35
A panting Delaney swore as his comm badge started chirping. He rolled over and picked it. Tapping it with his thumb, he spoke.
"Delaney here." he gasped.
"Commander," McKinley's voice came across the circuit, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Delaney struggled to catch his breath, "Why?"
"Security was alerted to a disturbance in your quarters." the CO explained, "They commed you but there was no reply. They've been outside your door for ten minutes chiming you and you haven't responded. Finally they alerted me. What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Delaney swallowed hard, "I've been…busy."
"What kind of explanation is that, mister?"
"It isn't one." Delaney replied miserably.
Grace giggled.
"Is someone there with you?" McKinley enquired.
"Yes sir." Delaney sighed, "Hannah Grace is in my quarters."
Delaney could visualise the smirk on McKinley's face, "Carry on then. McKinley out."
Delaney dropped the offending badge and flopped over onto his back. Grace smiled indulgently.
"Poor baby." she cooed, "Need a rest?"
"Hell no." Delaney grinned, "When the thrill ride is over you get back into line."
Grace smiled, "Good. I like your thinking mister. As your Captain told you, carry on. Pleasure me until I scream for mercy."
"I'll do my humble best."
The next morning, Danan emerged from her tent. She took a look around. Macen and T'Kir were playfully emerging from their tent. The object seemed to be to tickle and poke the other person while they attempted to zip the front flap shut. Shrieks and yelps abounded.
Danan strolled over to them, "Need a referee?"
They stopped and wore gleeful grins. T'Kir spoke first.
"Good to see you rested."
Danan nodded, "Feels good to be rested."
"How long did you go without sleep?" Macen enquired.
"Almost a week." Danan glumly admitted.
Macen opened his mouth but T'Kir pushed him aside, "Let me handle this." Wagging a finger at Danan's nose, T'Kir launched into a tirade, "We need you, Lisea. We don't need a lifeless husk of a Sciences Specialist. We require you to be alert and actively engaged in whatever task you're assigned to. Besides," T'Kir shrugged, "you're more fun that way."
Danan looked past T'Kir. Macen held his hands up. Slowly, a rueful smile crept across Danan's face.
"All right. Point taken."
"Good." T'Kir said pointedly and she turned to Macen, "See? This command stuff is simple." T'Kir marched off, leaving two stunned teammates in her wake.
"What did you feed her this morning?" Danan enquired.
"Nothing." a beleaguered Macen answered, "We haven't eaten yet.
"Maybe that's it." Danan said slowly, "What's she have in store for today?"
"Securing the ship's computer core." Macen revealed, "Fates help whoever gets in her way."
"You could have told me that before." Danan remarked.
Macen shrugged helplessly, "Who knew?"
T'Kir took her tray and sat down at a vacant table. Unexpectantly, Grace plopped down next to her. Grace was smiling deliriously. T'Kir's eyes widened in surprise.
"You've had sex!" she accused.
"Keep it down." Grace hissed, "I didn't want to make a shipwide announcement."
"It was Ian Delaney, wasn't it?" T'Kir eagerly asked.
"Why do I get the feeling you know the answer to that without reading my mind?" Grace grew suspicious.
"I can't read yours but I can read his." T'Kir smiled coyly, "He fell for you since the moment you met him on Risa. He took one look at you and the boy was gone."
"You've known?" Grace accused, "You've known all this time and you didn't tell me?"
"Sweetie, some things are better when you find them out for yourself." T'Kir counselled.
"Thanks a lot." Grace gave T'Kir a raspberry.
"I tried to steer you in the right direction." T'Kir reminded her, "You kept up with the same mantra, 'we're just friends'. Whatta load of crap."
Macen and Danan came up to the table carrying their trays. Danan smiled.
"Who's the lucky guy, Hannah?"
Grace's head sank to the tabletop, "Do I just have it stamped on my forehead?"
"Don't feel bad." Macen advised, "Enjoy the moment."
"I want another moment." Grace said, head still down.
"Give it time, Sweetie." T'Kir stroked Grace's head, "I'm sure you'll have another romp."
Grace's head came up and she sat up straight, "I feel like I actually have a chance to build something here, if I don't screw it up."
