Interlude: Walking Around Without Shoes

[Alecz Lorhrok]

Begin The Interlude: "Walking Around Without Shoes." In this, we return to Earth after a month of traveling at transwarp. The Excelsior-C will be picked up shortly, and the Excelsior-original has been docked. For now, shore leave for those who want it; anyone else is welcome to get a temporary berth on Starbase 1 or the Utopia Planitia yards.

-ON-

[Robert J. Maxwell]

--ON--

<< Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards - USS Excelsior C : Runabout Firestorm >>
<< July 14th, 2385 | 2343 Hours >>


"Lukos to Maxwell"

Finally. Maxwell had been attempting to lock on the Firestorm's transporters to the faint lifesign coming from deck 5, without luck. Expecting the worst, Robert tapped his commabadge.

"What's your status, Ensign?"

"Transporters and internal sensors are back on-line, Lt."

"Can you lock on to Jones' signal from there?"

"Are already on it. Stand by..."

Seconds went by, seemed like ages.

"Done. Beaming him directly to sickbay"

At least, something finally went smoothly "Excellent. Prepare to beam me to the station ASAP"

"Whenever you are ready, Sir."

"Energize"

Robert dematerialized, wishing that Kulos had had the tact to beam him directly to his bed. Instead, he appeared in the middle of Ops surrounded by a handful of inquisitive-looking officers in command uniforms. He had long hours of explanations before him...

Damn...

--OFF--

OOC: Well, that's a bit rushed, but I had to put an end to Maxwell's Excelsior Havoc scenario before everyone came back...

[Neeva]

<<USS Excelsior-C - Neeva's Third Set of Quarters Since Joining>>
<<1531 hours - 24 August 2385>>

“No, I probably won’t be coming home,” Neeva told the monitor with a straight face and guarded tone.

“A shame. Your mother has been eagerly awaiting your return.”

The Orion sighed and pouted at the Professor. Maybe he wasn’t enamoured, for all the partners she’d seen him win—that number being zero—he might as well have been asexual, and certainly not the kind of man who was capable of loving another person in the way people were meant to be loved. But none of that seemed to be stopping him from making Deraé the Feminine of his household.

It was scary.

“I have a friend to look after. She lost someone.”

The Professor didn’t respond. He probably didn’t care.

“If I can get home, I will.”

“As you will, Commander.”

“You’re guilting me, Professor.”

“Jason, is there—are you talking to Neeva?”

And Neeva would never, ever, ever get used to hearing his first name.

Another Orion appeared on screen. After a look that clearly said you deserve this Professor Fellows stepped away, leaving Neeva alone with her mother, whom she no longer had the heart to be openly mean to. Usually. Neeva had been, after all, the one to leave.

“Deraé,” the Commander said formally.

“Neeva!” Her mother smiled. It was a good picture of what Neeva would look like in twenty years. “You’re back around Earth?”

Hook, bait, and sinker. “I am.”

“Are you coming to visit? Jason tells me you don't usually, but since you’re in the system…”

“You were thinking maybe we could spend more time together,” Neeva finished with a sigh. When they’d dropped the Excelsior-C off, on top of everything else that had been going on, Fellows had sprung a counter-surprise on her—she was alive, but he’d found her mother. And Deraé was a woman very determined to somehow reattach. Neeva was very, very bad at reattaching.

“Yes,” Deraé replied, put out by her daughter’s tone. “But if you're too busy...."

“I do have things to do.”

“How long do you imagine your next mission will be?”

It was conversational, but the message was clear. Neeva needed a coach for conversations like these. She just hadn’t been raised to have personal conversations, especially not with parents, and was behind in dealing with her emotions in a way other than stifling them. Her mother was obviously asking how long it would be until they could see each other again, and there in hinting that it might be a very long time, or never, and that Neeva should therefore visit.

“I have no way of knowing, but it’s usually a couple years or more before someone in the DQ has a reason or time to get back this way.”

“That’s a long time.”

“I know. “ And so, she was caught. Bravo, Professor. Bravo, you clever, manipulative, brilliant old man. He could even work his logic traps through other people. “I’ll try.”

“I believe you.”

“Good,” Neeva snapped, “because I’m not the untrustworthy one in this relationship.” In a childish burst of emotional frustration, Neeva hung up, and immediately felt…well, maybe not bad about it, but that she was losing the footing of moral high ground above her mother when she acted about twelve. But it was so hard not to sometimes.

[Jordyn Elbrun]

<< Sickbay - USS Excelsior C >>
<< 1247 hours - Aug 24th, 2385 >>

Jordyn's head was spinning as he walked through the doors to sickbay, slowly. He didn't want to walk too fast. It seemed that with every footstep, his head throbbed more and more. It had taken a while, but he was finally back on his feet and back to duty. The radiation poisoning had hit him hard, he was sick for about two weeks, and recuperating for a couple weeks after that. But he was assured that he'd be as good as new.

Of course he didn't like taking the word of a non-com medic who didn't even know his name. Not that he didn't trust them, but he didn't trust them. It wasn't until Dr Sharp had given him a clean bill of health and return to duty orders that he began to relax.

But he had been told to come back if he started to now feel well anymore, and he certainly wasn't. So here he was, in sickbay, again.

"Doctor Sharp?" he asked, the pristine bulkheads of Sickbay echoing his call.

Nathaniel was sitting off in a corner of the bay looking at some Padds spread across a table. "Doctor Sharp's not here right now," he replied. "Anything I can help with?"

"I have a massive headache."

"Have a seat, I'll be right with you."

Jordyn slid onto a biobed and sat there, swinging his feet.

Nathaniel rolled up to him and loaded a hypospray. "Has this been going on a while, sir?"

"Well, kinda." Jordyn leaned his head to the side, allowing access to his neck. "I just returned to duty a few days ago. I was part of the crew population that had the radiation poisoning."

"Here, I can't actually reach you," Nathaniel handed him the hypospray. "I'm going to take some scans, and a blood sample if you don't mind, just to run some tests."

