Captain's log Star Date: 4879453.4
"Further scanning and analysis of the third planet has not given any us more clues to the space ship that had entered it's atmosphere. All science stations do confirm the fact of the presence of some sort of space travel.
We are proceeding to the fourth of the class M planets. This planet is very different. Smaller and dryer than the previous three, although still capable of supporting life, it seems out of place."
Picard considered his last words, an understatement to say the least. He let them stand. Until more was known about the planet he would refrain from making a more subjective statement.
He reached for his cup of tea. Riker had informed him of Worf's security roster for the planet. Picard took a sip of tea. He wondered if it would be too much for the young Ensign. The Captain called up Ensign Kyree's personnel file. He had scanned it before, now he read word for word the Oradican's history. After a few minutes he closed the file. It was Worf's decision to make. He shouldn't waist time double-checking his officer's orders, Picard chided himself and turned his attention to his own work.
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A small disagreement was heard coming from the corner of Ten-Forward. Troi lowered her voice after her small louder out burst.
"Beverly, you have to leave them alone." She insisted.
"Deanna, I'm not hurting anything. Besides, I think they are getting along just fine." The doctor said with smug satisfaction.
"Yes, so leave them alone." Troi repeated. The Counselor couldn't remember a time when Beverly had been so stubborn. With the doctor's pushy match making, Beverly reminded Troi of her own mother. Troi decided to change her approach.
"Beverly, Reg is very uneasy, about their age difference. If you push too fast, he may think he's moving too fast for Kyree's age." The Betazoid saw her reasoning sink in. She gave a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you finally understand."
"Oh I understand." Beverly gave Troi a sly look over the edge of her glass as she took a sip.
"What is that suppose to mean?" Troi had a hard time figuring Beverly out sometimes. Even with her empathic abilities, the Doctor could lure her into believing something when it wasn't quite the way things were.
"Never mind." Beverly said. Troi opened her mouth to answer but a touch on her shoulder stopped her.
"Counselor, Doctor," Geordi stood grinning. Troi didn't have to use her abilities to tell he had something to tell.
"Sit down Geordi, you look like you're about to bust." Dr. Crusher said.
"Well, I'm not the one to spread tales around the ship." Geordi began as he slid in beside Troi. "But you've got to hear this."
"What?" Troi could feel Geordi's enjoyment.
"Reg, came down to Engineering to talk to me about switching shifts. So he could be off with Ensign Kyree. I was busy so he kind of hung around waiting. Some guys, Green, Deter, and Fisher, started teasing him about 'robbing the cradle.'
Troi became angry, with Geordi too. Why was he so pleased?
"I came in just as Barclay was letting them have it. He told them in no uncertain terms, without a hint of stuttering, to stop the harassment. And, if they brought the subject up again, he would put them on report." Geordi finished.
"I don't believe it." Dr. Crusher said in disbelief.
"Good for Reg." Troi tried to be more positive. "But, it is hard to imagine. I just had a short talk with him about the age difference..."
"Whatever you said must have worked." Geordi came back.
"And you told me to leave them alone." Dr. Crusher said dryly. Geordi gave Troi a questioning look but she chose to ignore the Doctor's quip.
"And it looks like you may be talking to the other half." Dr. Crusher nodded at the young women just entering Ten-Forward. Her ears made her silhouette distinct. The Oradican moved toward their table.
"Well, I'll let you handle this." Geordi patted Troi's shoulder as he got up and left. Kyree nodded a greeting to the commander, and turned slightly to watch him move to the door. Then the Oradican continued to the table.
"May I speak with you, Counselor, Doctor? " Kyree asked, looking at Troi curiously.
"Of course. Sit down." Troi offered the seat Geordi had just left. "What?" She wondered about the way the woman was looking at her.
"How long...never mind it is not my business." Kyree stopped her question.
"No, go ahead. Now you have me curious." Troi smiled.
"How long have you and Commander LaForge been together?" Kyree asked. Deanna felt a panic of her own as a devilish look came to Beverly's face.
"Now that's an idea!" The doctor said.
"Beverly, don't you even think about it." Deanna warned. Then seeing the worried look on Kyree's face Troi changed her tone when she asked. "Kyree, what makes you think Commander LaForge and I are a couple?"
The Oradican's ears flatten as she answered. "I have seen you and Commander LaForge together before...You both seem to enjoy each other's company so much. You smile a lot when you are with him. So does Commander LaForge." Kyree shrugged. "You two seemed to belong together. You are not?"
"No. We have been friends for many years." Troi said, affectionately thinking of Geordi. The Counselor didn't like the scheming look on Beverly's face. To distract Beverly, Troi reminded Kyree of her visit. "What did you want to talk about Kyree."
Kyree stared at the table for a long moment. Then sighed as she said. "I am so different. I want to...please Reg. He asked me to go for a walk with him." The woman's problem began to pour out. "I noticed the last time...none of them females walking with males, wore uniforms. I felt odd." Kyree finished, looking up at the two other women.
"We can help you pick out something to wear. Want to go to your cabin now?" Dr. Crusher assured.
"I have only uniforms in my closet." Kyree said.
"That's even better...We can go shopping in the ships stores." Troi suggested smiling.
"Now?" Kyree asked looking much happier. In answer, Beverly rose and encouraged Kyree to follow. Soon the three left Ten-forward and arrived at the ships stores.
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While Kyree would have been satisfied with one dress, Troi and Dr. Crusher made her try on several. As Kyree model a fourth selection she reminded Crusher and Troi she had to meet Reg soon.
"This will be the last one," Beverly assured her. The Doctor picked at the dress to see if it fitted right. "I'll do up your hair once you get dressed." She offered.
"Do I have to paint my face?" Kyree asked wrinkling her nose.
"Do you want to?" Troi smiled at her obvious disliked.
"No. Not really. It makes me sneeze," Kyree replied.
Beverly coughed to keep from laughing. "Then you better not. It wouldn't be very romantic if you were to sneeze when Reg tried to kiss you."
"Kyree, remember, Reg likes you just the way you are," Troi said firmly. The young woman stared at the floor for a long time. "Kyree? Are you all right?" Troi watched her nod without looking up.
"He told me he loves me," Kyree said softly. Troi felt an intense fear rise in Kyree.
"Why are you afraid? Kyree, Reg wouldn't lie to you." Troi assured her.
"I know he would not lie but…" Kyree's voice became softer as her ears flattened. "I can not Love him. I do not know how to love."
"Kyree, you'll learn," Troi said trying to make the Oradican look her in the face.
"I can not learn I had no father to teach me," Kyree shook her head. "I do not want to hurt Reg."
Troi and the Doctor knew vaguely the importance of a father in an Oradican female's life. Troi had to remind Kyree.
"You are half human perhaps you can learn on your own." Kyree looked up hopefully
"I have thought of that. Most of the time, I seem more like humans than Oradicans." Kyree frowned again. "But my thought are always Oradicans."
"I know how that feels." Troi smiled. "I'm half Betazoid and half human. I've learned the way humans think when I was studying to be a physiologist."
"You are half human?" Kyree eyes were wide as Troi nodded. "Did you know your father?" Kyree answered her own question a second later. " I am being stupid. I should not have asked that. Just because I do not know mine does not mean you do not."
Yes, I knew my father." Troy answered anyway.
"Kyree, you could know who your father is, but your records say you choose not to," Beverly commented quietly.
Kyree's face loss all expression as she nodded. Troi felt a deep fear rise in the woman then she felt Kyree mentally push the fear away.
"Where did you learn to do that?" The Betazoid asked leaving crusher wondering what they question was about.
"I learned young, fear helps nothing." Kyree suddenly pricked her ears up and her eyes widened. "Reg is coming here!"
Grabbing the hairbrush and clips she had assembled, Beverly pulled Kyree into the changing room.
The door opened and Reg slowly entered the mirrored area where Troi stood on guard.
"Counselor, have you seen Kyree? We were supposed to go for a walk." Reg looked around suspiciously.
"She will be out in a minute." Troi said slyly trying not to smile too much. She watched Reg begin to answer but his mouth dropped opened as a look of wonderment grew on his face. Troi turned to see Kyree coming out of the dressing room. The emerald form fitting dress complimented her slender frame and the richness of the red hair pulled slightly to one side. Reg was completely frozen. Troi felt Kyree begin to worry something was wrong.
"Reg, don't you think Kyree looks wonderful?" Troi gave Reg a pinch to get his attention. The man heard and saw only Kyree. He stepped forward staring transfixed.
"You are so beautiful. Do you really want to be seen with me?"
The worry Troi felt from Kyree was replaced by a warm hope. Kyree smiled shyly at the man.
"You like my new dress?" Kyree asked.
Reg nodded taking her hand. "Yes, but I love the woman inside it." Kyree broke into a smile. She pulled her hand away to hug him.
Troi then knew how Kyree felt about Reg. She couldn't tell her now. The Betazoid held her breath to keep from blurting out what Kyree felt.
"I guess we'll be going," Reg grinned as he took Kyree hand. Kyree thanked the two women and as the door was sliding shut behind her she heard an excited Troi tell Dr. Crusher. "Kyree loves him and she doesn't even know it." The door clicking shut muffled any response from the doctor.
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Reg was oblivious to Kyree's growing excitement. He felt like he was walking on air. Reg led her through he garden and stopped to kiss her under a Puja tree. As the heat from their bodies warmed the air around the tree, it turned several different colors and a pleasant fruity fragrance swirled around them.
Reg hugged her close to him. He had to force himself to calm down. If he moved to fast he could ruin everything. But Kyree wouldn't let him. She suggested they got to Reg's quarters.
Soon the pair became enthralled with each other on Reg's sofa. The dress made a contact with Kyree's body much more intimate. Reg crushed her to him wanting her so much but afraid he would scare her away. Reg was painting heavily as he pulled back to catch his breath.
"I love you Kyree," he said as he gazed into her eyes.
"Kyree smiled. She was breathless too. She remembered what Troi had said. "Reg, I…I love you too."
"Do you really?" Reg was shocked but please to hear her say the words. "OH, Kyree." He pulled her close.
"It must be love. Kyree said her voice muffled slightly from being held tightly. "I feel so much when I am with you." The woman was content to let Reg continue holding her while she spoke. " If love feels better than this…I do not think I will ever know it."
Reg hugged her tighter. His throat tightened. He felt like crying for the joy of her. Reg felt her pull so he released the tight hold. She looked serious as she took his hands.
"Reg let us promise to be honest with each other." Reg frowned slightly wondering what she meant. "I have read much about relationships and it seems to me the main problem couples have is honest," She explained.
"I see. I promise I'll always be honest with you, Kyree." Reg pledged.
"I promise to be honest with you, Reg." Kyree echoed and added. That means to say what you want truthfully ….not what you think I want you to say."
"I understand." Reg nodded.
Kyree took him by surprise with her next question. "Do you want to mate with me?"
Reg's heart beat wildly at the thought. His face flushed deep red. He stuttered, clearing his throat with a squeak. Finally he managed an answer. "Well…. yes, I want to make love to you very much. But that doesn't mean yyyou have to do it to make me love you." He watched her face and felt better as her face flushed too.
"I have never mated before," Kyree said shyly. "When we kiss and you hold me so tightly I want…. something…" Kyree said softly. "I am curious too. I wish to know what it is like."
The pounding in Reg's heart drowned out a lot of her answer. His hands shook as he caressed her face. Gently he kissed her lips then hungrily, deeply. Her response made him decide. "Let's go into the bedroom." He took her hand and with more confidence than he felt let her to his bed.
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After their love making Reg lay drowsily staring at the ceiling. Kyree curled up against his shoulder. Reg closed his eyes as Kyree idly rubbed his chest.
"Reg?" Kyree whispered.
"Mmm?" He struggled to open his eyes.
"Is making love always like that?" She asked. Her question caused him to stir.
"I can't promise anything but I'll try to make it as good as I can." Reg couldn't see her face but felt her ear flick his face. She pressed her cheek against his skin and he heard her inhale.
"You smell nice." Kyree commented.
"I don't have any cologne on." He said
"I am glad. Some I do not like. But just, you, smells good." The couple talked quietly. Kyree told him of the assignment to the planet.
Reg became alarmed. "Please Kyree be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you." He said
"I will be careful. But do not be concerned. Nothing dangerous has been found on the other planets." Kyree reminded him.
"I know." He hugged her fiercely. "I know. And you will be with others." Reg tried to ease his worried thoughts.
"I am assigned to guard Commander Riker and his group. He does not seem to need much protection." Kyree said.
Reg smiled at his mental picture of Riker calling Kyree for help. Not likely. Contented Reg closed his eyes again. He felt Kyree shift and rise up some.
"Do you wish for me to leave? So you may sleep?" She asked. Reg grabbed her lightly to keep her from getting up.
"No…no. I'm sorry. I just feel so sleepy with you so warm beside me." He released his hold. "Please stay and sleep with me." Reg was rewarded with one of Kyree's broad smile.
"I would like to." Kyree nestled back into the crook of his shoulder. "Good night Reg."
Reg felt his chest swell with love for her. His throat choked as he responded in a hoarse whisper. "Goodnight, my love."