Ceremony of Opposites

Disclaimer: Same as before.

First Officer's Log, Stardate 53000.96. I have a couple of hours before the commissioning ceremony brunch for the USS Argos. In the meantime I want to have a look at the USS Oriskany after she'd had a bomb beamed aboard her last week.

Utopia Planitia, Docking Bay 2
USS Oriskany (NCC-42206)
2376

Aaron walked along the observation deck of Docking Bay 2, overlooking the USS Oriskany. She'd gotten here two days ago. 'A bomb beamed aboard her according to the initial report when she was countering pirates in the vicinity of Benzar.'

Looking at the Miranda-class starship in Docking Bay 2, with its circular saucer section, roll bar over the top, and two warp nacelles underneath.

"Little overdressed for forensic work, Commander?" a Caribbean accented voice from behind him and to the right.

Aaron turned around to see a stocky dark-skinned Jamaican man wearing the gold of the Engineer division of Starfleet. On his collar was the rank insignia of a Chief Petty Officer. He grinned as he recognized an old friend, a fellow EOD operator.

"Eddie! Shit, how are you pal?" Aaron said, shaking hands with the man. The two men smacked one another at the shoulder with the handshake.

"I'm good! How long has it been since Ajilon Prime?" Eddie Corrigan replied.

"Just a little over two years. When did you guys get here?" Aaron asked, smiling as the handshake concluded.

"A little over an hour ago. Beamed up from Bradbury City for the Post Blast Investigation," Eddie replied as he and Aaron got onto the turbolift.

"Oriskany," Aaron replied.

"Heard anything else?" Eddie asked.

"More or less what you know, Chief. Oriskany intercepted some pirates near Benzar attacking a Ferengi freighter. She had to beam the crew off and when her shields were down the pirates beamed a bomb aboard her." Aaron replied.

As they got onto the Oriskany, Aaron looked around the ship. It looked like nearly any starship he had seen over nineteen years in uniform. 'Her wounds are deeper in the ship.'

Following Eddie down to Generator Room One, Aaron saw the ship's wound for the first time.

The door to Generator Room One was blown off its track. The metal was warped from the heat of the explosion. The surrounding bulkhead sported a large hole with twisted metal with its supporting girders sticking out like twisted fingers from a gnarled hand.

Eddie had a tricorder out scanning the room. "This looks like a plasma bomb of some sort based on the residue and the decay patterns."

Aaron glanced over at the melted wreckage of what was the generator in the center of the room. Seeing what looked like dried blood baked into the deckplates from the explosion. Aaron replied, "Reports said eight crewmembers were killed, another thirteen injured with half of them serious."

"The fuel ignited but looks like the automated damage control systems shut off the relays," Eddie added, pointing at the fuel line and the automated valves that had closed.

"And the fire suppression system automatically deployed," Aaron pointed at the crusted purple of the firefighting foam mixture on the deck and corridor.

"They tried to beam the bomb off the ship, routing as much of the blast energy through the transporter pattern buffers, per the logs," Eddie replied.

Aaron nodded as he looked around the devastated generator room. "If they hadn't done that chances are it would've destroyed a fair bit of this deck. And the decks above and below."

Aaron lightly tapped the deck to his front and heard stressed metal creak and groan. Looking above him he saw a hole in the ceiling about two meters or so in diameter. 'Two meters, the height of a tall human.' Aaron thought.

"EPS Relay 1 is right below this generator room." Eddie glanced at his tricorder again, looking at the readout.

"Two decks, no, three decks of this ship would've been history. With a higher death toll too, I'll estimate two to three times as high. Of course I'll wait till you guys publish your report." Aaron observed.

"Thanks for that," Eddie replied.

Aaron made his way to the turbolift, as the doors hissed shut he felt himself transported back a little over two years. A distant battlefield and a hopper vibrating under fire, feeling certain the Klingons were going to shoot it out of the sky…

He hadn't even consciously realized that turbolift had stopped and that he'd walked into the observation deck for Docking Bay 2.

"Aaron?"

A pause and then he felt a hand clasp his left hand. With a shudder Aaron turned his head to his left, in time to see Olivia beside him.

"I thought I'd find you here," Olivia began as they both stopped, looking over at the Oriskany.

"How'd you figure? The computer told you?" Aaron asked.