"Well, you don't have too. My regular appointment to have that done is tuesday," Jordyn replied, taking the hypospray from the man and pressing it to his neck.

"The faster you catch things, the better Lieutenant, but your choice."

The man shrugged, "Might as well, since I'm here."

Nathaniel took out a tricorder and handed him an empty hypo.

Jordyn handed the hypospray back, "Sorry, I can't take my own blood."

"Squeamish? Alright, I need you to sit very still." He took the hypo and carefully pushed himself out of the chair, shifting his weight to the biobed with his left hand. He carefully placed the hypo to the Lieutenant's neck and drew a vial of blood. He set it on the bio bed, and slid back into his chair. "Come on, we're going to the lab."

Jordyn blushed. He'd never been in that situation before, and never had to tell someone that he was squeamish around blood. "Sorry," he simply said, sliding off the biobed and following the man.

"No big deal. Any excuse to get out of this damned thing." He wheeled through sickbay and into a small room off the main sickbay. He set the vial on a small pad and tapped the keys on a computer console. "Have a seat, this will take a few minutes."

Doing as he was told, Jordyn plopped down in a chair, his eyes now level with the other man's.

Nathaniel sat silently for a moment, waiting for the computer to complete it's analysis. "Nathaniel Delaran, I'm the new CMO," he extended his hand.

"Jordyn Elbrun, Chief of Science," he said, shaking the man's hand.

"So, what exactly happened with all this radiation?"

"The Nreti's weapon system worked on a radiation basis. Every time they fired, we were nuked with it."

"That's...unpleasant." The computer made a beeping sound which seemed to indicate that it was finished with it's scan. Nathaniel took a look at the analysis, reading through it. He grimaced, it certainly wasn't good.

Nathaniel turned around. "Lieutenant, I'm very sorry, but your blood is showing an abnormally high white blood cell count, which suggests Leukemia."

"What is leukemia?" Jordyn asked, looking over the man's shoulder to the computer screen.

"It's a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow," Nathaniel replied. "But we caught it early, which raises your odds quite a bit. We can treat it."

Jordyn sat there in shock, unable to come up with any words to say.

"Listen, I need to do some follow up tests that will be ready over night, there are some possibilities for false positives but they are exceedingly rare. Why don't you talk to your friends and family and come in tomorrow, we can go over the tests. If you have any questions or something, don't hesitate to contact me."

Jordyn just scoffed at the man, "I'm perfectly fine. No need for other tests, I know I'm in perfect health. Doctor Sharp told me so herself." With that, he stood and walked out of Sickbay.

"I really wish they wouldn't do that," Nathaniel said to himself. "I'll refer him to the counselor."

OFF

[Asuka Yubari]

USS Excelsior-C | Asuka's Office
August 24th, 2385 | 1547 Hours

"You called for me?"

"Sit down, Commander."

"Why the tone?" The man sat down in the chair opposite Asuka's desk.

"Because you take me for a fool." Yubari tossed a PADD onto her desk, which slid partially to the other end.

"What is this?"

"Why don't you have a look, Major?" The female Commander folded her arms in triumph. The man took a few seconds to browse the PADD.

"I see." The man put it lightly onto the desk. "Is this the route you really wish to take?"

"I seem to have just taken the first step onto that path regardless if I really wished to or not." Asuka's arms released from hugging the other, her hands dropped to her lap. "Major Galen Hanas. How stupid could I be? I mean, who honestly is named Legan Anash?"

"As far as you should have known, I was named Legan Anash."

"Yes, well, I seemed to have thrown the water on your fire." Asuka's voice was somber, not nearly as firey as she expected it to be earlier.

"What you've done is thrown water onto a grease fire, Commander." Major Hanas stood up.

"Regardless, tell that lovely Brigadier of yours to leave me alone, all ties I had to S.I. died with Brahms."

"Oh how little you know." The man sneered, turning to the door, leaving quickly. One think Asuka had learned over the years, any threat made by Starfleet Intelligence was never a bluff, more like a promise.

OFF

[Jordyn Elbrun]

<< Sickbay - USS Excelsior C >>
<< 0214 hours - August 25th, 2385 >>

Nathaniel had been looking over the data from Lieutenant Elbrun's tests most of the night, and he couldn't find any evidence to refute it. He sighed and hit his head against his desk rhythmically.

"Doctor Delaran?"

"Hm?" Nathaniel asked, looking up. A tall human woman was standing in the doorway to his office.

"Can I come in, sir?"

"What? Yeah, who are you?"

She glared at him. "I'm Doctor Jeanette Raines, you met my brother and severely offended him."

"What? Oh, yes, Lieutenant, I beg your pardon. I don't seem to be having much luck with your family, so hardly a record for me. What can I do for you?"

"My brother mentioned that you've been in here all night so I came to relieve you."

"Oh, right right right. Sorry, I'm dealing with a difficult patient. Say, could you take a look at this?" he handed a stack of PADDs to her. "I don't want to bias you, just give me a second opinion."

"Will you go to your quarters and get some sleep, leaving our incredibly light between mission workload to me?"

"Yes, fine, ten more minutes."

"Not a second more, Doctor," she replied and left the office.

Nathaniel sighed and rested his head on the desk.

As he laid there, the doors suddenly opened with a swish. Nathaniel didn't lift his head, "Doctor Raines?" he asked.

"Not unless I graduated from medical school recently," came the male voice.

Nathaniel looked up to see Lieutenant Elbrun standing there. "Lieutenant, welcome to my humble office." Looking up, he was amazed by the fact that after only a couple days in the office, it was already disheveled. He cleared off a chair and beckoned for the Lieutenant to sit as he picked up a relevant PADD.

Jordyn held up his hand and shook his head slowly, his eyes staring back at the doctor. There was no light in those eyes, no glimmer. Only an empty hollowness that came with knowledge. A deadly knowledge.

"Mr. Elbrun, I've tested and retested as much as I could, but the news isn't any better. I've turned this case over to another one of our doctors for a second opinion and if you'd prefer I can pass this on to someone you better trust, but I fear that this will only serve to delay the inevitable. It's my medical opinion that you have leukemia. There are treatment options, and your odds are better if we act quickly."

