My thanks to all my readers and my deepest apologies for taking so long but I am back again and with a vengeance!! So with out further ado....On with the saga....!
"Why am I not surprised?" She responded dryly as she sat down and rubbed her sore temples with her finger tips.
"Preliminary scans of the wreckage have shown an unknown accelerant in microscopic amounts on some of the inner bulkheads. Particularly those near the engineering deck of the Chancellor's ship." Vorik said showing her the forensic report.
"There is something else that is kind of strange." Lt. Moleto said speaking up. "I was reviewing the sensor logs from just before the engines went critical. There was hardly any activity on the ship at all."
"What do you mean?" Alexandra asked curiously.
"Well….no one on the ship was evening moving. Here let me show you." The science officer leaned over and pulled up sensor reading on the captain's console. "The chancellor's ship had an extensive hydroponics bay that requires constant attention. Naturally people should be moving around tending to the plants. Now look here." She pointed to the screen as it showed the hydroponics bay and three small dots in the bay. "For 10 minutes these three people didn't move an inch. Even when the alarm sound for the core destabilizing, they never moved. Here again, on their engineering deck and the crew on the bridge. They never moved. I think the crew was already dead when the core went critical." Moleto finished with a sigh.
"The explosion was no accident Captain. Someone is trying to sabotage the treaty." Vorik said ominously.
"Well who ever it is has done a piss poor job of it. How could the H'lirken hold us responsible when clearly this was done by a third party?" Alexandra said putting down the PADD and getting up to start pacing.
Lt. Lowell came onto the command deck and handed a report to Vorik whom after reading it spoke up to answer the captain's question.
"I think the H'lirken will hold us responsible because we should have been alerted to the fact that the chancellor's ship was having problems at least 5 minutes before we actually were. A repair team made a report that several internal alarm systems connected with the computers were down. We could have saved the ship if we had had proper warning. It could be seen as negligence on our part captain."
"How did so many systems fail all at the same time? That just seems too much of a coincidence." Alexandra said angrily. She knew it was no coincidence but proving it wasn't incompetence would be very difficult.
"I have all engineering teams going through every diagnostic and test there is on all station systems. We will find out what happened Captain." Lt Lowell said as he headed to the turbo lift muttering under his breath as the doors opened. "When I get my hands on the wanker that messed with my station.."
"We still have the sensor logs of the chancellor's ship showing that most if not all of the crew was dead. Dr. Baran can run DNA analysis on the remains we find and that deflect some of the accusations." Vorik said quietly. At that moment Ambassador Torin and Chancellor Ka'as stepped on to the bridge and Alexandra groaned inwardly.
"Captain Torchescue, the chancellor wants a progress report." Torin said and his attitude was that if Alexandra didn't have good news or at least have the solution to the mystery it would be her ass. Alexandra stood up and straightened her uniform before moving to intercept the ambassador and the chancellor before they could read the console screens.
"The progress is we have strong evidence to support that some one was behind the destruction of your ship Chancellor."
"Who was it then?" Ka'as asked impatiently. Apparently the ambassador wasn't the only one feeling pissy.
"We haven't determined that yet sir and as soon as we do you will be the first to know. However I do need for you to remain in your for security purposes in case other attempts are made."
"You believe I was the target?"
"Honestly no. At least not directly. I think the peace treaty was the target in whole but I am not going to take any chances with your safety."
"I am forced to agree Chancellor. I will remain by Captain Torchescue's side and keep you informed of everything." Torin said.
Like hell you will Alexandra thought smugly then decided now was the time to use her authority.
"Actually Ambassador, under Starfleet regulations your safety is now my responsibility so I am ordering that all non essential personnel be confined to quarters till further notice."
Ambassador Torin's face momentarily contorted in anger and he was about to protest but Alexandra cut him off.
"Ambassador I am not going to argue this point. I cannot conduct this investigation while worrying about your safety. The matter is closed."
