~Story Continue~

You redecorated your room slightly, placing orange and yellow coloured, large daises around your quarters…they were your favourite flowers and your favourite colours after all. Once finished and you were content with how the room was, you still felt as though you had to go out and do something before you went to bed…but what?

*Lets see…got some flowers…bed has three pillows…computer has recorded my preferences…I know! I'll go to Ten Forward! Meet some new people!* You decided jumping off your bed and up to your mirror.

Your brown hair was naturally straight with a slight curl as it travelled to the bottom and stopped just above your chest area. Your fringe was swept from your side parting which went from right to left. However, you always took note to make sure it never went over your left eye…security needs both eyes at all times. Because of your Clavatian heritage, your eyes were an unnatural dark green – like a dark emerald colour. At first sight, many would describe you as a pretty fragile girl and many women envied your looks. Unfortunately you found them extremely frustrating as many people wouldn't take you seriously. You may have been a security officer, but that never meant you couldn't be a little bit girly. You applied some eyeliner – one piece of make-up you never leave without applying as you found it brought out the colour in your eyes. Other than that you hardly ever wear make-up – unless it's a special occasion. Satisfied with how you looked, you lightly ruffled your hair and straightened your uniform before leaving.

~At Ten Forward~

The doors opened and you saw the room to be fuller than it was earlier with seats scarcely being available. Now many new people would tuck their tails between their legs and leave afraid. But not you as this to you this was a perfect opportunity to mingle. You walked over to the bar and managed to squeeze into a stool. A woman dressed in a long purple dress and a large purple hat noticed you sitting on the other side of the counter and walked over to you.

"How can I help you?" She politely asked with a smile.

"Hi there." You replied smiling. "Um…I'll have some liquid confidence please."

"I guess you're new." She chuckled. "Anything in particular?"

"Some white wine please. Chilled. Don't ask me what kind because I know nothing about wine. Something sweet."

"Sure thing. I think I know a particular wine you'll like." She smiled, walking away to get your drink.

*Wow…pretty full in here.* You commented to yourself looking around.

"There we are," Her voice interrupted. "A chilled glass of Chardonnay. Arguably one of the best white wines of the Twentieth Century."

You picked up the small glass and gave it a sip before nodding approvingly.

"That is amazing. Could you make that my regular please?"

"Sure thing. Can I take you name?" She asked, pulling out a small computer pad.

"It's Lieutenant Natasha Kang." You replied, taking another sip of your wine.

"I'm Guinan." She smiled, putting the pad away and leaning on the counter. "Kang…Picard spoke of you. Said you were part clavatian and that he knew you since you were a child."

"That's me. The Captain was a friend of my fathers. So, is there anybody here I should be careful talking to?" You asked, realizing that she probably knew quite a lot about people and their personalities.

"Well…I would suggest that you try talking to that guy there sometime tonight. That's Commander Riker. He's a lovely, loyal gentleman whose pretty easy to get on with once you get to know him. He'll first of all be quite authoritive and curious about your knowledge and past experiences, He's the best when it comes to Poker. That guy is Lieutenant Worf-."

"Yep, I've met him. I think I did well…I made him laugh so hopefully that's a plus."

"That is a plus. You're taking over for Lieutenant Yar, right?" She questioned.

"No. I'm not taking over her, just her job. I hope no-one sees me as a grave-filler." You replied seriously. "Hopefully nobody is gonna think of me badly because of that."

"Well be careful around Lieutenant Bates. Her and Tasha Yar were very close and she looked up to her quite a lot. She was a determined woman. You'll be lucky if she even talks to you." Guinan warned.

"Got it. Well, thank you Guinan. Now if you excuse me, I have some mingling to so. Thanks again for the tips." You smiled, taking one last sip of your wine before jumping off the stool and walking through the crowds of people.

*Okay, who first? Lets see…you look angry…you're staring at me funny. Wait how about this guy? I think I know his name…*

"Lieutenant La Forge?"

"That's me. How can I help?" A man wearing a VISOR replied.

"Hi, I'm Lieutenant Natasha Kang – I work in security. Just thought I'd get to know the crew." You smiled shaking his hand. "You're chief of engineering, right?"

"Yes I am." He replied returning the handshake. "You're new right? I've heard a lot about you Kang."

"Really? Nothing bad I hope. And please, call me Natasha."

"No, no. The Captain speaks highly about you. So you're part Clavat?"

"That's correct. The captain sounds as though he talks about me quite a bit…and also everyone seems to be surprised I'm part Clavatian. So is it just the captain who talks about me?"

"Well there were a couple of rumours going around about a transfer. I gotta say, Natasha, you're accent is very…unique." He commented, smiling slightly.

"You realize you're the third person to say that since I got here. It's just a mixture of accents is all."

"Must get annoying after a while, everybody commenting on your dialect."

"Not really. This one time when I was on the Imperium, there was a tribe we were delivering supplies to. Now these people find the old language of Irish Gaelic beautiful – which is now quite a rare language. They loved it so much they made it their primary language about 120 years ago in 2230. Anyway, they tend to be quite selfish and generally don't talk to Enterprise officers whenever they normally make deliveries. But for some strange reason, the locals thought I WAS Gaelic which, you know, I thought was pretty nifty…and then they started speaking Gaelic to me."

Le Forge began laughing to himself.

"And unfortunately, I had NO idea what they were saying and as I don't help with deliveries just the security I couldn't get away. So I ended up just standing there nodding and occasionally laughing when they laughed." You finished, laughing lightly to yourself.

Le Forge began laughing louder now, just enough for you to hear which was a good sign.

"I like you, Natasha. You're naturally a funny person. It's not often we get someone like you."

"Really Lieutenant? I figured people were laughing at my accent rather than my stories to be honest."

He laughed a bit more before putting his arm round your shoulders.

"Call me Geordi, Natasha. I want you to meet a friend of mine, Commander Riker. I think you and him would get on really well." He suggested with a friendly tone.

*Wait…the commander! Uh-oh! Uh-oh!* You began to panic as Geordi led you through the crowds until he approached a small table.

"Commander Riker?"

"Yes, Geordi? How can I help?" A man with a beard and a red uniform asked.

"I just thought I should introduce you to Lieutenant Kang. She's new on board." Georgi introduced.

"How do you do Lieutenant. I believe I saw you earlier on the bridge…please take a seat, both of you."

"Thank you. And please call me Natasha." You politely replied before taking a seat in front of the commander whereas Geordi sat between you both.

"So you're new onboard? The Captain speaks highly of you, Natasha." Riker began.

"So I'm told."

"Natasha and I were just talking and I have to say, I think you and her would get on. So I thought the two of you should meet."

"Good. I was hoping to catch up with you, Natasha. A lot of mystery surrounds you."

"And a mystery most it shall stay, Commander. I've heard a lot about you though…I hear you're the best at poker?"

"Perhaps. Do you play at all?"

"Unfortunately not…but I'm a pro at snap." You joked.

Commander Riker laughed before leaning forward onto the table – relaxed and smiling at you. Infact many women would compliment his good looks…heck he was kinda cute.

"So have you had much experience on other Starfleet ships?"

"Well…I was on three ships prior to the Enterprise and they were all in security. So I would say so." You replied…were you blushing?

"Three ships…you're either really good and were wanted by other ships or the other ships didn't want you." He joked. "What made you choose security? You don't look a security type of person to me."

"Well…I may not look much, Commander, but I assure you I'm a lot tougher than I look. It's all a disguise." You teased. "Not only that it was something I enjoy doing. The feeling you get when you successfully protect someone…it's gratifying."

"I bet. Your accent, Natasha…it's-."

"Different? Unique?" You finished with a smirk.

"I guess you've been hearing that all the time since you got on board?"

"Pretty much. So Commander, what type of person DO I look like?" You questioned, turning the spot light onto him.

Geordi looked at him smugly while Commander Riker thought very carefully about how to answer.

"I would say…that you would have perhaps specialized in a different area. It just you've got a small frame for someone in security." He craftily answered.

"Makes me harder to catch-."

"Picard to Riker." You heard Rikers badge interrupt.

"Riker here." He replied pressing his badge.

"It looks as though something has came up and I need your assistance."

"Very well, Riker out." He replied before standing up. "I'm terribly sorry but duty calls."

"It's cool, I was thinking of heading back to get some shut eye too. It was really nice meeting you Geordi." You began, shaking his hand.

"You too Natasha. Hopefully see you again soon."

"Well…" Riker began. "We're holding a poker match tomorrow in my quarters once my duties finish. Perhaps you would care to join us?"

"Hey that's a great idea. It'll be me, Commander Riker and Data…we do need a fourth player." Geordi re-enforced.

"Yeah sure. I'm not too far from Commander Data's quarters so I'll travel with him. Good night gentleman."

"Good night Natasha." Geordi replied before beginning to talk with another person.

"Goodbye Commander-."

"Perhaps I could walk with you, Natasha. I am going that way." The Commander suggested.

"Oh. Yeah sure, why not." You agreed. "Just let me say bye to a friend."

You walked over to the bar to speak to Guinan.

"Well?" She asked with her eyebrows raised.

"It went great. Commander Riker has invited me to a poker match tomorrow and he's gonna walk with me a bit on his way to the bridge. And me, Geordi and Riker are all on first name terms. Thanks again for the tips, Guinan. I better go because he's waiting." You smiled before leaving Ten Forward with Riker.

You both walked down to the end of the hall before climbing

"So Commander, do I get a first name or are you just Riker?"

"William. But please call me Will. So how did you and the captain meet, Natasha?"

"Well…He came to the planet Krutchkum when I was a little girl. My mother knew him as a friend so he came round to evening meals frequently…until the CHAP was breached."

"CHAP?"

"Oh, Clavatian and Human Agreement of Partnership. Unfortunately not all clavatians were happy about the deal as many of them were still pretty headstrong and traditional. As the Federation brought new, idealistic technology they also brought new ways and new religions which they did not like. The Clavatians split up into two catagories – Bandits and Allies. Eventually the bandits became larger than the federations allies so the deal was cut off."

"I see. You must know a lot about your people?"

"Just the history but not the language…I was hoping one day to go back there and learn the language. It is my original homeland after all…but the people on Krutchkum wouldn't take me back." You answered awkwardly.

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be." You smiled reassuringly. "It's their loss…besides I quite enjoy the human side. A lot more than the clavatian side, I assure you. They're too serious and proud. I love the humans so much they're just so…adventurous!"

"You're beginning to sound like Data." Riker laughed. "But I'm glad you're looking on the bright side. This is my floor. I guess I'll speak to you some other time Natasha."

"I hope so too." You replied as he left the elevator.

The elevator travelled down two more floors and once you arrived at your destination, you walked through the doors in search of you quarters.