"How can you cure it?" was his only question.

"With Betazoid physiology, it's incurable. We can treat it, manage it, control it, and maybe down the line someone will make a breakthrough, but the treatments we have right now were developed primarily by human scientists and so their effects are fairly limited."

"What's going to happen to me?" His voice was soft and clouded.

"Well, the good news is, that with treatment you can live a relatively normal life. At this stage, it doesn't preclude you from continuing your service in a scientific capacity. I'd like to send you to our people on the Starbase for some further testing and get their oncologist's opinion before we leave, but after that we can handle most of your treatment here."

"What will these treatments consist of? Any side effects?"

"I'm not currently up-to-date on what a treatment for a Betazoid with cancer would be. That's why you'll need to go to the Station Sickbay."

Jordyn swallowed hard. "When do you want me to go?"

"Go to the station tomorrow, see what they recommend. Once we have the specific information, we can work out a more precise treatment plan."

Jordyn looked away, sinking down into the chair that had been cleared for him.

"Is there anyone you can talk to about this?" Nathaniel asked. "Friends or family on the ship?"

"I'd rather not anyone else know about this, please. And I mean anyone else." He was still looking away, towards a blank bulkhead.

"There's just another Doctor who was consulting me, but none of the information I gave her had your name on it. Obviously, confidentiality applies, but let me just tell you: In situations like this, support makes all the difference."

"I will tell the appropriate people when the time is right, Doctor. I don't even want Lorhrok to know." Jordyn stood and walked out of Sickbay.

Nathaniel sighed; he was getting awfully tired of people doing that. From his wheelchair, he couldn't exactly follow them.

OFF

[Neeva]

<<USS Excelsior-C - Ops>>
<<1132 hours - August 25th, 2385>>

“Looking sharrrp, Chief.” Dess tossed his superior a salute, and she tipped her brown fedora at him.

“Nehm. Care to join me? I’m going to get in a good hour of holodeck time.”

“What might that consist of?” The Caitian was put on-guard by Neeva’s unusually adventurous gear. She looked ready to explore some ancient temple in a rainforest somewhere.

“Exploring some ancient temple in a rainforest somewhere.” Dess gave himself a few points for intuition. “We’ll probably have to run from some primitive indigenous peoples.” The Orion paused, and continued, “And booby traps. Definitely several booby traps.”

“…booby traps?”

“Clever environmental traps laid with an incredible—meant in the original sense, of lacking credibility—amount of foresight. Usually deadly, but safeties were invented for a reason if we aren’t as clever as we like to think we are.”

“You’rrre a little too excited, ma’am.”

The Orion stopped in her tracks, and toned in down several notches, gradually working her expression into its usual combination of dourness and disinterest.

“Is this better, Lieutenant?”

“Morre usual, yes.”

“If you want to come, come. If not, I have things to do.” Neeva ducked into her office (which she’d already spent hours resetting) and emerged shortly after, still in the business mode that Dess was accustomed to. She walked past him without another word, and he watched her, confused.

It wasn’t the kind of offer he was prepared to turn down.

<<USS Excelsior-C – Holodeck>>
<Peruvian Jungle>

“GO GO GO GO GO.”

Nehm Dess had uncanny skill in spotting where arrows would probably come out of walls.

He was also, thankfully, a rather impressive runner.

These skills proved indispensible with a giant boulder barreling along behind him, and a little closer behind his department head.

[Nathaniel Delaran]

--ON--

<<USS Excelsior-C – Delta Lounge 1.5>>
<<1834 Hours>>

“How do bar personnel have different duty shifts than every other person on this ship?” Neeva inquired.

Lio leaned one elbow on the bar and his eyebrows came together seriously. “Because that’s the way I run the place. Now, can I get you something Commander, or did you just come to grill me and my employees?”

It was an expression Neeva was very good at imitating “The latter, mostly, but now that you mention it, I think I could go for some garlic knots.”

“Well, if you’re a paying customer, that’s different.”

“Thank you, Lio. And tell him I’m looking for him.” The Orion crossed her ankles and waited at the bar, fingers tapping loudly on the shiny, redone surface.

Nathaniel rolled up to the bar, his Elaysian forehead the only thing visible above the counter. "Synthale, please." he said.

"Aren't you a little young, boy?" Lio asked.

Nathaniel rolled backwards so that the Barkeep could see his face, which was clearly not amused.

"Comin' right up," Lio replied awkwardly.

Nathaniel moved a stool out of the way and set it behind him. A Crewman walked past and tripped over the stool, crashing to the ground. Nathaniel spun around. "Sorry Crewman, are you okay?"

"Yeah, no problem, sir."

"Oh good, I'm off duty."

He picked up the stool and tipped it back on. "Sometimes I wonder why I go to bars," he muttered.

There was this deep instinct that made many people want to laugh when others tripped. Neeva was one of the people with that instinct, but had, over the years, learned to make an admirable effort to suppress it.

"Better for your mental health report than drinking alone?" she suggested.

"Yeah, well by this point that's a bit of a futile effort. Nathaniel Delaran, I'm the new Doctor," he replied.

"Neeva. Chief of Operations. Don't worry too much about the stool, junior noncoms could trip over themselves in zero g. Welcome aboard. Have you lost any patients to Doctor Sharp yet?"

"She does seem to be popular with the crew. Of course it's my understanding that I'm the third medical chief in two years, so now I'm wondering what you guys do to your blue shirts."

"The Excelsior is rough on medical personnel. And marines--especially marines. Special ops, too. Engineers. Flight group." While ticking off in her head, somewhere inside Neeva realized she probably shouldn't scare off the new guy. She quickly recovered the conversation. "But hey, what ship on the frontier isn't?"

"Don't I know it, I just got out of a war zone."

"Which war zone might that be?"

"Starbase 434, the Klingons got into a bit of a brawl with a government in the southern beta quadrant called the Trandsillian Authority, and of course we got caught in the middle."

The Commander sighed and gave an angry roll of her eyes. "That seems to be more and more the case," she muttered. "You just about summed up what our last mission looked like."

"Are they involved in the Delta Quadrant these days?"

"Trying. Who knows how it's going to go after this." Lio set down a basket with some very strong smelling bread and marinara next to it, and handed the new doctor his synthale. “I love Klingons. I really do. But I’m starting to think their gateway ban is for the best."

Nathaniel took a sip of his drink and set it down again. "Sounds bad."

"Not my problem right now." She unknotted her garlic knot, pulled it apart, and ate it happily. Italian bread foods were one of the luxuries she most enjoyed. It helped turn the conversation in a lighter direction. "You'll be new to the DQ, then?"

"Spent most of my life on Proxima and Earth. Never left the Federation Core until I was 26. Anything special I should know about it?"

"Lots and lots of expansionist capitalists," Neeva replied.

"Ah, the best kind."

"They usually go hand in hand, yeah. There's a stretch of pre-warp worlds out there--" Neeva gestured part of a knot at him, "--and that's where I start getting really concerned about Klingon presence. Otherwise, it's a lot like everywhere else, and a lot different. No Borg in the new area of operations though, which is more than could be said about the last."

"So where does the Federation fit into all of this?"

"Doing what the Federation was meant to do--explore; get caught up in conflicts we shouldn't; introduce our rich cultures, ideals, and organization of planets to others."

"Certainly sounds like a plan," Nathaniel replied. "If the Klingons aren't allowed through the gate, how did they get there?"

"Cloaking. I don't know how we let them through, but it's looking like we've just been letting them slip in. We've got them on some strong charges right now, in that respect."

"Little odd of the Klingons to deny agression, isn't it?"

The woman nodded. "Personally, I think Romulans snuck some influence in with the Klingons while we weren't looking. But this time, at least, there were purely Klingon motives behind deception."

"Well, this definitely sounds like it's going to be an interesting assignment."

"It always is." Neeva gave him a knowing smile. "Just remember that red alert really is red alert, away teams cut your survivability in half, and intercrew romances are a bad idea."

"What, no fun on this ship?" he joked.

"All work, no play," Neeva returned dead pan.

"I'd be a little more surprised if I hadn't already pulled my first all-nighter on a light day."

"Takes a lot to maintain the kind of reputation Excelsior has. It sounds like you've already gotten into the routine. Good luck keeping up with it, Doctor. I'm going to get back to reconfiguring my entire department."

"Enjoy that."

"Oh, I do," Neeva answered genuinely while she picked up her basket of bread. "Enjoy...sick people."

"Always a barrel of laughs. Nice talking to you, Commander."

OFF

[Kestra J'naya]

--ON--

<<Earth-- Toronto, Canada>>
<<25 August, 2385 2100hrs>>

Yonge Street was brightly lit and busy with people hurrying to their destinations in hopes of beating the end-of-summer storm. In their rush, most barely noticed the pale, overly thin figure drifting amoungst them. As soon as the sun had set, a damp chill had overtaken the city, biting straight through Kestra's thin civillian summer clothing.

Despite the impending threat of rain, she wasn't ready, yet, to go inside or to leave this place. Leaving would mean that it all was truly final. Over. That her last earthly task for him was complete. And she couldn't accept that, not yet.

So, she continued to wander aimlessly, the last month haunting her every step.

<<USS Excelsior, First Officer's Quarters>>
<<One month earlier>>

"Computer, begin recording a message to Doctor Noah Bennet and Anne Bennet.” Kestra paced as she spoke, hands fluttering nervously. “I am recording this message to send my extreme condolences—“ A pause, then she shook her head. “No, no, start again. Doctor and Mrs Bennet, I am so sorry to tell you that your son…” Her voice wavered and she gripped at the back of her couch. “Effen bloody ‘ell! Computer, start again. “As First Officer of the Excelsior, I am saddened to report… Oh, hell, start again…”

<<Earth—Toronto>>
<<present>>

She’d taken a seat on a bench in Trinity Square, drinking in the calm of the place. Her father would like it here, especially the old church at the edge of the square. The city itself had changed little in centuries, having avoided most of the major conflicts Earth had undergone—not like her poor, beleaguered Ireland. She quirked her lips slightly, remembering how she used to tease Dex about it, claiming that it was simply ‘too damned cold’ for anyone in their right mind to conquer. He had always been so defensive about his native heath.

A chill washed over her that had nothing to do with any North American cold and she stood as more recent memories came to mind. Walking would help drive them away.

She left her shoes on the bench.

<<USS Excelsior, Lounge>>
<<One month earlier, in transit to Earth>>

She still hadn't cried-- not when the battle was over and the full realization of his death had hit her, nor when she recorded the messages to Dex’s parents and sister. And now, Kestra’s eyes were dry as she surveyed the senior staff, engineers, and other crewmen who had packed the room.

The captain had probably thought he was being kind when he asked her to handle the letters and memorial service. He likely didn’t realize that this was tearing her apart, bit by bit. “Dexter Bennet was a great engineer, a dedicated Starfleet officer, and, most of all, a caring friend.” She saw nods circulating amoungst the engineers. Jenkins put an arm around a sniffling Tyler, Maraco wiped at his eyes, even Adow was stoically watching from the back, her face devoid of her usual antagonism. The Risan took a deep breath before continuing. “I remember when he first came aboard—some hotshot SCE engineer who wanted nothing to do with a spacer assignment… yet when asked, he stayed. He was not very keen on non-Terran cuisine or planets, but ended up loving icoberry pie. He felt awkward at times—was not a fighter—yet he led his team with fearlessness, putting himself in the line of fire many a time. Dex had an incredible sense of duty to Starfleet and the Federation.”

Her voice wavered slightly and she paused to pull herself together. “There are some people who pass through your life who you can barely remember and others who leave an indelible mark on the pages of your own life story. Lieutenant Bennet’s contributions to my story—and I’m sure many of the stories of this crew—will never be forgotten.” Her voice grew softer as she looked out of the viewport at the stretching stars at warp. “We will miss you, Lieutenant Dexter Bennet—may the Great Bird of the Galaxy be kind to you.”

<<USS Excelsior-C, Bennet’s Quarters>>
<<23rd August, 2369, 2300 hrs>>

She gently closed the lid on the large Starfleet-Issue duffel that now contained what had been left of an entire life—well, minus the golf clubs (’that barbaric game, she had thought quirkily as she pulled those out of the closet...) Rover had disappeared to somewhere… no one quite knew where. But the rest—holopictures, random engineering instruments, an old casing from World War three, even a pair of grease-stained engineering coveralls that she couldn’t bear to throw into the matter reclamator—all of those she had packed into that bag with an efficiency that would put Ops to shame. And now, the quarters were empty.

Kestra wandered over to the forward-looking windows, placing her hand against the familiar glass. Was it that long ago that she had stood here with him, staring out at the Impossibility? A dangerous second passed where her stoic façade nearly cracked and she turned away abruptly.

Those quarters simply held too many memories.


<<Earth—Toronto>>
<<present>>

It had begun raining.

Only five hours ago, the sun had been shining over the Bennet’s house when she had dropped off the duffel and had accepted Anne’s offer of coffee. They were incredibly nice people, welcoming even while still grieving their son. He hadn’t mentioned her to his parents (”Why would he, when I didn’t even know what exactly what was going on between us?" a little voice reminded her), so her condolences remained stilted, that of an XO going above and beyond to honor one of her crew.

Afterwards, she took to wandering the city that he had called home.

The first shock of cold rain hit her forehead and Kestra looked up at the sky, allowing more drops to soak her face. One month of trying to forget, to move on, crashed around her. “You left us,” she whispered brokenly to the sky, leaning against a brick building for support as the last of her reserves failed her. Only the city and nature came through for her, concealing her breakdown.

A month’s worth of pent-up tears was hidden by the pouring rain, her cries swallowed by the thunder.

--OFF--

(Inspired by "Chuva" by Mariza. It's late and I haven't had a chance to read this over. I reserve the right to edit it and clean it up when my brain is awake :-P)

[Paco Ryker Maraco]

--ON--

<<Starfleet Medical Center, Mars Base>>
<<August 25th, 2385 | 2200 hours>>

Paco entered Shria's room which was dark and cold. He walked up to her rightside and took her hand in his. He started to get tears in his eyes. The only woman he really ever loved other than his mother was laying there in a coma. The symbiote insider her was also in a coma of sorts to help Shria's body repair itself. He had made arrangements for his mother and one of his good friends from Betazed to attend Shria's side from time to time once he left on the next mission.

Paco leaned in to give Shria a kiss on her cheek. He then sat down in the chair to her side and pulled up a PADD. He downloaded his favorite book and hers to it and was going to read them to her. He made a recording of his voice with encouraging phrases and terms of endearment for the nursing staff to play for her to help her know that he still loves her and longs for her to be back in his life.

The medical staff at the Mars Starfleet Medical Center were some of the best in the Federation. Maraco had never been on Mars until Shria was placed in the hospital there. He did not really do any touristic stuff, he was on a mission to see his Imzadi and he hoped to spend as much time as possible with her.

He started to read from her favorite book. He was attempting to make different voices for all the characters and add accents to them. He had never read her favorite book before so it was new to him and it showed in his reading. He found himself starting to get sleepy but he pushed on to read the whole thing without stopping.

About halfway through the book, a nurse came in.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I am fine, but could I get a glass of water. This reading is making me dry." Paco stated in an animated sort of fashion.

"Sure, be happy to get you that. Anything else?" The nurse replied in a chuckle.

"Well, a cure to wake her up would be nice." Paco said in a funny yet concerned manner.

"I will see what I can do, but I must add that your telling of that story is keeping us entertained as we can see and hear you at the nurses' station on the monitors. You are giving us the best medicine which in turn will allow us to help your girlfriend more in the long run." the nurse replied as he exitted to get his water.

"Did you hear that Imzadi? The nurses love me and they may steal me away from you since you are not awake to fight them off." Paco said as he stool up and took Shria's hand again. He leaned over and hugged her so tightly that he set-off an alarm and made all the nurses come running. "I am very sorry I was just hugging her. I did not mean to make you all come running. I am so sorry, did I hurt her?"

"No you are quite alright. You just activated the bed alarm and the pressure sensor indicated the patient had moved. We can recalibrate it to allow for some movement in the event you want to hug her again." The head nurse stated as the one nurse returned with his glass of water.

The nurses all left the room and Paco took a drink then resumed reading the book.

About three hours later he was finally finished with her book. He could hear the thoughts of the nurses and they were all very entertained still by his reading of that book.

Paco sat back into the chair and then started to talk to Shria. He mentioned that he could still be able to link to her mind and that he would like to see if that could help. Paco then closed his eyes and entered the astral plane. While there he searched for Shria's thoughts and was able to enter into her mind. He found that her memories were jumbled and that her thoughts were so out of control that it was not wonder she was in a coma.

Paco found an active dream and worked his way in. Almost immediately, he found himself hugging Shria and overjoyed to be with her. This Dream Shria was her active mind acting out what she was thinking about her environment and the voices she could hear.

"Are you realy my Paco?" this dream Shria asked.

"I am really Paco." He replied to the Dream Shria. "Are you aware of what has happened to you?

"What happened to me was torture and I don't want to discuss it at this time. Can we just enjoy the time we have together while you are here?" The Dream Shria asked.

"Yes what shall we do?" Paco replied.

"I want to go surfing like we did before and we will do again." Dream Shria replied.

The thought then changed and Paco found himself in a wetsuit on a surfboard riding a wild wave with Shria on a board next to him hangin' ten. Paco was enjoying it when suddenly something made Shria change the thought. He was then laying next to her in chains as a Nretian was beating them both with whip of sorts.

This made Paco pull himself out of the mental connection and called for the nurse. He explained what happened and that he was lost at how he could help her. The nurse said that she would note his experience in the records and that just being with her was helping in some manner. The recordings he was leaving for while he was on assignment would help as well. Paco thanked the nurse and returned to sitting beside Shria's bed. He pulled up his favorite book on the PADD and started to read it to Shria. He continued right through the book and hoped she understood it because he read it in Andorian since it is an Andorian classic and looses something translated into any other language.

Paco had been in Shria's room for almost 10 hours by now and the nurses wanted him to leave to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. Also they really wanted him to take a break for his sake.

Paco decided they were right, he kissed Shria on the cheek and said farewell for now and that he would be back. He then left the room and walked to the transporter room to beam up to the orbitial station to take his shuttle back to the Excelsior. He had a lot to do upon getting back to the ship.

--OFF--

[Shria Hst]

Schiaparelli City Dome, Starfleet Medical Center, Mars Base>>
<<August 27th, 2385 | 0200 hrs>>

"She is a citizen of Mars and there fore falls under my medical jurisdiction." said the female Andorian, her antenna pointed accusingly at the spotted man in front of her.

"She maybe, but when she signed up under the hosting program she agreed to abide by the customs and laws of the program and Trillus Prime! The symbiot is also a 'citizen' of Trill and takes priority. I want her ready for transport in the next hour." said the Trill male with graying temples.

"I've studied up as much as I can on the symbiot. There are precedents that if the host is in a comma for more than six weeks the symbiot comes out. We still have 4 weeks to go." She supressed the urge to grab a scalpal and do some artful Andorian knife work on him.

"Three weeks. We have to account for the travel and preperation time on Trill. You have three weeks doctor to bring her around into a healthy conscious state." he turned on his heel and left her office.

She took her "I visited Olympus Mons and all I got was this stupid raktajino mug" and threw it against the 3 inch transparaluminum window.

[Neeva]

--ON--

<<USS Excelsior Cooridor>>
<<August 26, 2385 | 0241 Hrs>>

Paco landed his shuttle in the shuttle bay and completed the post flight log. He exited the shuttle bay and headed for his quarters. He took a sonic shower and got dressed into his duty uniform. He was getting ready to head to Engineering to set up his office. As he walked towards the turbolift he bumped into Commander Neeva.

"Are you alright, ma'am?" Paco asked as if he did not recognize her.

"Fine," the Commander replied, taking a moment to stop and observe Paco. It was unusual for telepaths to walk into people. "Are you?"

"I am fine, just have a lot on my mind and a lot of it is not good." Paco replied. He knew she was surprised he bumped into her with him being telepathic and all. "I am going to Hst's quarters to pack up her remaining belongings and will move them to my quarters for now. Then I am going to set up my office in Engineering. I am fighting my emotions and thus shutting out others' thoughts and emotions. I am not sure which is which. To complicate things, I prepared myself or Hst's loss to the Nreti but then to get word she was found alive but comatose was a surprise. Then I meet a new friend whom I think could grow into something more but I will always have a love for Shria and I don't want to give up on her. I am just dealing with a lot. I am rambling now aren't I?"

"A lit...no. No, you're not rambling. You're venting, Paco. There's a difference." To recover from the sudden and unexpected onslaught of Paco's problems--clearly, he wasn't in much better shape than Kestra would be, and he had all sorts of tele- and empathic junk to deal with on top of it--Neeva stopped, and took a moment to put together some civil and helpful sentences instead of brushing the poor guy off and hurrying on her way. "I'm going to recommend you see Counselor Rustwick sometime, if you haven't already. Then I'm going to give you some good life advice: Rebounds are usually a worse idea than they seem at the time, especially when you aren't in the best emotional place to make good decisions. And some more advice: When Adow inevitably tries to breathe fire in your face, and it's going to be bad, just tell her that you at least have more respect for her than to beam her bed into the middle of a public area and maybe even look up to her abilities. Which, Paco, you should." The woman put a hand on his shoulder and slowed her speech down a little. "You're looking a little dazed right now--did any of that not get through?"

"Thank you Commander. I am sort of glad this happened. You have some valid points but I just have too much going on at once. I need to slow down and focus and things will fall into place. I also understand the rebound thing and I am not sure I will pursue a relationship beyond friendship at this point. Shria is my Imzadi and I owe it to her to keep the flame burning between the two of us. I only wish she would have not done what she did by turning herself over to the Nreti. We could have worked something out and she would still be her to act as our diplomat." Paco replied back. "I am thankful of your time to give me that advice. I will see what I can do to make an appointment to see Rustwick soon."

Paco took a deep breath and then continued.

"I know it is rough for all of us after all we have been through with the Klingons and the Nreti. I only hope the rest of the crew are able to shake of the stress of it all. As for Adow, we generally have not shared a lot of conversations. I know she will be upset now that I am Chief Engineer but I will offer her my hand in a working friendship so we can get along and put the ship and her crew before any dislikes we may have towards each other, which I must say I hardly know her so I can't say I have any dislikes towards her. However, I have heard the tales and hope she will see am not like Dex was." Paco got a tear in his eye. "I looked up to Dex as an inspiration to make myself better in all things Engineering outside a computer core. I only wish Rover would turn up so we can make sure he is doing fine and take care of him for Dex."

Neeva smiled. Rover and Dex Bennet had started off the Omega Crisis hot. Not exactly good times, but in hindsight, they seemed brighter and fresher. "We're all going to miss him, but your priorities seem to be in the right places. If you need anything, there happen to be a couple of previous chief engineers in the senior staff. I have to get going, but I hope there's as little conflict waiting in engineering as you seem to think."

"Thank you Commander. I appreciate you time and your ear. I did not mean to unload upon you. Thank you for the advice. I will always be seeking out advise so you can count on me coming to you again. I just hope I can be half the chief Bennet was." Paco replied. "Have a good day."

--OFF--

[Robert J. Maxwell]

--ON--

<< U.S.S. Excelsior, NCC-2000-C - Captain's ready room >>
<< August 27th, 2385 | 0930 Hours >>


The door chime was answered with a stern "Come" and Robert stepped inside Captain Lorhrok's ready room. He then realized that it was the first time he was in that room, and just about the second time he was going to talk with his CO. Robert stood there, feeling a little like a newcomer, an outsider, if you will. And ready to suggest changes to what, after all, was Lorhork's ship. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe he just should have kept his cool and waited a couple of months before approaching him with the idea. Maybe...

"Lieutenant Maxwell?" Lorhrok asked, frowning a little at the still-silent helmsman.

"Captain, if I may have a moment of your time. I have a project I'd like to submit for your..." he stopped here. He didn't want to say approval. That would imply he expected him to just say yes "feedback".

He still hadn't shaken off the extrange feeling that overcame him every time he saw Lorhrok. His youngness was unsettling, to say the least, and it made Robert feel that he had lost too many years already.

He let the PADD he carried on the desk. "Running through the Excelsior's formidable auxiliary craft compliment, it came to mind that being this a ship of peace and first contact, we could explore an alternative to the current militaristic use for the runabouts and fighters."

The Trill picked up the padd and began thumbing through the proposal idly, paying most of his attention to the officer in front of him.

Robert let his words settle down in the quiet room before continuing.

"I'm taking about creating an elite scout pilot corps, useful for advanced reconnaissance missions, long range scouting and even first contact."

"It's not a bad idea," Lorhrok mused, "But I'm concerned that a lone fighter or runabout might not be able to handle a mission like that. What makes you think that such a small ship could pull this off?"

"From my time in the academy, I went a lot through Voyager's logs while in the Delta Quadrant. That's when I found out about the Delta Flyer and it's use. We could have something similar here, but bigger and more sophisticated thanks to all the resources Excelsior has at our disposal."

Lorhrok had to nod at that. Sovereign class starships had a gratuitous amount of embarked craft.

"This squadron could be Excelsior's eyes and hands. Reaching out to where the ship could not. Expanding the area of influence we could have in any moment as well as our logistic reach."

"Not to mention, we have an awfully large quadrant to explore," the captain reasoned. "If we're heading to somewhere expecting to be reasonably safe, we could expand our survey radius considerably by sending out these ships. As long as you can find a way to make this safe for our people, I think this merits a trial run."

"I thought so, Sir." Maxwell replied, sketching a smile "I have provided you with all the necessary details on that PADD, Captain. Along with the modifications we will be conducting on the runabouts, I expect to run several simulated trials to ensure BS has the best pilots and officers the crew has to offer."

"Very well, Lieutenant. Keep me informed."

"I'll have a preliminary report for you once the squadron is prepped and ready for inspection." Maxwell concluded "Thank you, Captain."

He turned on his heels and headed for the bridge.

--OFF--

OOC: I am assuming that via this post, everyone in the crew has "automatically" learned about the creation of BS. That way, when Robert has to confront someone IC about the subject, there won't be need for him to go over the story from the beginning.

[Shria Hst]

<<Schiaparelli City Dome, Starfleet Medical Center, Mars Base>>
<<August 27th, 2385 , sometime>>

I read the news today oh boy
They actually cut down trees and bleached them, releasing toxins into the environment to read the news everyday.
About a lucky man who made the grade
Being accepted to the Diplomatic Corps, to the Symbiot Prgogram, to Star Fleet. I was lucky.
And though the news was rather sad
Skl'ar, brain injured on Ygdr*zil. A faux symbiot (positronic device with Hst's memories implanted in them to make Skl'ar think he was still intact.)

Well I just had to laugh
Now, here I am in a coma, back home, with Paco visiting me in a dream scape, and I can't wake up. Well, it was my own doing. Just trying to help, pulled a Yubari and went off with out permission... [i]Cupcake![/I]
I saw the photograph
So limited detail. 3D Projections, how did they live without them..

He blew his mind out in a car
If I had a phaser that Nreti bastard would not have laid a hand on me.

He didn't notice that the lights had changed
Traffic control devices. Not as effective as AI controlled traffic grids, but that was some time yet.

A crowd of people stood and stared
Neeva! Kestra! Lorhork! Yubari! Dova..no, Ovdan..Rustwick, ah, Paco my love.They'd seen his face before
It's me..

Nobody was really sure
Shria...Hst! h.s.t.

If he was from the House of Lords.
Bloody corrupt system, reenforceing the privledges of the ruling class to oppress the proliteriate.

I sawr a film today oh boy
Again, 2D, weird to watch.

The English Army had just won the war
Wellington? No, Churchill.

A crowd of people turned away
Neeva! Kestra! Lorhork! Yubari! Dova..no, Ovdan..Rustwick! Paco?!

but I just had to look
We'll, ya, duh, I mean it was my own doing.

Having read the book
Pride and Prejudice started it all, great Vulcan boddice ripper.

I'd love to turn you on
Paco!

Woke up, fell out of bed,
If only I could.

Dragged a comb across my head
A shower would be so nice.

Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
Coffee, smells like beans. Raktjino would be so nice right now.

And looking up I noticed I was late.
If I don't wake up I will be late.

Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Not many hats beening worn after the 1970's. Fashion changed so quickly, except for the baggy pants down around the ass of all those boys, most of whom had no ass to speak of.

Made the bus in seconds flat
54 foot limo. Bodies pressed togeather, sweating, crying children, groping old perverts. No thanks. Energize!

Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
Why would anyone willing breath in smoke?

and Somebody spoke and I went into a dream
I wish I could hear someone speak and get out of this dream.

I read the news today oh boy
Internet, all the news that's not fit to fact check.

Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
Bogs, buried for 2000 years, and then they stick you in a glass case for all the children to see what the ancient looked like.

And though the holes were rather small
No, potholes. Had to turn your lights on to get out. That's small? Let me out!!!

They had to count them all
Ah, science!

Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.
3,929, Exclusive Let maximum capacity: 5,250. I love London.

I'd love to turn you on
Lorhrok!~ Um, <.< >.> I mean....Paco!

[Robert J. Maxwell]

--ON--

<< U.S.S. Excelsior, NCC-2000-C - Main holodeck >>
<< August 27th, 2385 | 2015 Hours >>


"Lt. Commander Yubari is in holodeck 1" the computer informed.

"Yeah, I know that... now. Discontinue location reports." Robert retorted, glancing at the holodeck access panel.

It had been fifteen minutes since he had asked the computer to locate the Chief of Security for him. Fifteen minutes that he had spent crossing the ship from the Mess hall to her quarters, and along the weapons depot. Everytime he arrived where the computer had said she'd be, the Commander was already on her way somewhere else.

He looked at the PADD he was carrying. Yubari's military service record was impressive. If BS was to be going anywhere it needed teeth. Lt. Commander Yubari was more like a set of jaws, but teeth nonetheless.

As soon as the captain had approved the creation of Banzai Squadron, Robert had begun searching for the three components he required above all: a crack pilot, a crack engineer, and a crack tactician.

The first one had been easy to come by. The second one was in process and the third one was behind those holodeck doors, practicing her aim in a computer-generated simulation.

Couldn't she just have been in her quarters, sipping some tea? Maxwell mused as he entered the holodeck. She didn't want to have to face Yubari with her holding a type-III phaser rifle.

Robert unholstered his hand phaser and stood alongised Yubari, back to back, in the firing platform.

"What level are you on?" he asked, as he attuned his phaser for practice fire.

Asuka was quiet at first, paying no attention to the man who was interrupting her, but she sighed a heavy sigh in the end. "Twenty." She didn't miss a beat in locating and eliminating the targets.

"Well, I believe I can drop down a few levels to join you" he replied jokingly with a grin, taking a shot at the first target that came by him. "My name is Robert Maxwell, ship's new helmsman."

"Yes, I've heard."

"I served as the USS Trinculo's Chief of security for several years before transferring to the Command division. You could say I got some practice back then"

"If you say so, Lieutenant." The woman's phaser swung rather close to Maxwell's head as the target she was aiming for moved behind him.

"Actually, I do have another motive for seeing you Commander, other than enjoying the pleasure of your company, that is" Robert ceased firing and handed Yubari the PADD.

"The Captain and I are setting up a new long-range mission squadron. He suggested that I look for the very best among the crew so here I am"

"This too I've heard about." Asuka holstered her phaser and tapped nonchalantly and quickly through the PADD. "There's not much that gets past me on this ship, Lieutenant."

"So it would seem" Robert retorted, feeling a quirk of anger deep in his guts. He had heard about the woman... But meeting her first hand was something else. He tried to keep his cool and went on "While BS' primary mission should be that of scouting, first contact and exploration it does have to be able to fight it's way through any difficulties it might encounter, since we will have to be able to fly without the Excelsior's immediate cover. That's where your skills come to need, Commander"

"I see." Commander Yubari handed the PADD back, brandishing her phaser again. She resumed firing at the floating rings that dotted the black holodeck.

"The squadron will be formed by a five-ship flotilla, adjustable according to the mission. I will be in command of the squadron with the highest ranking officer present being in command of the mission. Right now, ma'am, that makes you our top dog" Robert concluded, taking back his PADD "But I imagine you are aware of all that as well, Commander" Robert distractingly took some more shots.

Until now, his efforts on impressing the stern woman had been futile. If he was to be successful at catching Yubari's interest, perhaps more unorthodox tactics would be required.

"Although my knowledge as to what goes on about the ship is limited. I am aware of some things, Commander." Robert stated in a neutral tone, as he kept firing "I understand you are keen in the art of fencing, am I right?"

"You understand correctly, and several other forms of martial arts." Yubari shot Maxwell a glare.

"A most elegant and deadly form of combat, you will agree. One at which I am also proficient"

"Really?" The woman's hand clutched her hip as she shifted herself onto her right leg.

"It's been long since I had the opportunity to practice my skills with something else than computer generated foes, and I would appreciate any practice" here Robert marked the word "I could come by." his tone was bordering the offensive, but Robert tried to keep a subtly sarcastic demeanor.

"After all, it's been sometime since I let a sweat"

"I must ask you though, do you really think this is a wise idea, Lieutenant?" Asuka dropped her phaser unceremoniously, it hit the ground with a light thud.

"Luckily I brought my holodeck combat scenarios with me when I transferred from the Trinculo." he holstered his phaser. "Computer, initiate program Maxwell Hugo beta."

The computer acknowledged, and the dark shooting scenario phased into a brightly lit mirror clad corridor at Versailles. Robert approached a weapons rack grabbing a rapier and a dagger for himself.

"Help yourself"

Asuka smirked that rather evil-esque smirk she was infamous for as she picked a rapier out of the sword rack. Robert took an offensive position, almost immediately thrusting the end of his rapier towards the smaller woman. The thrust was quickly and easily deflected by the woman. Robert quickly backed up as Asuka countered with a thrust as well. The man barely dodged the quick thrust and his blade scraped up against Asuka's bare wrist. Yubari yelped as she lifted her wrist to her mouth. Her smirk quickly changed to a frown.

"Like I said, it's been a while." Maxwell stepped back.

Asuka threw her hand down away from her face and ducked and stuck out her leg, her foot colliding with Robert's ankle, he tumbled backwards.

"That isn't---" He quickly rolled to avoid the woman's blade which was plummeting down to his face but instead punctured the parquet floor. "---A legal move!" The words fell on deaf ears. The Commander yanked the sword out of the floor and raised it to block a chop from the Lieutenant. She pushed him away as he lost his balance slightly, a square kick to the gut floored him. The Commander was over Maxwell again with the sword pointing down to his face, he didn't budge.

"Out there, in the real world, playing by the rules will get you killed." Asuka lifted herself from his body and dropped her rapier next to him. "I'll give this little squadron of yours a try, we'll see how it turns out." She started pacing down the corridor. "Computer, exit."

Robert stayed laying on the floor as the holodeck door materialized, taking Asuka through, then closing again. His guts hurt like hell but that didn't stop him from letting out a sincere laugh, abruptly interrupted by painful coughs. He got back on his feet and made his way to the exit.

Yep, yes just the woman for the job...

"Computer, end program" Robert headed for sickbay, feeling more alive than he had felt for the last five years. He even surprised himself smiling sincerely for the first time in five years too.

--OFF--