"That and I know you well enough that you'd want to have a look at her," Olivia replied.

Aaron nodded, "Ran into an old buddy of mine from Ajilon Prime too."

"And a flashback too, right?"

Aaron felt Olivia release his hand, giving him a knowing look. He nodded in response, "Thank you."

"I've still got your back, Aaron, like you've got mine."

"Always. And I believe we have a reception to get to on the Enterprise. Shall we?" Aaron gestured towards a turbolift at the far end of the corridor.

"Ready when you are," Olivia replied.

"Need the last word, Captain?" The ghost of a smile flickered across Aaron's features.

"It is my prerogative." Olivia replied before starting the walk towards the turbolift that would take them to the Enterprise.

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701E)
Ten Forward
2376

Lieutenant Paul Finch walked into Ten Forward, yawning as he put his right hand over his mouth. He fell into line to the right of Lieutenant Charles Hollom as they formed a loose gaggle waiting for the brunch.

"I wonder how Finch is still standing after last night," Ellen asked as she stood beside Charlie.

"You got me, mate, especially after four yards of beer."

"At least," Ellen replied.

"Finch is quite the party animal," Charlie replied as he noticed Ellen glancing over to the entrance of Ten Forward and following her line of sight. Both of them saw Captain Benson and Commander Carlyle walking into the room.

"Aww they arrived together," Ellen whispered.

"So did Commander Riker and Captain Picard," Charlie whispered back.

"Riker and Picard weren't married to each other," Ellen replied, perhaps a bit louder than she intended.

"What about Riker and Picard?" Finch whispered as he turned to face Ellen and Charlie.

"Ellen seems to think that there's something brewing between our Captain and First Officer," Charlie whispered back.

"What does that have to do with Riker and Picard?" Finch asked with a raised eyebrow.

"He was saying that Benson and Carlyle arriving at this function together is as innocent as Riker and Picard arriving together." Ellen interjected.

"It is. I mean, look, they have to work closely with each other so of course they'd arrive together at a function," Charlie countered.

"They were married to each other. Picard and Riker weren't." Ellen replied.

"Well there is the old twenty-first century expression 'work husband or work wife'," Finch added with a smile.

"Captain Benson has a bit of a blush," Ellen observed as she observed Aaron gesturing to Olivia to enter Ten Forward ahead of him.

As they rode in the turbolift towards Ten Forward, Olivia caught a whiff of a familiar scent. 'He's still wearing that aftershave. God I love that smell…Where did that come from?'

Olivia smiled wistfully as the turbolift continued its progress along its track. Aaron turned his head just then to look at her with a smile. "A penny for your thoughts, Liv?"

"They're worth more than you can afford, Aaron," Olivia replied with a small smile of her own.

"Maybe I could negotiate the price?" Aaron smiled back.

"Hmm...Not likely, Commander," Olivia replied, her smile widening.

"Well I can say one thing about this," Aaron replied.

"What's that?" Olivia asked, arms folded across her chest as she leaned against the bulkhead.

"The negotiations were short," Aaron quipped.

"Very funny, Aaron," Olivia replied with a roll of her eyes before her eyes locked with his. She saw Aaron's eyes shifted to her neck and fixed him with a questioning look.

"Liv, your pips are crooked," Aaron observed.

"Was in a hurry this morning," Olivia replied as she looked around the turbolift for the nearest reflective surface.

"Hang on, let me fix them for you. Those panels tend to distort reflections."

Olivia nodded and Aaron took a step closer to her, his fingers near her neck as he adjusted the offending rank device, his knuckles lightly brushing against her earlobe as he did so. Olivia blushed red as another, older memory of Aaron's hands near her neck came flooding back to her.

There was still something of a blush as the turbolift halted and they stepped out of it, walking toward Ten Forward. Aaron gestured and said, "After you."

Olivia stepped into Ten Forward with Aaron entering a half-second later in time to see both her senior staff and the Enterprise's senior staff mingling. Waiting for them at the entrance were Captain Jean Luc Picard and Commander William T. Riker.

"Happy New Year, Jean-Luc," Olivia began as she shook hands with Picard.

"Bonne année, Olivia. And congratulations once again on your new command," Picard replied with a smile of his own.

