It was late by the time Andy returned to the quarters she shared with Maica, entering the door and stopping, leaning against the door once it closed behind her. She stared into nothing with a bemused ‘huh’ as she tried to figure out what exactly had just happened.

Maica was sitting at her desk, typing away at that insanely massive and wordy trade agreement she had been trying to summarize in less than a million words when Andy walked in. “Welcome home, love. Did everything go ok?” she asked, barely glancing up from her work.

“Kris kissed me…” Andy said, almost bewildered by the fact that it had happened. It was just so… odd!

Maica immediately stopped typing, slowly moving her hands to rest in her lap as she leaned back in her chair and looked up at Andy emotionlessly. She had no words to say, so just waited for Andy to say or do something further.

“It was weird…” Andy started, her brow furrowed as she thought on what had happened. “He told me something-” something she wasn’t going to repeat, “and it was clear he was… I dunno, grieving? He was drunk-” but when was he not? “and he just started kissing my neck. I didn’t stop him, I think he’s just lonely, but… it was just so weird!” Andy never really felt much in the way of pity. Her philosophy was that if something bad happened then it was the universe’s way of saying you had it coming. But she actually felt a little sorry for the guy.

“I see,” Maica said in a somewhat Vulcan-esque way. She had never considered the Captain to be romantically interested in women in general, though perhaps she had misjudged him. A slight ‘mou’ settled on her lips as she thought this over.

Andy pushed herself off the door and removed her duty jacket, draping it over the back of the chair then heading for the replicator for a mug of coffee. “I got angry with him…” she confessed, then took a swig of her coffee. “He kissed me, just a peck, then start getting all mopey about things… then he said something, it got me all mad. I’m worried I mighta hurt him.”

Tapping at her console, she brought up internal sensor access through her dedicated comm panel to check on Kris in his quarters. “His lifesigns are within normal values.” She still didn’t know what to say, but a lot of thoughts were going through her head as she stared at the readouts.

“Oh, he was fine when I left him,” Andy said with a shrug. “Well enough that he could yell down the hall that I was cold, heartless bitch…” And that accusation was bothering her more than it should have.

Maica nodded at that and clicked her comm panel back off. “You’re not though.” Maica didn’t see Andy as any of those in any way. She saw her as a vibrant pillar of life. She was often hard on others, but a lot of the time they needed it.

“I know…” Andy said, walking over to Maica. she set her coffee on the desk and knelt before Maica, wrapping her arms around the android’s waist. “It was just… weird.”

Maica rested her hands on Andy’s shoulders, softly rubbing them. “It sounds awkward.”

Andy nodded. “It was…” Andy said quietly. After a moment of silence, she looked up at Maica. “Keep an eye on him,” she cautioned. “Something’s up, something I can’t talk about yet, but I’m worried he’s gonna do something stupid.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Maica said, concern flowing into her features. “What about you, though? Are you going to be ok?”

“I don’t know…” Andy admitted. “I’ve never gotten angry at someone like that before… it worries me.”

“Do you blame yourself for what happened?” Maica asked, still trying to make sense of it all in her head.

“Blame myself?” Andy wasn’t sure she understood the question, but she still thought long and hard about it.

“Was your reaction out of your control or not? If not, then I wouldn’t worry about it. As for him kissing you…” Maica paused there for a moment and took a deep breath. She was about to say something her original programming was adamant about, though her guts told her she should feel something else… “That wasn’t in your control either. He did what he did because of his personal idiom and that has nothing to do with you unless you want it to.”

“I didn’t lose control,” Andy assured Maica. She had been in control of herself the whole time, Kris was never in any real danger. “And I guess I coulda stopped him from kissing me. I did remind him why he was here.”

“Then ask yourself this. Is there anything you can do to take care of things?” Maica said tenderly. “If the answer is no, then let things take care of themselves.”

Andy nodded, but said nothing. There were things she could do to take care of things, but she couldn’t talk about it. Until then, the best she could do was keep an eye on Kris as she had cautioned Maica to do. “Thanks, Maica,” she eventually said, straightening out enough that she could reach her lover’s lips to grace them with a kiss.

Returning the kiss softly, Maica smiled her trademark warm smile. “Any time. Now tell me what it was like. The kiss, I mean.”

“Like I said, it was weird,” Andy said, resting her head in Maica’s lap. “He called me beautiful and started kissing my neck. He seemed really into it, I guess. I didn’t get hot or nothing if that’s what you’re wondering. But I let him do it… I think it was just his way of reaching out? then I reminded him of something and he kissed me. It was…” How to describe it? It was was chaste, but something more too… “I dunno, just a peck. Not like he slipped me the tongue or nothing…”

“Fair enough,” Maica said, smoothing Andy’s wild mane out with her hands. “I guess I’ll have to kiss him too then. I doubt I’ll get him in the same mood, though. Do you want anything to eat? A snack or something?”