"Very well. I will be putting this in my report to Starfleet about your performance or lack there of." With that the rude ambassador bowed to the chancellor and left the bridge. Chancellor Ka'as looked at Alexandra and narrowed his eyes.
"Is there something you are not telling us Captain?"
"There are some points to the investigation I haven't revealed as of yet but rest assured I will find the answer to this." Alexandra was starting to feel agitated and wanted to get back to the investigation. Holding the hand of officials wasn't her favorite thing to do and Ka'as had this way of looking at her that made her want to squirm where she stood like she was a child with a naughty secret. "If you would return to your quarters now Chancellor. We have a lot of work to do."
"If I find there was culpability on your part Captain, I will be adding my voice to Ambassador Torin's to Starfleet."
Vorik moved subtly to Alexandra's side seeing the slight twitch of muscles in her jaw and the look in her eyes. He knew she was close to loosing her temper and decided to test his secret theory. If they were indeed now bound to each other, he would be able to calm her raging emotions and keep her from ripping the chancellor's head off. Vorik slowly started to siphon off her anger and rage and replace it with even calm and logic. The effect was a little more instantaneous and ragged then he would have liked. Alexandra started to look dizzy then shook her head slightly and put her arms behind her back before speaking.
"I understand completely Chancellor. I will keep you appraised of our investigation. If you need anything please do not hesitate to let us know."
The chancellor looked Alexandra over once then turned on his heel and left the bridge. Alexandra heaved a sigh as the turbo lift doors closed on the chancellor and began to look confused. She was about to hand the chancellor's head to him on a platter verbally when she suddenly felt the heat of her anger leave her body and was replaced by a cool wind of calm. She had never calmed down that fast in all her life and she had no idea why she did it now. Now that she was free of the fog of Alexandra thought of something important.
"The systems failing and the explosion were not a coincidence yet the only way those systems could have failed at such a precise time is if the saboteur had intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the station." She said still lost in thought.
"Following that train of logic the saboteur would have to be a member of the crew." Lt. Nosea said darkly. Alexandra nodded at her chief of security's grasp of her idea and followed her nod with another set of orders.
"Lt Nosea I want you to double shift the security teams and lock down the base. The person responsible is still here and I want him or her found."
"Yes Ma'am." Lt Nosea left the bridge and tapped her com badge ordering all security teams to report to the conference room for debriefing. Alexandra pinched the bridge of her nose and started to feel very dizzy. Vorik grabbed her arm and led her to a chair and Dr Baran drew his tricorder and scanned her.
"Captain, your nearing exhaustion. Everyone here knows what to do so I think you should go and rest for the night." Baran said giving her a hypo spray from his case.
"Is that an order Holis?" She asked with a grin.
"Would you do it if I asked nicely?"
"Hell no."
"That's what I thought."
Alexandra chuckled and nodded her head bowing her head to the doctor acknowledging his win of the situation. She grabbed a few PADDs on her way off the bridge and went to her quarters. Once there she stripped off her uniform and climbed into a hot bath to relax herself. She lit some lavender scented candles and dimmed the lights then let her tension drift away in a haze warm water and scent. Two hours passed when Alexandra lifted her head and frowned thinking she heard the door buzzer. She rose up and put on a robe and opened her door. There was Vorik with his Kal'To board and an eyebrow raised quizzically.
"If I came at a bad time Captain, we can play another time."
"No. No it's fine. Let me put my hair up." Alexandra left Vorik to set up the board while she pinned up her hair and gave herself a hard look in the mirror before going back to the living room. Alexandra sat opposite of Vorik and made the opening move in the game.
"How are you holding up Vorik?"
"Admirably I would say. Yourself Captain?"
"Vorik for heaven's sake, call me Alex when we are off duty and alone. As for how I am doing....I am managing. Insanity is being thrust upon me but I am keeping it at bay." She said with a slight chuckle. "I would be managing better if it weren't for the damn dreams I have been having."
