A/N: First of all, many thanks to the awesome DrZevil for his input on this chapter, and the cameo of Admiral Zevil in this story. Secondly, thanks to everyone who reviewed last time, including my friend and long-time reviewer Kretolus, and I hope you all enjoy the new chapter!
Azhasca and Bobbi stood in the dock's gallery, watching the Endeavour-class cruiser Hades slide slowly into position.
Bobbi remained silent at her friend's side, letting the Trill's experienced eye rove over the streamlined vessel to determine what had been left out of the engineer's report.
"Well?" she asked after a moment, and Azhasca began speaking while still examining the ship.
"Let's start with the obvious - she's listing to starboard," she said bluntly, and Bobbi began taking notes on the large PADD she carried. "Check the control runs for the manoeuvering thrusters - looks like the lower port side are mis-firing."
"There's a few questions to be asked about how they managed to get half a bio-ship jammed into their hull, as well," Bobbi offered, and Azhasca nodded absently.
"Best be careful removing that. The deflector dish has taken a pretty severe hit from a bio-electric pulse," she added, pointing to the location in question. "Overhaul Deflector Control, there's bound to be more than a few blow-outs in there, then check the surrounding systems for any feedback damage."
"Nothing to add about the scoring on the hull plating, on the forward port quadrant?" Bobbi asked, and Azhasca clicked her tongue at her.
"It's superficial, just replace any plating that's compromised and buff out the rest."
She paced further down the gallery, watching as the ship began to power down, shuddering as the dock's tractor beams held it in place.
"The starboard nacelle is still leaking plasma, make sure to lock it down before stripping out the warp coils. Looks like we'll have to replace the pylon too, that thing's holding together more by sheer optimism than anything else right now."
"You don't think there's a core issue there?"
Azhasca shook her head again.
"No. The port nacelle isn't fluctuating in the same manner at all, it's definitely local." She thought for a moment, chewing her lip. "Have Womers check the core anyway. Can't be too careful when you've been dealing with Undine - their weapons can damage one system, but short out three more. The aft torpedo tubes are fused. All of the dorsal beam arrays are blown…" She sighed in weary anticipation, shaking her head yet again, only this time at the damage done to the ship. "She's going to be in dock for weeks. Maybe longer."
"Her captain won't be happy."
"He should try not getting shot then."
"I'll take that under advisement, Lieutenant, and let my helmsman know."
They both turned suddenly to the source of the new voice - a tall, slender male, with purple scaled skin and black combed-back hair. His beard and mustache were immaculately groomed, and he folded his hands behind him as he continued addressing the two women.
"Although, in his defense, there were quite a lot of Borg and Undine firing at us and our task force and Fluidic Space is a challenge to fly through."
"Admiral Zevil, sir," Azhasca stated unapologetically, extending her hand. "Welcome to my humble dockyard."
A pleasure, Lieutenant," Zevil said, shaking her hand firmly. "I do apologize for butting into your conversation, but since it involved me I couldn't resist."
"Plus he loves making an entrance." said the smirking Betazoid beside him.
"And you're no better?" Zevil quipped back at her, before turning back to Azhasca. "My First Officer, Commander Tyufia Utprut, and my Chief of Engineering, Rupert." he said, gesturing first to the Betazoid and then the older human male.
Azhasca raised an eyebrow at Rupert, before ignoring him and replying to the admiral.
"A pleasure, sirs. I'm Lieutenant Pezhal, and this barely-restrained bundle of girlish enthusiasm is my aide, Lieutenant Bobbi Lehar."
At the introduction, Bobbi seized Zevil's hand in an excited grip, shaking it vigoriusly.
"Ohmigod Admiral Zevil sir, it is such an honour to meet you," she babbled. "I've read about all your missions, the ones cleared for public access anyway, and I just love your command style, and you're one of the youngest officers ever to make Admiral and I want to be just like you, and-"
All the while she had been talking, Bobbi had continued shaking Zevil's hand, up until Azhasca pulled her away by her jacket collar.
"Excuse her sirs, she had too much coffee today," the Trill said mockingly, giving Bobbi a crooked smile.
"It's um...alright," Zevil said a little perplexed and taken aback by the Lieutenants greeting. "I had close to the same reaction recently when I first saw the U.S.S. Voyager."
"He only drooled a little bit though," Tyufia said teasingly, putting her arm around his shoulder. "I'm so proud of you!" she said in a baby voice and attempted to pinch his cheek, but he slapped her hand away.
"Would you behave?" Zevil chastised her, before he turned back to the two dock workers. "Thank you for your kind words, Lieutenant Lehar, I do try to serve the Federation the best that I can."
Bobbi giggled in a most undignified manner, blushing furiously.
"You're much more handsome in real life though," she said hurriedly, earning a withering glare from her CO.
"Keep that up, Lieutenant, and you'll be stripping those warp coils out with tweezers," she told her friend, then looked to Zevil again.
"I apologise again for my aide's behaviour, sir. Ever since we stopped dating she's been like a Vulcan during Pon'far."
"So you're single?" asked Tyufia in an almost predatory fashion, "what a coincidence, so's Z-OW!" she started to say but yelped in pain when Zevil stepped on her foot.
"I'm sorry, Commander, I must have slipped." Zevil said, his tone dry, and not at all apologetic. What followed was what Azhasca could only conclude as the two senior officers having a psychic discussion.
Or they were both trying to weaponise their annoyance. It was hard to tell with command staff.
"If I may ask," Rupert said, his voice jovial and conversational, "what you plan on starting with, lass? Aside from ejecting the Fluidic matter that has found itself in mah ship?"
Azhasca looked at the photonic officer, her expression a mask of strained neutrality.
"I'll remind you that while in dock, the Hades is our ship, and you will get her back when we are finished and not a second before."
Bobbi cleared her throat at Azhasca's side, before muttering "remember what we discussed, Azh."
Azhasca rolled her eyes and continued.
"That said, we'll probably start at the fore and work our way aft, locking down any immediate threats beforehand, of course."
"Ah." Rupert said, the haughty and superior nature of his original personality coming through in that single syllable. "Well you are right that is how this works, Lieutenant, but I would still appreciate updates on your progress, as will the Hades' Chief of Operations."
Deciding that he needed to come back to the conversation before a fight broke out, Zevil said, "as is procedure as well, but I'm sure the Lieutenant knows that, Chief." Zevil then turned to Azhasca. "I think we've taken enough of your time Lieu-"
"Xavius!" a musical voice called out, and they all turned to see a short, chestnut-haired Bajoran woman, wearing the signature slate-grey coat of Starfleet Intelligence and striding down the corridor. "A pleasure to see you again! It's been too long."
"Lydana," Zevil said, friendly pleasure coloring his voice. "Quinn said we might be here at the same time, and I'm glad he was right. You remember my First Officer and my Chief of Engineering."
"Of course," Lydana answered cheerfully, looking to each one as she greeted them in turn. "Hello again, Rupert. Hello, Tyufia. Still keeping this stubborn fool on his toes?"
"Actually, he was just on mine." The Betazoid replied, sending her friend a glare.
"That's quite rich given your track record my friend," Zevil said teasingly, ignoring the glares being sent his way, then became slightly smug as he looked at his claws. "And Admiral Tuvok found my ideas less than foolish."
Lydana raised an eyebrow, waiting for a few moments before soeaking again.
"Well Tyufia, you just became my new best friend," she said with mock hurt, standing next to the tall Betazoid and poking her tongue out at Zevil.
"What an amazing coincidence, I need a new one myself," Tyufia said as she slung an around the petite Admiral's shoulders, also sticking her tongue out at the other Admiral.