“Meh, leave the poor guy alone, he’s got enough on his plate without the crew accosting him,” Andy said, a surprisingly sympathetic statement. Maybe the kiss hadn’t meant anything from a romantic standpoint, but it had meant something. Maybe that was their new friend ‘secret handshake’? the thought made Andy snicker.

“Fair enough.” Maica said with a slight giggle. That would be more stress than he needed. “What about that snack then?”

“Sure…” Andy said, rising and retrieving her mug from the desk. The kiss still weighed heavily on her mind, or maybe it was the confession Kris had made… Either way, it was still something that would be in her thoughts for a while, but that was alright. After talking with Maica, she certainly felt better about what had happened. “Have I mentioned that you’re the best girlfriend ever?” she asked with a grin, putting an arm around Maica and drawing her close.

Standing with her lover, Maica giggled at the compliment. “I don’t think a day has gone by where you haven’t. You’re better though.” she said with a smile, planting a kiss on Andy’s lips.

Andy yawned as she entered her quarters well before the end of her usual shift. She went straight for the bedroom and flopped down on the bed, doing her best to keep her wet hair off the bed so the blanket wouldn’t get wet. Though that just meant her duty jacket was getting soaked.

Andy wanted to call out to Maica and ask how the meeting had gone, but she hadn’t even bothered to check if Maica was still working when she entered. She didn’t hear any talking, but that didn’t mean Maica wasn’t doing something important. She had done her best to wait as long as she could so she wouldn’t interrupt anything, but on the off chance that Maica was still working, she remained silent and cuddled up to Maica’s pillow to enjoy her lingering scent.

Maica had finished her meeting and was nibbling on some hors d'oeuvre at her desk when she heard Andy come in and head to the bedroom. Grabbing the tray, she headed out of her office area to investigate. “Andy, welcome home.”

“Hey,” Andy said, looking up at Maica with a yawn. “How was your meeting?” she asked.

“It was cat-tastic,” Maica said with a funny look on her face. She could see the slight flush and glow in Andy’s face and her pheromone levels were unusually high for just having showered. Even over the soap, Maica’s android nose could clearly pick them out. “Did you?...”

“Hm?” Andy removed her boots and jacket so she could lay down to take a nap. “Did I wha- oh! That’s right! I asked Cameron to wash my back in the shower cause I was all nasty from crawling around the jefferies tubes with no temperature control, and then we had sex,” she said casually. She could have been talking about what was on the mess hall lunch menu for as casual as she was.

Pouting cutely, Maica sat on the bed next to Andy. “Is that how it is then? I thought we were going to share him.” Popping another hors d'oeuvre into her mouth, she chewed thoughtfully as she studied Andy’s face.

“Well, I didn’t want to interrupt you while you were busy, that's rude! That's why I hit the gym shower in the first place,” Andy explained. “But don’t worry, he knows you’ll get a turn. I think he’s gonna come calling after his shift.”

Poking a hors d'oeuvre into Andy’s mouth, Maica’s expression brightened a bit. “Tonight then? Should I prepare dinner for 3 or are we just going to skip to the dessert?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think to ask,” Andy admitted sheepishly as she chewed on the morsel Maica had fed her. “I was tired, and then someone else entered the locker room…” Even Andy knew what discretion was! “And really, I’m not sure if he meant today or tomorrow. I can contact him if you want.” She felt bad for not getting any details, but she was tired.

“No no, it’s fine,” Maica said as she stood and headed back into the main room. “I’m good at preparing for the unexpected visit here and there. It was a spur of the moment thing and that’s perfectly fine.”

“You’re the best,” Andy called out to Maica, then snuggled back up to the pillow. “I’m just going to catch a quick nap, then I gotta go back to work. I’ll be a bit late coming back, I gotta make up the time.”

“Ok, love. Rest well and call if you need me.” Maica called from the living area. She still had some paperwork to finish up from that last meeting, but it wouldn’t take her long. She may not be as physically laborious as Andy, but she did have her own endless reports to take care of.

Nathan need some time to clear his head. Vara had showed him a program of a bath house on her home world and had offered to let him use it. Today was the day. It had been a hard day for Nathan, and the after hours meeting with Commander Tegan had not gone like he had hoped it would. If anything, Nathan felt the tension between the two of them was worse now than earlier.

Nathan had started up the program and was currently sitting under the cold waterfall, meditating. The ice cold water beat down around his head and shoulders. It was a perfect and serene atmosphere, but the trouble in Nathans head and heart were making it hard to fully let go and slip into the meditation. Nathan had left the door unlocked hoping that Jhu would come find him.