"If you're always worried about destroying a new relationship, then you will." Danan pointed out, "It's a self fulfilling prophecy."
"So," Grace frowned, "just go with it and let things happen on their own."
"To a point." Danan clarified, "You also have to make your desires and feelings known."
"So far that's not a problem." Grace stated.
"Honesty, understanding, and the ability to compromise on the little things are the secrets of success." Danan said, "But honesty is the most important."
Grace nodded, "Got it. I think."
T'Kir squeezed her shoulder, "You'll do fine."
"I think I'll get some food now." Grace said and rose.
As she walked away, the other three huddled. Danan asked the question on everyone's mind, "Who won the pool?"
"I came close but I don't remember if anyone else is closer." T'Kir admitted.
"The padd with the estimates is in my Ready Room." Macen revealed, "I'll go aboard and get it."
"I wish I would have won." Danan admitted, "I just thought she'd be more skittish than she was."
"I didn't win either and I'm the empath." Macen admitted.
"That leaves Tom, Parva, Rab, Jenrya and Kort unaccounted for." T'Kir ticked off.
"Where are the tickets?" Danan asked.
"On reserve." Macen answered.
"Two weeks on Risa." Danan sighed, "All expenses paid. I could live with that."
"You'll have to settle for something local for now." Macen grinned.
"Spoilsport." Danan groused.
"So?" Liefers demanded, "Who won? Caplan or Striker?"
Liefers, Pedrossi, Johnson and McKinley were gathered in the Captain's Ready Room. McKinley was reviewing the data on a padd.
"Neither." McKinley said with surprise.
"They're his two best friends." Pedrossi protested, "How could they miss it?"
"Don't leave us hanging, Jim." Johnson insisted, "Who won?"
The door chime sounded and McKinley responded, grateful for the interruption, "Come."
Sikorsky walked in, wearing a knowing smile; "I expect to take my leave before the month is out." With that said, Sikorsky turned and exited the room. The room was stunned.
"She's a psychiatrist." Liefers protested, "Is that fair? I don't think that's fair."
McKinley grinned and held up the padd, "It's right here. She almost called it to the day. She was just a week off." McKinley grew more formal, "A wager is a wager. She won. That's it."
Liefers slumped, "You're right. But how?"
Johnson wore a philosophical smile, "We may never comprehend the mystery."
"All right, everyone back to their posts." McKinley ordered. Johnson left as well. McKinley studied the padd. Sikorsky never failed to amaze him. With one final shake of his head he sat the padd down and started piledriving through the various reports stacking up on his desk.
Daggit pulled up his pants and fastened them. Parva wrapped a blanket around her torso and watched. She smiled as Daggit's head emerged from the tee shirt he was pulling on.
"What?" he asked.
"Just basking in the moment." Parva confided, "What we did was nice. It was different then I remember. Gentler, more intimate."
"I enjoyed it too." Daggit admitted, "It brought out a side of me that I rarely see."
"Do you wish I'd lost my memory before?" Parva asked, "Were you unhappy?"
Daggit was shocked and it showed, "No. I wasn't unhappy. You were harder. Fiercer. But I was never unhappy. I loved you then and I love you now. I accept you for who you are."
Parva smiled in relief, "I'm glad. I was starting to worry."
Daggit knelt. He leaned forward and kissed her, "There'll be days when I'm unhappy and you will be too. They'll pass and we'll endure."
"That's why I'm so excited that you asked me to move in." Parva said happily.
Daggit shifted, "I wanted to talk to you about that."
"No." Parva was despondent, "You've changed your mind."
"No." he assured her, "But I have something to ask you. I've wanted to for a while but quite frankly I was intimidated."
"Me?" Parva was delighted, "I intimidated you? This is priceless. Who can I tell?"
Daggit looked uncomfortable, "I'd rather not have anyone know."
"Of course." Parva said consolingly.
"Back to the question." Daggit insisted, "Parva, will you marry me?"
"Are you serious?" she asked.
"Yes, I am." Daggit said firmly.
She was stunned, "I never thought… Of course I say yes!"
She threw the blanket aside and lunged over to him, embracing him, "I can't believe it."
"You'd better start." Daggit said as he squeezed her.
