from my trip here. I can remember someone getting me to the shuttle. The shuttle lifted off and then set down. Someone else picked me up and carried me away."

Danan's sea green eyes bored into Riker's blue ones, "What I remember most is that I felt safe."

Riker smiled and Danan asked, "That was you, wasn't it?"

Riker nodded, "It was the least I could do."

"It's been a long time since I felt that way." Danan admitted, "Thank you for that."

"What's the motto of the SID? 'We aim to please'?" Riker joked.

"Not in this outfit." Danan snorted.

"Anyway," Riker got back on topic, "I know I came on a little strong at first. I'm still really sorry about that. I just wanted to prove to you, and me, that I can show my appreciation for you without making demands."

Danan smiled as she nodded, "Thank you. It's appreciated."

"And before I forget," Riker produced a hypo, "Kort wants you to inject this before you go to bed."

"What is it?"

"It's a sleep aid." Riker answered, "It'll help you rest better and longer."

"Okay." Danan agreed, "But won't you be here to inject it for me?"

Riker grinned, "I will. But first I have to talk with Brin."

"Uh oh." Danan grimaced, "Trouble?"

Riker shrugged, "We'll see."

"Good luck." Danan called as Riker exited the tent, "I'll be waiting."

Grace slid atop Delaney and sat up. Delaney drank her in with his eyes.

"You're incredible."

Grace laughed, "You have no idea."

"I want to find out." Delaney assured her.

"Ian," Grace bit her lip, "I have to warn you…"

"Warn me about what?" Delaney asked.

"Compared to average humans I'd be considered…genetically enhanced. My people represent the perfect human genome at this stage of their evolution." Grace explained.

"What's that have to do with what we're about to do?" Delaney wondered if she was trying to kill the mood.

"It means I'm about to rock your world." Grace declared.

"You already have." confessed Delaney.

Grace lowered herself down and throatily whispered in his ear, "Not like this."

Ten minutes later, a passer by in the corridor outside Delaney's quarters heard the Lt. Commander scream, "Oh my God!" She tapped her comm badge and alerted Security as she hurried past.

"Brin." Riker greeted as he approached the table where Macen and T'Kir sat, "T'Kir."

"`Lo Tom." T'Kir grinned, "You're in trouble."

"You've heard?" Riker grimaced.

Macen chuckled, "Calm down, Tom. I'm not mad. I find your solution to be rather eloquent. I was just wondering why you didn't come to me with it first before announcing it to the crew?"

"You could say it was my first, and last, command decision as Captain of the Obsidian. You aptly demonstrated that you were ultimately going to retain command no matter what our respective titles were. I just patched the holes up in the command structure and delineated the spheres of responsibility." Riker replied.

"You're sure this is what you want to do?" Macen asked.

"Whether I want to or not it's what has to be." Riker suddenly grinned, "And I'm off the hook when it comes to personnel management. Shannon's better at it anyways."

Macen smiled, "If you're happy then so am I."

Riker shook his offered hand, "I think this will work out." Riker grinned ruefully, "If we have a ship."

"Joachim's team just made their report." Macen divulged, "The secondary hull held. She's salvageable. A Starfleet retrieval team is on their way."

"How much yard time?" Riker wondered.

Macen shook his head, "To soon to estimate."

"You really want to sail in her again, don'cha?" T'Kir observed.

"She stood by us." Riker opined, "We should do the same for her."

T'Kir poked Macen, "Remember that. Stand by me."

"Always." Macen promised.

"How's Lees?" T'Kir asked.

Riker brightened, "She's up…for now. She's looking forward to performing the autopsy with Sikorsky tomorrow."

T'Kir shivered, "Yuck."

"I never knew you were squeamish." Riker's grin was absolutely triumphant.

"I've dealt with enough corpses, thank you." T'Kir declared, "I don't need to go looking for them and slice `em up into little bits."

"Too true." Macen concurred.

"You too?" Riker was surprised, "You were a scientist."

"I'm a social scientist." Macen clarified, "I study past and living cultures. Archives rarely bite. Some of the cultures might but they're just being friendly when they do it."

"Ever wish you'd stuck to the academic arena?" Riker wondered.

"Sometimes." Macen shrugged, "But I can't give up this life of crime now."

"What about you?" Riker asked T'Kir, "Any regrets?"

"Nope."

Riker was startled, "None? Come on."

"I couldn't change myself and I'm what drove me to make the decisions I made. I like myself so I don't see any reason to regret what's happened."

"That…that's surprisingly well adjusted." Riker had to admit.

"Don't sound so surprised." T'Kir huffed.

"It's down right…normal."

"No need to get insulting." T'Kir protested.

Macen laughed, "I think you've struck a chord."

Riker nodded, "I think I have. T'Kir, you may be the sanest one out of us all."

"I coulda told ya that." T'Kir remarked, "I'm sane. It's the rest of the universe that's cracked."

Riker laughed, "I'll remember that."

"Enough of me." T'Kir shooed Riker away, "Get back to Lees. She needs you."

"I hope so."

"Keep the faith." T'Kir urged. Riker grinned, waved and walked away.

"Man's got a lot on his mind." T'Kir commented.

"Did you read him?" Macen wondered.

"He was thinking so loud it gave me a headache." T'Kir complained, "He's worried about the ship. He's worried about the crew. He's worried about the team. He's worried about you and me but most of all he's worried about Lees."

"How's he doing with it all?" Macen asked.

"He knows there's nothing much he can do so he does what he can and calls it good." T'Kir divulged.

"Good for him." Macen smiled, "He's learning."

"Not from you." T'Kir insisted.

"Even better." Macen's smile grew, "This way he'll internalise it."

"Are you done with your plate yet?" T'Kir demanded.

"What's your hurry?"

"I want to go back to our tent."

"Why?"

"Why do you think?"

Macen's eyes widened in realisation, "Okay, I'm done."

"You didn't take much convincing." T'Kir laughed.

"Should I?"

"No." T'Kir fervently shook her head, "You get rid of the plates and I'll go back to the tent."

Macen grinned, "I'll see you in a minute."

"It'd better only be a minute." T'Kir warned, "I mean it."

"It will be." Macen assured her, "I swear."

Macen hurried to the kitchen area and tossed his trays and plates into the growing pile. Running, he returned to the tent and entered it. Zipping the flap shut behind him, he and T'Kir quickly forgot the troubles of the outside world.