Vara had suggested a bath as a way to soothe her nerves, and Jhu was inclined to agree that it was a good plan. But the tiny bathroom in her cabin just wouldn't do, so she'd wandered down toward the holodecks. A running program on holodeck four caught her eye. A bath house on the Lagashi homeworld? And it was unlocked. Not noticing whose name was logged in the system, Jhu ventured inside, pausing and staring at the intricacies of the program... and its sole occupant. "Well you're not who I expected to find in here."

Nathan sat in only a pair of shorts, his tattoo's on full display. He slowly opened his eyes. His face was uncommonly stoic when she first came in but a grin broke across his face as he saw her. "Who were you expecting?"

"It's a Lagashi program. Figured it was Vara." She was still staring, taking in the sight of his tattoos. "Nice ink you've got there..."

"Thank you. Glad you like it" Nathan moved out from under the water so her better.

"You're welcome." The tattoos weren't the only thing holding her attention; she'd known he was in good shape, but his lack of clothing made it apparent just how much time he'd spent in the gym. And Jhu was definitely not complaining. Not one bit.

Nathan grinned at her "You just going to sand there staring?"

"It's not exactly a bad view..." Jhu smirked at him. "I'd hate to be a distraction from your meditation."

"Don't let me stop you from enjoying the view." Nathan said, but he could not play off the blush the sprang to his face. "I could use the distractions to be honest."

Well that was troublesome. "Going to tell me why or should I guess?" Not exactly modest to begin with, Jhu had little issue with disrobing in front of him, though she paused when she realized she hadn't thought to find a swimsuit before going to the holodeck. She decided not to let it bother her; after all, she had no issue using the co-ed shower in the gym. This wasn't much different.

Now it was Nathans turn to stare. Not exactly the distraction he expected but he was not going to complain.

"I can feel you staring," Jhu remarked cheerfully, folding her clothing and setting it on a dry rock where it would stay clean. "You didn't answer my question," she added, carefully entering the water to avoid unnecessary splashing. It was cooler than she expected, but not cold.

Nathan slid off the side where the waterfall fell and into the warm pool. "Uh, question?"

"About why you need a distraction!" Jhu splashed him with the water, grinning. "If you weren't over there trying to count my spots you'd have heard me."

Well the distraction was working very well up until now. "Oh yeah...that. You were doing so good for a moment there." Nathan sighed and sunk into the water up to his shoulders. "I talked with Tegan tonight."

"What did he want?" Jhu knew it could be nothing good, but she kept her tone light as she sank into the water, finding it warmer than she'd first thought.

"To let me know that if I ever put my personal feelings for you over an order ever again not only will he order us to stop seeing each other, but that there will be some very real physical aspects of my punishment." Nathan recounted to her.

Jhu rolled her eyes. "Now that's just ridiculous. Next he'll be claiming I supported you during the briefing because I like you."

Nathan swam over to her. "I think we should go back to the distracting me part..."

"I'm sure that can be arranged..."

"So, is there a problem with trying to count your spots?" Nathan swam around her.

"Not exactly a problem, per se." Jhu wasn't sure she wanted to divulge that particular secret yet.

Nathan came up behind her and slid his arms around her waist "Okay then..." he began kissing the spots on her neck.

Oh boy. She wriggled in his grip, laughing a little. "You might not want to do that."

Nathan stopped but looked over her shoulder. "And why is that?"

"You might start something that will really kick the rumor mill into overdrive."

"Now that sound like a distraction..." Nathan said and moved back to her neck, actually nipping gently at her spots.

"You haven't dated many Trills, have you?" Jhu carefully hid her amusement at his apparent naivete, shivering slightly at the sensation that rippled across the spots on her neck.

Nathan decided to ignore that last comment. Dated many Trills or not, he knew exactly what he was doing and exactly what he was getting himself into. He moved to the other side of her neck and started nipping and kissing her spots there too.

Jhu was starting to suspect he'd gotten more coaching from Maica, but she couldn't really focus on that thought with him alternately kissing and biting her neck.

He stopped, but only long enough to move in front of her and press his lips to hers.

Maica had invited Andy to join her in a hot springs resort program after work (mere moments away if Andy stuck to the schedule) and thinking ahead, she went to the holodecks to see if any were unoccupied. It was to her surprise that a Lagashi hot springs program was already running. Even more of a surprise to see who was in it and that they had left the door unlocked. Giggling, she opened the door and walked in boldly, catching the 2 lovebirds making out. "Hello! You two left the door unlocked so I know you're not having sex in here yet. Mind if a couple more people join you?"

"Maica! Out!" Jhu knew it wouldn't do any good though. Maica enjoyed embarrassing her too much. And there was nowhere to hide either!

"You got to be kidding me..." grumbled Nathan.

Maica turned serious for a moment as she stepped up to one of the changing booths and started undressing. "Jhu, we need to talk. I've been reviewing a lot of scientific logs passed to Starfleet through diplomatic channels and I'm no expert on space whales or liquid space, but... I need to have you read these reports and tell me I'm paranoid." Holding up a PaDD, she stepped into the water, having slipped into a simple one piece bathing suit. "Besides, if you really didn't want either myself or Andy here, you would have either locked the door in the first place or beamed me out and then locked it by now."

Beam her out? What a great idea! Nathan actually stared wondering how much trouble he would be in if he used the transporter for personal use like that.

"I'm off duty!" Jhu protested, sinking further into the water. Why hadn't she locked the door?

"I'd certainly hope so," Andy said as she popped in to see Jhu and Nathan looking quite embarrassed. She looked down at the hot spring with a hint of disdain as she shoved her hands into her pants pockets to hide her agitation. Maica wanted her to get into that? With other people around? "If you do this while you're on duty, then Kris is gonna have some problems with both of you." Then the ex-Borg woman looked at Maica, giving her her best 'puppy dog' eyes she could manage. "Do I have to get in to the water?" she asked, hoping Maica wouldn't make her.

Tossing the PaDD on top of Jhu's discarded uniform, Maica stepped up to Andy and pressed her body to the ex-borg woman's. "You're not afraid of water, are you? I'll tell you what. If you get in, I'll eat anything you want me to. How does that sound?" Maica's smirk said she expected Andy to take her up on that offer.

"Anything?" Andy said with a wicked grin, her mind going straight to dirty places. Andy was by no means afraid of the water, she just didn't want to get in there while Jhu and Nathan were in there. It wasn't that she was ashamed of her body, but she was frequently met with staring on the rare occasions she went to the gym shower and it annoyed her. But Maica's offer was awfully tempting...

"Anything..." Maica said in a husky tone as she wrapped her arms around Andy's shoulders.

"Alright, where's the damned swimsuit..." Andy grumbled as she leaned in to kiss Maica. If Maica was expecting her to jump in nude, Andy was walking out of here...

"What's the matter? Shy?" Jhu snickered a little, hiding her disappointment at the interruption. This was getting rather awkward very quickly.

Dammit! Andy couldn't turn down a challenge and she suspected Jhu knew it! She looked Jhu right in the eyes as she started to take her clothes off.

Nathan spun around and looked at Jhu, and away from Andy. Nathan was shy, and had hard a rather trying day. This was just about more then he could stand. " Well, I guess I'm distracted now."

"Careful what you wish for in the future." Jhu took advantage of his shyness, kissing him hotly. Maica and Andy weren't going away, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy herself.

Andy snickered as she continued shucking her clothes, tossing them aside. She took advantage of their mutual distraction with each other to slip in to the water, where her scars would be obscured by its rippling surface. There was a time she didn't have a care for who saw her scars, but one time too many, seeing led to staring and she wanted to avoid that at all costs. "Alright, I gotta admit, this feels pretty nice," Andy admitted begrudgingly as she settled in.

Nathan was not going to push away a kiss from Jhu, he did exactly the opposite. Scooped her up and moved to the other end of the pool with her. Then he broke the kiss. "I would love to continue this, with you somewhere else."

"We'll have to get past them first," Jhu whispered, playfully biting his neck. He might not have spots, but it didn't make it any less fun.

"Don't mind us," Andy said as she pulled Maica down into her lap. "Just pretend we're not even here!"

Slipping into the water and settling into Andy's lap, Maica giggled as she planted a kiss on her lover's lips. "You won't even know we're here."

"Oh great! Then you two have a great night." Nathan said as he swam him and Jhu over to the side of the pool.

"My cabin is closer than yours," Jhu said in a hushed tone, giggling a little as she climbed out of the water and realized she didn't gave a towel. That was inconvenient.

"Nathan, before you go... Did those 2 bottles of bloodwine help any?" Maica asked, turning to look at the 2 escapees with a cheshire cat grin.

"Oi! Where are you two going?" Andy said with a snicker. Despite their earlier embarrassment, Andy thought Jhu and Nathan were okay with her and Maica joining them, but the way they were trying to rush out of here, she was starting to doubt that assumption. She scowled slightly at Maica. "Did you just jump in here without asking, Maica?" Andy asked in a scolding tone. It wasn't hard to figure out what was going on between Nathan and Jhu and if they came here to be alone, then Maica should have left them alone rather than coerce her in here when they weren't welcome.

Nathan had brought a towel and handed it to Jhu. "Plans..." were all he could say.

Maica was silent for a moment, a look of sadness coming over her face as she reconsidered some things. She had had to get that PaDD to Jhu as soon as possible, but perhaps there was a better way of doing it... "Did you both come here to make love to each other?" she asked bluntly. "If so, I'm sorry."

"Maica..." Damn! Andy could be painfully blunt sometimes, but even she knew where the line was! "If you two want to stay here, we can leave," Andy offered.

Jhu took the towel from Nathan, wrapping it around her shoulders and holding it tightly there for a moment. The water had been warm, so the cool air of the holodeck felt even colder. At Maica's question, she tried valiantly not to blush, but she could feel the warm greenish tinge creep into her face. She didn't think they'd planned on that, but it was certainly the direction they'd been going when Maica showed up.

Andy shook her head with a heavy sigh. Damn, what kind of friend was she if she just let Jhu and Nathan walk out of here? "You two, stop. Maica and I will leave, you had the holodeck first. I'l personally lock up on our way out so you're not interrupted again," Andy promised as she rose from the water, pulling Maica along with her as she did so, giving the android woman a scolding gaze as she haphazardly put her clothes on without bothering to dry off.

"I got this." Nathan said to Jhu and he walked over to Andy and Maica. First he pulled Maica into a hug. " We came here to relax, nothing more. I'll come have lunch with you tomorrow and we can catch up. Don't worry about us."

Then Nathan gave Andy a hug. "Maica didn't know what we were doing. Don't be hard on her. Enjoy the program. But remember something for me, we all have scars."

Nathan then walked back over to Jhu. "You ready?"

Having gotten dressed while he talked to Andy and Maica, Jhu nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."

Andy watched them leave, considering Nathan's words for a moment before looking back at Maica with a shrug. She guessed she was taking her clothes off again...

Andy paced her office for a while, wondering what to do about Maica. Her android lover still wasn't eating like she should which was causing her systems to run inefficiently, and Andy didn't like that one bit. If Maica continued to refuse to eat, then Andy was going to have to redesign certain aspects of her body to compensate. But Andy knew that Maica would get the hang of eating if she just gave it a real chance! They had been tweaking her sense of taste, adjusting it to fix the bugs in the system; not just that, but Maica had been adapting to sleep and the rest of her new systems well, why couldn't she give eating that same chance? Frustrated to no end, as soon as her shift ended, she returned to her office to think of a plan. Now she had one, but... could she enlist the help of a certain accomplice? Only one way to find out!

Andy left her office and headed straight for the Intel office hoping Jhu was still there, otherwise she would have to go hunting the ship for the Romulan-Trill woman, and that was something she wasn't looking forward to. But luck was on her side, for as soon as she entered the office she saw Jhu! And Vara too?

"Hey Commander, I was wondering-" Andy started, stopping short when she saw Vara. "Hey," she greeted Vara awkwardly, then returned her attention to Jhu. "I was wondering if I could enlist your help for something. It's about Maica."

Vara had been sitting there in the corner quietly when Andy came in, her senses and radar continuously sweeping the office to make sure Jhu stayed safe. Instead of a verbal greeting, she chose to just give Andy a friendly wave.

"If it's about Maica, I'm all ears." Jhu set the PADD she was working on down, looking up at Andy. "How is she, by the way? I haven't been able to talk to her... guess I don't have to explain where my time's gone lately."

"She's alright. It was kinda touch-and-go for a little while, but we got her in her new body and she's still... acclimating," Andy replied. "The thing is, I designed her to be able to eat. Well, not just able, but it's necessary. It's a complex system designed to turn artificial metabolic functions into a sort of natural generator system, so she always has power. But the thing is, she ain't eating. She's having trouble adjusting to her sense of taste and she just doesn't like the sensation of eating and... I was kinda hoping you would be able to help somehow. I know you two are friends, and I'm sure she's tired of me nagging her..." Andy trailed off, feeling like a fool that she had to get help for this issue.

"Well... I guess I can try. She does tend to listen to me. Usually, anyway." Jhu looked at the mountain of work accumulating on her desk. "Most of this can wait anyway. Only problem is... well." Jhu glanced at Vara. "I kind of have a security escort."

"I can go with you If you need me to, Commander." Vara said with a smile. "Nothing says we have to stay put while I'm guarding you." Besides, she had been sitting in this chair for hours and could use a stretch.

"I was more referring to what happened the last time you three were in a room together." Jhu gave them each a studious look. "That's not going to happen again, is it?"

"Vara and I have come to an understanding, ain't gonna be anymore swapping spit between us," Andy replied uneasily, then cleared her throat. "So, if you're good to help... You know what she likes, right? So go to the holodeck and set something up while I go kidnap the damsel."

"We shared a few meals before her upgrades. I'll think of something." Jhu shoved her pile of PADDs into a drawer, standing up from her chair and stretching slightly. "I need a break anyway. This chair is murder on my back lately."

"Good, you think, I will go," Andy said abruptly, nervous about being open about her relationship. It wasn't like everyone didn't already know about her and Maica, but dammit.... This was one of the reasons she hated relationships and usually stayed clear of them, she hated dating and all the stuff that people could see and gossip about. Wasn't like she thought Vara or Jhu would go gossiping, but still...

"Just go get Maica. I'll handle the program." From a different drawer Jhu collected a phaser and two tiny - but wicked sharp - daggers, tucking each weapon unobtrusively in its hidden place in her uniform.

"Yeah, right," And replied, then ducked out of the office. Now, to find Maica....

-=Maica's Desk=-

The green skinned android had gotten extra dressed up for her last conference call. She had spent several hours trying to settle a trade dispute between 2 worlds that hated each other. All the yelling over the comm lines had given her something akin to a headache. At least that's what it registered as... She'd have to have Andy scan her and make sure she wasn't just somehow allergic to the peoples of the Skoldric system.

Finally shutting off her comm panel and closing the subspace channel, Maica leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, sighing heavily. Four hours and if anything, they had made backwards progress. She'd likely have to hand this mission off to someone that could get them to meet up in person - she was a bit too far away to do that herself. It would be her first hand off and that thought just made her 'headache' worse.

Suddenly standing and grabbing a random bottle, Maica poured a little of the lavender scented liquor into one of the glasses she now kept handy. Savoring the smell for a moment, she identified it as a slightly hallucinogenic drink made from rutamba blossoms. It wouldn't have any effect on her, but it might at least kill the gnawing hunger in her new gastro-intestinal system for a little while. With that thought, she quickly downed the drink, doing her best to ignore the unsettling feeling of movement in her guts.

Andy recognized the smell of the drink. As soon as she walked through the door, the scent of lavender hit her and she knew what Maica was drinking. "You are so lucky I have your reactions to alcohol turned off right now or that shit would make you sick!" Andy said as she took the now empty glass from Maica's hand. Once everything was working properly Maica would be able to get drunk, but like Andy she would be able to go from drunk to sober by turning off those functions if the situation called for it. "Something you need to learn: Never drink on an empty stomach, it does not end well," she scolded gently as she put an arm around Maica. "Long day?" she asked.

"Way too long," Maica said as she leaned into the ex-borg woman's embrace, still clutching the bottle. "How would it make me sick?"

"Look, you're just gonna have to trust me on this one," Andy said as she relieved Maica of the bottle as well. "It's best you never learn the hard way, but for now you're fine," she assured her lover with a gentle embrace. "You feel like going to the holodeck to unwind? You feel tense, you could probably use a nice massage," she suggested.

"Yeah, not all days as a diplomat are full of posh meetings and veritable parties. I had to deal with the worst people today... They yelled so much, I'm registering a headache." Looking into Andy's eyes worriedly, Maica continued. "Can I get headaches now?"

"Yes, but it's not real," Andy reminded her. "You can shut it off or you can let me show you how we deal with headaches." Feeling the discomfort certainly wasn't fun, but that's part of what being alive was all about. And maybe it would help Maica would gain a new appreciation for the finer things in life.

"Pain like this sucks. Just do whatever so it stops please." Maica said as she buried her face against Andy.

"Very well," Andy said, easily lifting the android woman into her arms and carrying her off to the unknown...

-=Holodeck=-

Having never been involved in teaching anyone - let alone someone who appeared to be an adult - how to eat, Jhu had initially been quite lost as she poked around in the holoprograms for something suitable. Fine dining would be too stressful (and too tempting for Maica to wander off and socialize instead of eating), and nearly all of the programs she'd found were dating scenarios, not exactly appropriate for a group of four. Not finding one she liked for the situation, she borrowed foods and drinks from various simulations and programmed them into a simple picnic setting, deciding that the calm nature of the program was likely more beneficial than that of a restaurant.

If Jhu had been lost on what to do, Vara was clueless. Lagashi kids were self sufficient by age 2 because of the implants and she couldn't get anything she considered tasty out of these replicators other than her tomato soup. Thus all she could add to the setting was a punchbowl of said soup as she watched the surrounding area.

The doors to the holodeck part and Andy stepped in carrying her 'victim'. A picnic was certainly not something she would have come up with, but she had a feeling that this was something right up Maica's alley, which was the entire reason she had enlisted Jhu's help. She had never been so thankful about anything before, Jhu was truly a lifesaver to help her with this. Andy brought Maica to the picnic area and set her down, casting a grateful glance to Jhu and Vara for making this happen. The setting was beautiful and calming. Perfect!

"Oh my..." was all Maica could say as she was deposited at a picnic table covered in food. The scenery was pretty and she found the cool breeze relaxing. Jhu and Vara were both here as well, which made her a bit suspicious on what was going on. Was this an intervention? She'd know for sure in the next few moments, but considering the spread of food laid out on the table, it likely was about her lack of eating. There was a bit of dread sinking into the pit of those ill used organelles as she waited as calmly as she could for what was to come next.

Andy stood behind Maica as she settled into her seat, bringing her hands up to Maica's temples to massage them lightly to help ease the tension Maica no doubt felt at all this. "I know you're probably tired of me nagging you about eating, so I ain't gonna bother you about this no more," Andy said tenderly as she massaged Maica's head, no doubt an odd sight for the others to see since Andy wasn't usually a 'tender' person. "I just thought this might make you feel more comfortable being here with a friend..."

"You don't have to eat anything you don't like. Just try a few things and see what works." Jhu smiled a little. "Think of it as a new way to practice your diplomatic technique."

Serving up a glass of the tomato soup from the punch bowl and setting that before Maica, Vara spoke. "And if you don't find anything appetizing, we can replicate something different. Personally, the only thing I find palatable here is the tomato soup, but I still can't stand replicated foods like this. I guess I'm too used to my family's home cooking. Still, it does look like good diplomatic training." Vara was rambling now, unsure of what to say.

Maica just held a hand up to shush her as she relaxed under Andy's massages. "No, it's ok. This is something I've been putting off and I appreciate the help." Picking up that cup of soup, she sipped at it, the tangy flavor actually sending a little shiver through her. That actually seemed to settle well, her new tummy didn't seem to object much at all, if any. Her eyes opening wide for a moment, she drank a bit more of the soup before setting the cup down. "That's really good. What is it?" she asked in awe.

"Tomato soup. Recipe 4." Vara said simply, serving herself up a cup of it.

'Thank you,' Andy mouthed to Jhu and Vara as she continued to massage Maica's head. She was just relieved that not only was Maica willing to try it but that she had also found something she actually liked! "How's the headache?" Andy asked as her hands worked down Maica's neck to her shoulders.

"You're welcome," Jhu mouthed back, grinning a little. She'd been skeptical of Vara's soup, but it was the first thing Maica had tried.

Maica was definitely relaxing at this point. "There's still some pressure, but much better, thank you." Picking up a finger sandwich of some sort, she stared at it a moment before dipping it in her cup of soup and nibbling it gingerly. That wasn't too bad... This soup seemed to be the key she had been looking for to settle into eating.

Vara was surprised as well. She knew it helped her own guts to settle well, but she didn't think it would work that well for an android. come to think of it, she had never tried dipping anything in her soup... Picking up a similar sandwich, she mimicked Maica, dipping the sandwich in the soup and trying it as well. Bleh... Still tasted like replicated crap...

"Real food is better. Next time we dock, I'll see if I can get my hands on some hlai and kheia. Those are nice treats." They were also expensive, but Jhu didn't mind. "Hlai jerky with a cayenne rub is really nice."

"Cayenne? Yeah, I can barely get her to eat and you wanna give her cayenne!" Andy said with a laugh. but Jhu made a good point, real food was better than replicated. "What about that twig-girl? Don't she grow stuff down in the hydroponics bay for the galley?"

"Shira? Yeah, she does. I could get some from her... she still owes me half a grapefruit." Jhu laughed a little.

"Hm... Maybe we can see if she grows tomatoes," Andy offered. If Maica was liking the tomato soup from the replicator, then surely fresh would be better. Andy stopped massaging Maica, having assessed that she was sufficiently relaxed now, then sat beside her girlfriend to grab a sandwich and munch on it idly. Might as well; no sense in letting perfectly good food go to waste.

Maica leaned against her lover as she munched on the foods, often dipping them in the cup of soup but sometimes not. After a few minutes of this, her belly was trying to do something else strange. It felt like something coming back up. Burping cutely, Maica's eyes got really wide as she placed a hand over her mouth. "What was that?" she asked behind her hand.

"Oh wait, I can do better!" Andy said, grabbing a can of soda on the table, popping the top and chugging it. Once the can was empty, she crunched it in her hand and tossed it aside. Then she waited a second... Then released a roaring belch. She looked positively pleased with herself for that 'performance'.

"So lady-like." Jhu snickered a little. "It's normal, Maica. Just escaping gas." She looked at Andy, trying not to laugh any harder. "Please don't demonstrate the other way it escapes. You might embarrass her to death."

Maica was blushing deeply at this point and trying to stifle a giggle. "I don't know if that's horrific or funny. I think it's impressive, either way."

"I'll need more than soda to demonstrate the other way," Andy said with a snicker, fully willing and prepared to make a good show of it. Well, maybe not; Maica did seem a bit embarrassed. Maybe the belch was more than enough for one day. "You feeling better?" she asked Maica, bumping her shoulder against her gently.

Vara could just shake her head sadly at the display.

Maica nodded, still blushing. "Yeah, I think so. It was really scary though. I thought my organelles were trying to escape."

"Eh, you'll get used to it." Jhu picked up one of the tiny sandwiches and took a bite out of it.

"Just remember, the more you try to ignore the hunger, the worse it becomes," Andy said to Maica. "You'll figure things out, just give it some time." but more than anything, Andy was just glad that Maica seemed to find something she could tolerate. It was all about the baby steps at this point, she just had to start small and work her way up to new and different things.

Smiling at Andy, Maica nodded. "Just one step at a time, right? Nothing to worry about."

The holodeck was programmed to look like a old style dojo. Rice paper walls, thick bamboo pillars and bamboo read floor mats. Nathan sat there, a Katana in front of him. He was in a think, rough woven gi who's top was held together by a very worn and old looking red belt. What would shock most was that Nathan was wearing a blind fold with a yin yang symbol on the front of it. He just sat in the lotus position breathing, becoming one with everything around him. He was not aware how long he had been there, but he came in an hour before Mizuki was suppose to show up.

Three "Ninjas" silently lowered themselves from the ceiling and quietly moved in position. One of them tried to take a swipe with his own Katana. Nathan was fast, especially for a man his size. He took up his sword and blocked. Then he got to his feet and held his sword out in front of him. Ready for the fight that would ensue.

For the first time since the attack on the ship, Jhu had enough free time to go for a walk. Somehow, she ended up outside holodeck 4, where she couldn't help noticing a program was running. One with Nathan's name on it. And the door wasn't locked. She hadn't been invited, but she decided to be nosy anyway, going inside just in time to see the opening fight with the ninjas.

Nathans head twitched to the side as the arch appeared and the doors opened but he kept his focus on the fight...something he might not have been able to do if he knew who had just walked in. He was expecting to put on a show for Mizuki. Blind he began turning, swinging and blocking. The room erupted in the clash of sword on sword.

Mizuki walked through the doors, and lightly brushed past the other woman who was there. She was prepared for her lesson, though in her uniform for the moment. She grabs a katana from the rack and hefts it a little. It seemed right, but..not perfect.

Nathan continued, but he was currently on the defensive with three katanas flying around his blind face, until he managed to spin one of the swords out of the hands of his attackers and stick him in the chest.

Jhu didn't notice Mizuki; she was too busy watching Nathan fight blind. He was good... and faster than she would have expected.

His sword kept moving, blocking and striking. He had notched up the difficulty level and he was actually starting to break a sweat.

This was when Maica came in too. She had been visiting one of the cargo bays when she heard the sound of metal on metal and had to investigate. Seeing that the holodeck door was open and others were wandering in, she decided to join them in watching Nathan, nodding to Vara as she walked past Jhu's ever-present guard that had decided to stay outside.

Now Nathan was distracted, he could sense that more then just one person had entered. That momentary slip cause a sword to break his defense and he took a nick to the arm. He did have safety protocols on so it just hurt really bad but didn't cut him. He grit his teeth and tried to focus again. Who the hell was watching him?

Jhu winced sympathetically, but there was no blood. He had the safeties on. So she stayed off to the side for now but couldn't help taunting him a bit. "No sickbay visits. Cohen will start charging you rent."

Mizuki held the katana in a manner from her memory, and strode forward regally. One of the ninjas takes note and moves faster than one might notice. Beating her up a bit with the safeties on. After that, the attacker jumps towards the girl, who had her back turned. Pivoting on her left foot, she crouches, and then at the moment, she thrust upward into the air, impaling the ninja, and then following through with the slash, bent on a knee after doing so.

Nathan threw his sword into the last of the attackers and pulled his blind fold off, looking around the room. "I didn't know I was going to have an audience..."

"Didn't know I'd be watching. You left the door unlocked." Jhu shrugged, grinning a bit.

"The door was open when I got here," Maica said with concern in her voice and in her expression. "I heard dangerous noises so I investigated."

"And I was the only one that was supposed to be here. Somehow, I defeated one of the ninja." Mizuki added her voice to it.

Nathan took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his brow " Good job Mizuki, but we will not be using real, well semi real swords yet, we will be training with Shinai's at first." But Nathans eyes were drifting between Jhu and Maica. "If you guys want to watch me teach Mizuki your welcome to stay, if your ok with that." He said looking to Mizuki

She gives him a look, before shrugging. "Sure. Maica and Jhu are trustworthy enough, I think." Mizuki bows a bit and tosses the sword to the side away from her. "Shall we begin?"

Nathan regarded the look for a moment then walked over to Mizuki and knelt down to whisper to her. "You going to go armored warrior on me? