Emelle pulled her black jacket on over the charcoal coloured v-neck tank. She knelt and laced her boots, pulling the slack pant legs over them. As she zipped her jacket, stopping so that there would be a tasteful amount of cleavage showing, she took a good minute to look at herself in the mirror. 'Lovely.' Her black fitted outfit hugged her body perfectly, showing off her athletic curves, and her dark curls tumbled perfectly over her shoulders. Grinning to herself, she pulled on the sleeves of her jacket, eliminating the wrinkles of cloth around her shoulders.

A sharp knock pulled her gaze away from herself. "And you were worried the scrubs would be inappropriate." Beverly looked the young woman up and down. "Is it painted on?"

Emelle chuckled. "This, whether you believe me or not, is my uniform." She pointed to the stripes on her cuffs. "This indicates my rank. Just because it's a little tight...well let me just say that your food isn't exactly fat free." She self-consciously straightened the fabric over her stomach.

"Oh, I wasn't talking about you weight." Beverly looked at her sceptically. "It's just an interesting sense of style for a uniform."

"Coming from the woman with four pounds of foam in each shoulder." Emelle retorted with a sly grin as she flicked one of Beverly's shoulder pads.

Beverly straightened, and when Emelle walked past her towards the door, she took a quick look at the shoulders of her jacket. Shaking her head, she turned and followed Emelle towards the door. As the two walked out, Beverly immediately noticed the attention Emelle was drawing from the male officers. Her attention, however, was drawn away from the drooling looks from the young men, when Worf and two other officers walked towards them. "Mr. Worf! What can I do for you?"

"We're your escort." He shifted his gaze toward Emelle. "To ensure your safety on the way to the meeting."

"Well, thank you Worf, but I don't think that's necessary."

Emelle softly smiled. "She's right."

Worf took a step toward Emelle, but she held her ground. "As chief of security, it is my job to ensure the safety of this crew, and since your record on this ship is tainted, I am personally going to ensure you don't escape the consequences."

"What I meant," Emelle stepped forward so that they were toe to toe. "is that if I wanted to escape, they," she looked over Worf's shoulder at the two other security officers. "or you couldn't stop me."

As they glared at each other, Beverly stepped in and placed a hand on his arm. "Maybe we can continue this after the meeting. We're already late, and I don't want to be the one to explain to Captain Picard that it's because of a stare-down." Worf broke the gaze and nodded at Beverly. "Good. Shall we?"

Emelle brushed past Worf, and fell into step with Beverly. Throwing an other look over her shoulder, seeing the three security guards behind them, she rolled her eyes and shook her head. She had a distinct feeling this was going to be a long day. When they reached the turbo lift, they all stood in an awkward silence, Beverly folded her hands in front of her, as Emelle rolled back and forward lightly on the balls of her feet, and Worf shifted from left foot to right. When the doors opened, and the five squeezed into the lift. "Deck 1." Worf called. The tension was beginning to build as Emelle looked up from the floor and saw the two silent guards watching her, and she didn't have to look at the big guy. She could feel the burn of his gaze. Beverly could feel the tension build, and it started to make her nervous. As she observed Emelle, she didn't want to think of what she would be capable of if she felt threatened and acted on it.

"So, Worf," Beverly attempted to break the tension. "how's Alexander feeling?"

"Fine." Was all he replied.

Beverly nodded, and exhaled heavily. 'Can't blame a girl for trying.' Luckily the turbo doors opened to reveal Wesley Crusher.

He took a look at the people in the lift, and raised his hands. "I'll get the next one."

"No!" As he started to take a step back, Beverly reached out, grabbed his arm, and pulled him in. "No need. There's lots of room." She looped her arm in his. She went to continue a conversation, when she saw the dumb struck look on his face as he stared at Emelle. Dropping her shoulders and shaking her head, she lightly grabbed Emelle's arm. "Wesley, this is Emelle Pinces, Commander of the Volkerie. Commander, this is my son, Lieutenant Wesley Crusher."

Smiling at the look on his face, Emelle slightly bowed her head. "Lieutenant."

"Co-" Wesley cleared his throat and extended his hand. "Commander." Emelle shook his hand, still grinning. "So," he turned to his mother, and cleared his throat again when he saw the grin forming on her face. "are you all off to the observation lounge?"

"Yes. Where are you off to?"

"Commander La Forge asked me to join the meeting. I've been working with Commander Data trying to find the quickest way to re-route power back to the ship's computer."

Emelle looked at him surprised. "What have you done so far?"

"We managed to connect an outside power source to your ship's computer, but it was only for a moment."

"What happened?"

"Ah," Wesley shifted feet lightly. "We underestimated how much power the damaged conduits could handle." Emelle raised both eyebrows, making him nervous. "We fried some of the circuits which-"

"You WHAT?" Emelle turned lightly towards Wesley, which made Worf respond by grabbing her arm. Emelle ripped her arm free and turned to him."Touch me again, and I'll break you!"

A few decks above, Deanna and Will were on their way to the senior staff meeting, arm in arm. When they heard arguing and banging coming from the lift, Deanna released Will and walked towards the door. She turned to him. "Something's wrong.

He quickly pressed the call button, and the noises got louder. When the doors opened, it only took Will one second to react. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" They all froze. One of the security guards was against the wall, cradling his left wrist, while the other was on a knee holding his bleeding nose. Beverly and Wesley were between Worf and Emelle, Beverly grasping Emelle's jacket collar with one hand, while using the other to push against Wesley's back as he used both hands to try and hold Worf back. "Mr. Worf, I would like an explanation. Now!"

The three standing Starfleet officers straightened themselves, Beverly keeping herself in front of Emelle. "We were escorting the doctor and commander to the meeting." Worf stated. He quickly turned his gaze to Emelle. "A disagreement arose."

"A disagreement? Mr. Worf there better be a better explanation when three of the most respected officers on this ship get into a fight with a guest."

Beverly stepped forward, a little insulted by Will's accusation. "It was a disagreement, Commander, hardly a fight."

Will pointed to the injured security guards. "They touched me first." Emelle explained.

"It was a misunderstanding sir." Wesley interrupted. "I was explaining to the Commander the work we had begun on the Volkerie, and there was misunderstood action."

"I moved!" Emelle moved past Beverly. "Then muscles over there grabbed me."

"I interpreted her action, and the heated nature of the conversation as an act of aggression towards the lieutenant."

Will held up both hands and closed his eyes. "I've heard enough." He turned to the two guards still in the lift. "Get yourselves down to sickbay, and then take the rest of the day." They nodded and closed the turbo doors.

Deanna stepped forward. "We should be going. We're already late."

Will nodded. "We'll discuss this later."

"Yes Sir."

"Yes."

"Yeah, sure." They all answered at once. Beverly and Wesley moved first, making their way down the hall. She loved her son, and knew that he was destined for great things, but Beverly was relieved that the business with the traveller was over, and he was back on board. She remembered back to the celebratory dinner she had with Jean Luc the night after Wesley returned and told them he would like to return to Starfleet. She remembered how Jean Luc rested an arm around the back of the coach, and as she leant in and rested her head on his shoulder he told her that he would accept Wesley's return. When Jean Luc called her to his ready room, and announced that Wesley would officially be returning to duty as a lieutenant, she could not remember being more proud of her son. She threw her arms around Jean Luc's neck, and hugged him, more than thrilled when he hugged her back with equal fervour.

Deanna shot a quick glance at Will, before moving to walk next to Emelle, leaving Will to walk with Worf.

"I am sorry Commander."

"It's ok Mr. Worf. What did happen to Ensigns Louis and K'lek?"

Worf grunted. "When Ensign K'lek moved to restrain our guest, she broke his wrist, and broke Ensign Louis's nose before he could reply."

Will chuckled. "She knows how to fight then."

Worf stopped before entering the observation lounge. "She, ah, she even managed block some of my blows. Rather skilfully, I might add."

Will full out smiled. "Are you saying, if you two came to blows, she'd beat you?"

Worf scowled even further. "Comedy is not one of your strong points Commander." He remarked as he moved past Will into the lounge.

Well, I'm enjoying it! Let me know what you guys think! R&R!