"Thank you," Olivia replied, noticing Aaron in an animated discussion with Will Riker out of the corner of one eye. 'Looks like old Arguing Aaron is back in fine form.'

"You actually went through with it? You're crazier than I thought, Aaron," Will Riker began as they moved out of earshot of Jean Luc and Olivia talking near the far side Ten Forward viewport.

"Will, as if you're any different. You serve aboard the same ship as Counselor Troi and you two were romantically involved," Aaron countered.

"Deanna and I were never married and she doesn't outrank me." Riker smirked.

"Wait till you have a kid, Will, and then you'll understand why I chose to serve with Liv," Aaron replied.

"The word 'complicated' describes your situation quite well." Riker folded his arms.

Aaron rolled his eyes, "Very funny…let's not forget who had to edit Stiffler's speech when Liv and I got married?"

"Any sane man would've had Stiffler alter his speech for the wedding, especially if he was talking about his friend's bachelor party."

"Weren't you hung over and that's why you abdicated the best man's speech?" Aaron said with a toothy grin.

"Editing Stiffler's speech on a hangover isn't for the faint of heart or weak of stomach," Riker mused.

"I distinctly recall overhearing you practically yelling, 'Stiffler, the flower girl is eight! No you cannot say that!'." Aaron chuckled.

"Said flower girl is twenty now, sir," a female voice sounded.

Aaron turned just in time to see a slim bodied Eurasian woman wearing the gray uniform of a Starfleet Cadet. "Lilly!" Aaron beamed at the young woman.

"Uncle Aaron! I-I mean, sir!"

"And how is my favorite niece?" Aaron asked.

"I'm your only niece, sir." The young woman smiled.

"Well, then you get the job by default, cadet," Aaron smiled back before embracing the young woman and lifting her off her feet.

"Hey, careful, you could throw out your back," Lilly joked as she felt herself being lifted off her feet and set back down again.

"What brings you here, Lilly?" Aaron smirked after setting her down, "And besides I'm not that old."

"Cadet Field Studies, they assigned me to USS Argos," Lilly replied.

"How nice, we'll go see Auntie Liv…" Aaron paused for a moment, "I'm sorry, I mean Captain Benson before I introduce you to your future boss, Dr. Hickle."

"It's okay, sir, I won't tell Captain Benson you acknowledged she's my aunt."

Aaron smiled before turning to Riker, "I'll see you around, Will."

"See you, crazy." Will smirked.

Picard stood near the Ten Forward viewport with Olivia, drinking coffee. Looking over Olivia's shoulder he could see that Riker had already spoken to Aaron about the newest addition to the Argos' crew.

"One more matter I wanted to bring up," Jean Luc began as he saw Aaron and Lilly approaching.

"Oh, what's that?" Olivia asked.

"While we were in orbit of Earth we picked up a cadet starting her Field Studies module, she's going to be with you this semester," PIcard replied.

Olivia glanced over her shoulder in time to see Aaron and Lilly approaching her. "Lilly!" Olivia barely managed to avoid yelping with surprise.

She turned around, composing herself and said, "Welcome aboard, Cadet Huynh."

"It's good to see you, Captain," Lilly replied.

Picard nodded as he excused himself from the small family reunion taking place near the viewport, a small and enigmatic smile on his face. 'A Captain must always be ready to face the unexpected, as I told Olivia earlier.'

Lilly waited till Picard was out of earshot before smiling, "It's good to see you again, Auntie Liv."

Olivia gave the younger woman a hug and smiled, "Likewise. How are your parents?"

"Mom and Dad are doing great. I can't wait to tell them I'm serving aboard the same ship with both my Uncle Aaron and Aunt Liv," Lilly smiled.

"Kid, just keep 'Uncle Aaron's' and 'Aunt Liv's' to more private or casual venues and things will go just fine," Aaron replied.

"Yes sir." Lilly straightened up to the position of attention.

"At ease, young lady," Aaron replied, grinning.

"Welcome aboard, Lilly." Olivia smiled.

"If you'll excuse me, Captain, I'm about to introduce the Cadet to her new boss." Aaron grinned as he indicated Dr. Hickle talking to Lieutenants Finch and Hollom.

Olivia glanced past Aaron and Lilly as they approached, and through a bit of lipreading was able to parse out some of what Ellen was saying...