"Oh yes, that's a very grown up response, ladies," Zevil stated dryly. "So what brings you to the DryDocks, need to 'borrow' another ship?"
"Not fucking likely," Azhasca growled, "the next time someone tries to steal a ship under my care, regardless of rank, I'll shoot them myself."
Lydana's eyes widened at the Trill woman's audacity, and she cleared her throat before stepping towards the dockmaster.
"We haven't met yet," she stated, extending her hand. "Admiral Kassai Lydana, and you are?"
"Lieutenant Pezhal," Azhasca answered tersely, folding her hands behind her back. "This is my aide, Lieutenant Lehar. And I meant what I said."
"I was just going over the Hades' repairs with the Lieutenant," Zevil said, sensing the growing animosity and once again decided to play peacekeeper. Then something occurred to him, "Wait... Pezhal. Why do I feel like I've heard that name somewhere?"
"Because I introduced myself to you a few minutes ago," Pezhal answered in a dry tone.
"Wait, yeah, I know what you mean," Lydana agreed. "Pezhal...as in Azhasca Pezhal? Didn't you-"
"That's not a topic I care to discuss, Admiral," the Trill interrupted, her breathing quickening. "If you'll excuse me, I should be going."
"Just one moment Lieutenant," Zevil said, his famous 'captain voice' coming into play. "I think you, Admiral Kassai, and I need to have little talk."
"No, sir, I don't think we do," Azhasca told him, refusing to look at either Admiral and clenching her fists at her sides. She fought to keep her breathing steady, but she knew she was failing.
"There is nothing...I want...to talk about," she finished, her voice quivering slightly.
Zevil was taken aback and curious at the Trill's reaction, and he looked to his fellow Admiral. "Your turn."
"Azhasca," Lydana started, her voice low and steady, "I know what you've gone through. I know it's hard to remember the past, and not count the ways it could have gone differently. But we need skilled captains out there - and I believe you're one of them."
"No!" Azhasca wheeled on the admirals, quickly masking the pain that flashed in her eyes. "I have spent two years putting this crew together, hand-picked and trained by me. I owe it to them to stay here, and do what I'm best at. If you'll excuse me."
With a curt nod to Zevil, Azhasca strode down the hallway, Bobbi close behind her.
"That could have gone better." Tyufia said dryly.
"No," Zevil said, cocking his eyebrow at the short Bajoran beside him, "that went as well as it could have considering what we were asking of her." His voice gained the tiniest of hard edges to it as he added, "I don't appreciate being used like that Lydana.
"I have no idea what you mean, Xavius." Lydana's tone, as ever, was completely innocent. "I came here to invite a friend to lunch. That a veteran captain was here is simply a bonus."
"Yes, I'm sure," Zevil said dryly, rolling his eyes at the younger Admirals antics, "but I doubt we helped her decide to come back to the chair."
"What exactly happened to her?" Asked Tyufia, her curiosity going into overdrive when the two Admirals shared a look.
"Not our story to tell, Commander." Zevil said, sending a sympathetic look towards the direction Ashasca fled in. "Just know it was bad enough for her to give up her position to come here."
"I might not know exactly what happened," Tyufia said as she also looked down where the Trill went, "but it had to have been a true horror for her, given the tidal waves of negativity that was coming off her at only the mention of the Captain's chair." She turned back to the other officers and hugged herself. "If I wasn't a full Betazoid, I doubt I would still be standing from feeling those emotions."
"As Xavius said," Lydana answered, "it isn't our story to tell. But given what her file says...she's suffered more than even I did."
"Perhaps," Zevil started to say in a thoughtful tone as he eyed Lydana, "it's time to enlist the aid of someone who's dealt with a difficult case close to hers."
Lydana sighed resignedly.
"Well, so much for lunch," she said bitterly, before heading towards the transporter room.
"Nonsense," Zevil said, following her, "we're going to need a better venue to convince him to get involved than his office."