"When?" she asked as she pushed herself off of him.
"As soon as we can make preparations." Daggit revealed.
"I'll start planning as soon as we get back to Barrinor." she clapped her hands.
Daggit rose, "I'm looking forward to it."
"Do you have to go?" she wheedled.
"I have interrogations to conduct." Daggit said solemnly, "I can't shirk my responsibilities."
"Of course." she pouted.
He bent over and kissed her again, "I'll be back this evening."
"Looking forward to it." Parva confessed.
"Me too." Daggit unzipped the flap and exited the tent. He zipped it shut again. Parva laid down again and smiled beatifically. I'm getting married. she thought giddily.
"Let's begin." Sikorsky said for the examination lab's recorder, "The trauma to the neck is the most obvious cause of death. However, the mapping of the victim's anatomy will determine the exact cause of death. Begin scanning please."
Danan activated the table's scanners. A holographic image of the body appeared above it at chest level. Sikorsky took a moment to examine the image and then the body.
"Features of the scan image appear to correlate with the physical specimen. We will now begin to explore the interior of this being." Sikorsky related, "Please strip away the epidermal layer."
The image's skin disappeared. Ezexial's musculature was laid bare. Danan carefully rotated the image, revealing every cranny.
"The subject was very robust." Sikorsky recorded, "His musculature is highly developed. It is reasonable to assume that this would grant him superior reflexes and strength compared to the average humanoid species found in the Alpha Quadrant."
"There's a deviation at both wrists." Danan reported.
"Highlight." Sikorsky instructed.
Images of the wrists appeared above the original image. They were several times larger than Ezexial's wrists. Sikorsky frowned.
"Implants." she determined, "But they don't register with the sensors as being different than the implanted tissues."
"The Omicron are masters of biotechnology." Danan remarked, "They could easily construct a device out of his own cells."
"Isolate one of the implants." Sikorsky requested, "Let's see if we can determine what these things are for."
"Got it." Macen announced as he exited the Ready Room.
"So who won?" T'Kir asked as she inputted a series of commands.
"Parva nailed it." Macen revealed, "She was off by two days."
"How the frinx could she do that?" T'Kir demanded.
"I don't know but she gets a round trip, all expenses paid vacation for two to Risa." Macen grinned.
T'Kir muttered a particularly vile curse and Macen shook his head, "Listen with everything she's been through on this trip, I'm glad it's her. She could use a break."
T'Kir swivelled around to face him, "Speaking of Parva, what are we gonna do about her?"
"'We'?" Macen asked.
"Am I or am I not your business partner?" T'Kir huffed.
"You are." Macen allowed.
"So it's 'we'." she heatedly declared.
"She was injured in the line of duty." Macen reminded her, "It's only right that we keep her on the payroll and help her find a job that she can do."
"You think retraining is gonna stick?" T'Kir asked sceptically.
"She retained the first aid training the EMH gave her." Macen replied.
"She has the skill equivalent of a engineering tech." Macen said, "I've checked her qualification test scores. She's qualified to do basic maintenance. I'd keep her aboard as a rating but her heart can't take the stress of emergency situations."
"So we retrain her and give her a job on the ground." T'Kir decided.
"That was my thought." Macen admitted.
"Okay." T'Kir said happily, "I approve of this plan."
Macen bowed, "Thank you."
T'Kir tapped in a few more commands and the computer suddenly froze, "There! Everything is encrypted. No one's accessing our files now."
"C'mon, let's pay Joachim's team a visit." Macen suggested.
"Nope." T'Kir shook her head, "I have to find Hannah. Girl talk."
"You just want the gory details." Macen accused.
"Of course." T'Kir called the lift, "See ya."
The doors opened and T'Kir stepped in. As the doors were closing, she blew him a kiss. Macen stood there shaking his head.
"She never ceases to amaze me." Macen muttered and walked over to the lift.
Radil was striding through the tent city on the way to the shuttle when Kort literally ran into her.
"I'm sorry." Kort stammered, "My apologies."
"Dammit Kort!" Radil shouted, "Stop falling all over yourself when I'm around."
"I'm sorry."
"And stop apologising all the time." Radil snapped.