"No way! You're telling me one of your old high school friends helped plan Commander Carlyle's Bachelor Party with Commander Riker?" Ellen asked

"I'm not joking!" Finch raised both hands in a defensive gesture.

"Oi, both of you, I see Commander Carlyle heading this way!" Hollom interjected.

"Sir," Finch said as Carlyle approached with a young woman to his left.

"Good morning! Dr. Hickle, Lieutenant Hollom, Lieutenant Finch, this is Cadet Huynh. She's doing her Field Studies aboard our command." Carlyle grinned as he introduced his niece.

He watched Lilly introduce herself to the CMO and flight controller before stepping back to go find Olivia again as brunch began to wind down and the senior staffs of both the USS Enterprise and USS Argos began to filter out of the Ten Forward.

Aaron caught up to Olivia just then, "Just introduced our niece to Dr. Hickle and Lieutenants Hollom and Finch."

Olivia leaned a bit closer to Aaron as she whispered into his ear, "Do you think it would be a violation of a Theta One order if we told our niece about Mr. Hollom's intelligence activities?"

"Liv, yes it would be," Aaron replied, feeling hairs on the back of his neck standing on end due Olivia's close proximity.

"Scratch that idea then." Olivia sighed as they walked towards a turbolift.

"We'll have to trust our niece is a smart and perceptive young woman who can read between the lines," Aaron replied as they waited for the turbolift.

"That is about all we can do right now."

The turbolift arrived and Aaron gestured saying, "After you, Captain."

"Thank you." Olivia stepped into the turbolift.

Observation Deck
Utopia Planitia Shipyards
2376

"Well, we're officially on our way to the christening of our first command." Olivia observed as they stood in the turbolift.

"And we also officially have our niece aboard ship for her semester of Cadet Field Studies," Aaron replied.

"I noticed you used the determiner 'our' right now in referring to Lilly." Olivia raised an eyebrow.

"Liv, just because you and I are divorced doesn't mean I stopped feeling completely comfortable with Lilly being close to you as well," Aaron replied.

"Thank you," Olivia replied.

"Besides, I still recall you still have me listed as an emergency contact." Aaron smirked.

"You know stalking is a punishable offense, Commander," Olivia replied.

"As First Officer, administration is one of my duties and I am reviewing the crew's emergency contacts." Aaron's smirk turned into a full fledged smile.

'Damn you, Aaron. When you smile like that…' Olivia thought as her breath hitched in her throat before replying, "Touche, Number One."

"So, Captain, how do you feel about having our niece aboard ship?"

"On one hand I'm happy to see Lilly again. On the other hand it complicates things." Olivia ticked off both examples on the fingers of her left hand.

"As if things aren't already complicated? Let's see. We're First Officer and Captain of the newest Intrepid Class starship. We were married to each other for eight years. And there's also Noah too." Aaron shot back, counting off his own examples on his left hand.

"You're calling our son a complication?" Olivia exclaimed.

"I didn't mean it that way. I'm just saying that our situation is already complicated. What's one more family member aboard ship?" Aaron raised both hands, palms facing Olivia as he took a step back.

"I'm damn sure said family member ships us," Olivia rolled her eyes.

"Ships?" Aaron asked.

"Number One, I thought your grasp of 21st Century culture was better than that."

"Oh, when fans of various forms of media would imagine two characters in some sort of relationship. They'd come up with amusing portmanteaus for them." Aaron chuckled at the memory. Olivia giggled in reply.

"I wonder what Lilly would call us?" Aaron's chuckle converted to a small laugh.

"LivRon readily comes to mind." Olivia grinned.

"Aahlivia also sounds plausible," Aaron replied.

"It sounds like you're screaming when you say that." Olivia countered.

"What about Aarlivia?" Aaron replied.

"That sounds right. Lilly's probably concocting some Aarlivia story based on the fact that we're in a turbolift alone together."

"Lilly's imagination is at least as active as her mother's." Aaron sighed.

"And Starfleet Academy's nursing program hasn't killed it at all," Olivia groaned.

"Honestly, Captain, I'm glad it hasn't."

"Excuse me, Aaron!?" Olivia exclaimed.

"Liv, I'll gladly take our niece harmlessly speculating on our relationship over her intellect and personality being totally destroyed by Starfleet Academy." Aaron countered, not backing down.

"Arguing Aaron strikes again." Olivia smiled.

"If ever quit arguing when I know I'm right I've probably been possessed by some weird alien," Aaron quipped.

"A non argumentative you is probably a changeling." Olivia chuckled before giving Aaron a good natured punch on the arm.

"So if I'm not a right pain in the ass on occasion you think I'm a changeling? You really know how to hurt a guy, Liv," Aaron replied with a sarcastic roll of the eyes.

"You're the one who said if you ever quit arguing you're probably possessed," Olivia replied.

"Again you're quoting me?" Aaron asked.

"Like I said yesterday, every so often you say something that's just quotable," Olivia replied with a wink as the turbolift came to a halt.

The turbolift door opened and Olivia walked out with Aaron behind her. 'She's doing that sashay again…'

Aaron followed her out of the turbolift after one last gaze at the sway of Olivia's hips before stepping out for the ceremony…

IKS Negh'var
Orbit of Cardassia
2376

'Any one of those Klingons around the transporter pad could match Izad for size and strength.' Legate Sarn Breslau thought as he felt himself materialize on the pad. Three powerfully built Klingons wearing the sigil of the Chancellor's Guard stood sentinel by the lone transporter operator.

Gul Gar Izad stood to one side of him and out of the corner of his eyes he saw Izad's fingers flexing in spite of his heavily bandaged hands. 'A man who fought the Klingons for years would be prepared to fight. My money says he could take on any of those Klingons.'

"Legate Breslau, Chancellor Martok ordered us to escort you to the conference room," the leader of the three Chancellor's Guardsmen said.

Breslau nodded and followed, noticing how the other two Klingons took flanking positions beside him and Izad as they walked. 'I have to admit every second of this walk is calculated for intimidation. Typically Klingon.'

At the gas tight door for the conference room stood two more equally grim looking guardsmen with the blades of their bat'leths gleaming in the light of the corridors. As the two Cardassians entered, Chancellor Martok's aide announced, "Legate Breslau and his entourage!"

"Well old friend, it seems the two of mass enough to constitute an entourage. You by muscle and me by girth of belly," Breslau smirked as he turned towards Izad.

Breslau turned back to face Martok, Admiral Ross, and a Romulan representative standing on the far side of the conference table.

"Cardassian humor escapes me," Martok growled before standing up.

"Pleasantries aside, Chancellor," Breslau replied, "We wanted to discuss our request."

"Destruction of Gul Dukat's monument in the Capital," Ross replied, holding up a Cardassian PADD in his left hand.

"And our engineers ran the figure as far as just how much in the way of explosives will be required for this," Breslau added.

"This amount of explosives is worrying," Ross began.

"We want to ensure not one trace of Dukat's monument remains. We could do without a monument to a man who ultimately brought us to ruin," Breslau replied.

"So you say," Martok interjected, rising from his seat, his own PADD in his hand.

Breslau saw Izad take a pace forward, bristling at Martok's remark.

"With the amount of explosives your engineers specify you could start quite the insurgency." Martok added, gesturing to his own bodyguards to stand back.

"In the decades I have lived I have seen war for the vast majority of them. I could do without another war," Breslau replied.

"And we are supposed to take you at your word? Leave it to a Cardassian to attempt subterfuge," Martok demanded.

"And leave it to a Klingon to jump to the wrong conclusion," Breslau countered.

"Would you be amenable to doing this demolition with Federation support?" Ross stepped between the two men.

"We would, Admiral. Provided Cardassian hands detonate the explosives," Breslau replied, seeing Martok bristle.

"With Federation observation," Ross replied.

"We are amenable to that, yes. However we do insist we are the ones who detonate the devices. What better statement against the lunacy of Dukat than Cardassian militia destroying his monument." Breslau fixed both Ross and Martok with a direct stare as he spoke.

USS Argos (NCC-14229)
The Nostalgia
2376, A Few Hours Later:

"Liv, you're doing it again," Aaron observed as they walked down the corridors towards the Nostalgia just before lunchtime to meet Lilly and Noah.

"Doing what again?" Olivia replied with a sly smile.

"That sashay you always do." Aaron observed.

"What sashay?" Olivia stopped, and turned to face Aaron.

"It's hard to describe, but basically your hips sway side to side as you walk away whenever you win some debate you and I have," Aaron replied as he stopped as well, folding his arms across his chest.

"In fifteen years you comment on it now?" Olivia exclaimed.

"I have to admit I've always noticed it," Aaron smiled at her.

"Again, you pick now to comment?" Olivia raised an eyebrow.

"You're repeating yourself, Liv." Aaron's smile widened as he spoke.

"I shouldn't have to repeat myself, Aaron. I'm just trying to figure out why you called attention to it now versus literally any other moment in the last fifteen years."

"Isn't it obvious?" Aaron continued to grin like the Cheshire Cat.

"What's so 'obvious'?" Olivia asked.

"Let's just say it's something that I'll always notice and leave it at that," Aaron replied.

"And do I get an answer about why, Commander?" Olivia asked, sliding into the tone of a Starfleet captain.

"Well I associate it with many good memories for one," Aaron replied, not at all ruffled.

"Such as?" Olivia asked as she stepped closer to him.

"Well the night that gave us Noah readily springs to mind," Aaron replied.

Olivia blushed before replying, "Speaking of that, our son and our niece are waiting for us."

"After you," Aaron replied with a flourish.

"You're too kind, Commander," Olivia replied with a wink before stepping through the door as Aaron's eyes flickered downward.

'Am I imagining things or did Liv put even more sway to her hips just now.' Aaron thought to himself as he followed her in.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Noah called from a nearby table before stepping down and walking over to his parents.

"Hey sweet boy." Olivia smiled as she walked over and gave her son a hug.

"Mommy are you hot?" Noah asked.

"No, why do you ask?" Olivia replied as she let go of him.

"You're red like me with a fever," Noah replied.

'Awkward.' Olivia thought to herself. Blinking, she replied, "Daddy said something earlier that made Mommy turn red…"

"Daddy made you mad?" Noah asked.

Around then Aaron began to turn red. 'Damn. Damn. Damn. I should've realized the door to Nostalgia is transparisteel…'

"No he didn't, it's...complicated," Olivia replied.

Lilly whispered in Noah's ear and the little boy nodded knowingly. Olivia looked to her niece and asked, "What exactly did you just tell Noah?"

"Grownups are just weird," Lilly replied. 'I mean Aunt Liv walked in there with this sashay on her hips and Uncle Aaron was totally staring.'

"Some more than others," Olivia replied as she looked over her left shoulder with a smirk.

"Hey, I resemble that remark!" Aaron protested.

"You do." Olivia turned around and she smiled.

"And what does that say about you given you dated me for four years and were married to me for eight more years?" Aaron grinned toothily.

"You are impossible sometimes, Aaron," Olivia replied and shook her head as she sat down. Looking over she saw Aaron sitting beside her, still grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

"Nice zinger, Uncle Aaron," Lilly replied.

"Not the teaming up thing again." Olivia mock groaned.

"Mommy, what's the teaming up thing?" Noah asked.

"It's when Lilly and Daddy come up with barbs for Mommy," Olivia replied.

"What are barbs?" Noah asked.

"Jokes that grownups tell," Olivia replied with a smile before reaching for her water glass and taking a drink.

Aaron slid into a seat beside her with a smile on his face.

"You're weird," Olivia remarked.

"I prefer enigmatic." Aaron's smile widened as he leaned back in his seat, his hands behind his head.

Olivia felt the tug on her sleeve from Noah as the little boy looked up at his mother, "Mommy, what's enigmatic?"

"Daddy when he's being weird," Olivia replied.

"Let me start with 'enigmatic' isn't necessarily a bad thing, kiddo. We're all at least a little weird," Aaron interjected with a grin.

"Even Mommy?" Noah asked.

"No comment, kiddo," Aaron replied.

"Wise man," Olivia quipped.

"Discretion is the better part of valor, Captain." Aaron's smile broadened.

'Aaron when you smile like that…' Olivia thought before inwardly sighing with relief when their server approached.

They made their orders, and Lilly ordered the Lake Lyot Pilsner. Olivia gave her niece a side glance.

"I'm off duty till tomorrow, sir," Lilly smiled.

"That may be, Cadet, but be advised to not show up for your first duty shift hung over or you'll hear about it," Olivia replied.

To Be Continued…