"When did the dreams start?" Vorik asked as his eyes remained glued to the game. Alexandra sat up and shook her head holding a Kal'To stick in her hand.
"You may kick my ass at Kal'To but you suck when it comes to trying to keep things from me."
"Pardon me?" he asked surprised.
"You have been checking up on me. How? You been sneaking in a mind meld here and there to make sure I am OK?"
Vorik sat back in his chair but remained silent. He had felt a slight tension that he attributed to what he thought was her discovery of their situation but instead she was under the impression that he was merely invading her mind to make sure she was alright. How could he tell her that he was always there and would always be there from now on? Vorik could tell from the brief connection they shared earlier that they had bonded fully and completely but he was at a loss on how to tell Alexandra this. He decided now was not the time and tried to dodge the issue altogether.
"That would be a reasonable conclusion. I cannot be blamed for being concerned for a friend can I Alex?"
"I appreciate it but I am OK Vorik. You can stay out of my head now." She said with a smile and placed her stick on the board.
"I can show you some techniques for sleeping better if you like."
"If it involves that smelly Vulcan incense, no thanks. I hate that stuff." She was now concentrating on the board intently thinking she had been boxed in again.
"No. Just breathing." Vorik said placing another piece on the board.
"Tried it. Doesn't work."
Vorik knew she was averse to changing her routine when it came to her taking proper care of her self so again he would need to be crafty here. "I propose a wager. If I am able to give you a good night sleep with my breathing technique, you will let me teach you Vulcan meditation. If I am not successful then I will give you 2 cases of Haskian chocolate coffee." Vorik knew that to most eyes he would be seen as taking advantage of the situation, he felt he was merely using the information he had to benefit the health and welfare of his commanding officer. It helped that Alexandra was almost addicted to Haskian chocolate coffee. She looked up at her first officer and smiled evilly.
"Your on. I won't even have to try on this one. Lucky for me my insomnia will be doing most of the work for me on this one."
"Very well. Please sit cross legged on the floor and close your eyes." Vorik indicated the spot on the floor where he wanted her to sit. Alexandra chuckled but did as he asked thinking this was going to be an easy bet to win. She had done all this before. Vorik removed his uniform tunic and sat down behind her.
"Can you remove your robe?"
Alexandra bit her lip wondering if it was such a big deal if she took off the robe since he had seen it all before. She was tired though and decided what the hell and shrugged off her robe and let it fall around her hips. Vorik was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed himself and placed his hands on her back. He tried very hard to suppress the memories of the last time his hands hand touched her and it was even more difficult because he could feel her own agitation threw their bond.
"Try and relax your self then take a deep breath every 2 second." He said softly.
"This is as relaxed as I am going to get right now."
"Very well." He began pressing very lightly on the nerve clusters on her back with only his fingertips while she started her deep breathing. Her back was smooth and warm from her bath and she smelled of lavender. He found his hands were wondering over her back exploring the curves. Alexandra tried not to sigh in pleasure from his touch but could not stop her back from arching into his hands further. Once Vorik felt her body was oxygenated enough he opened their connection up wide and shut down her conscious mind so she fell back into his arms in a deep sleep. He caught her and gently lifted her up and placed her in bed tucking the blanket in around her. Vorik stayed and watched her for a moment and wondered is the desire to lay close to her and watch her sleep was a of his or hers. He laid down next to her for a moment and drew her close to his own body and found it was a desire that both of them shared. He shook his head and rose carefully so as not to disturb her then left her quarters. This situation was getting more and more complex and he was running out of time. He would need to confront her with the truth soon but it would likely mean the end of their friendship as they knew it and that bothered him more then he cared to admit. Vorik went to his own quarters and laid down to rest himself and wondered if the morning would bring a solution to their situation.
Alexandra rose with a yawn and for the first time in weeks she felt rested and refreshed but she remembered last night and shook her head with a rueful grin. Vorik had cheated she thought as she dressed and walked to the bridge. Once there she took her place at the desk and poked her first officer in the shoulder none too gently.