"What do you want?" Kort demanded, "What do you want me to be?"
Radil sighed, "I want you to be you. I want you to find a woman that will accept and love you. I want you to raise fat babies and regale them with tales of your exploits with the SID and Outbound Ventures." Radil listed, "Most of all, I want us to go our separate ways. What we had was fun and it was what we both needed at the time but our needs have changed. I want us to remain friends but if that's not possible we can at least be comrades in arms. Above all else, I want you to be happy."
Kort digested this, "You are right. I haven't been true to myself. I must retain my honour above all else."
"Then do that." Radil urged, "My demands and needs will only prevent you from achieving that."
"You are wise." Kort commented, "You are a good…friend."
"Let's leave it that way and grow from the experience." Radil suggested.
Kort slowly nodded, "Yes. As Dracas would say, 'It will be done'."
Radil chuckled, "What do you think of our new, intrepid teammate and Chief Engineer?"
"Macen seems certain of him." Kort replied, "That's all that matters."
"Hmmm." Radil pondered this, "I'm still going to watch him. His loyalties are with his Emperor not with us."
"Perhaps." Kort allowed, "Loyalties change. Look at Grace or yourself."
"Me?' Radil protested, "I was a mercenary. Macen hired me."
"But you've stayed throughout all our trials." Kort countered, "You've developed a sense of loyalty and even affection for your teammates."
"Maybe." Radil conceded, "But don't tell anyone."
"I won't." Kort promised.
"Your word as a warrior." Radil insisted.
"I pledge my silence upon my honour." Kort vowed.
"All right." Radil nodded decisively, "I'm on my way to the shuttle. I'll see you later."
"Thank you." Kort said.
"For what?" Radil was getting impatient.
"For caring."
Radil frowned, "Just don't tell anyone."
"Of course." Kort smiled, "Hurry. You don't want to miss your shuttle."
Radil walked away then turned, "Anyone. Understand?"
Kort laughed and waved her on. As she turned Kort went on his way. He felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. What you have been feeling has been obsession not love. he counselled himself. Now he could finally stop the madness before it consumed him.
Danan and Sikorsky exited the lab. Danan wiped her brow.
"I'm glad that's over. All this biological sciences shuk is beyond me."
Sikorsky smiled, "Not so. You have the instincts for it. You found those implants, remember? I missed them."
"You would have noticed them." Danan assured her, "How did you know they were implants as soon as you saw them?"
"The scarring of the muscle tissue." Sikorsky explained, "It wouldn't have been there if it was a natural growth."
"Nasty bit of engineering." Danan observed, "Those stingers delivered the most lethal venom I've heard of."
"It was similar to the VX gas developed in the 20th century." Sikorsky went into lecture mode, "VX was an aerosol and this was an aqueous variant but the base chemistry was the same."
"It's no wonder he was trying grab Brin." Danan remarked.
"He wouldn't have lived for more than sixty seconds if he'd been caught." Sikorsky opined. She scrutinised Danan for a moment then spoke, "You still care for him."
"Who?"
"Commander Macen." Sikorsky said, "Are you still in love with him?"
"I thought I was but the same problem existed as before when I broke it off with him." Danan revealed.
"T'Kir." Sikorsky deduced.
"Got it in one." Danan wore a wry smile.
"That must have been painful." Sikorsky empathised.
"For a while but time heals and all that." Danan remarked, "Now I'm exploring new options."
"Sounds good." Sikorsky replied.
"It's confusing." Danan admitted, "I've got eight lifetimes worth of experience and I still am not sure how I feel."
"You may have the collected memories of eight other individuals that lived full lives but Lisea is still a relatively young woman. Give it time."
Danan's smile widened, "Sounds like something I said recently."
"Listen to yourself." Sikorsky suggested.
"Easier said than done." Danan complained.
"Isn't it the truth?" Sikorsky asked.
"Well, what now?" Danan enquired.
"How about a snack?" Sikorsky suggested, "Working with corpses always works up my appetite."
"That's slightly morbid."
Sikorsky frowned, "Think of it as comfort food."
"I could handle that." Danan agreed.
"The Mess is this way." Sikorsky jerked her thumb in the appropriate direction.
"Lead on."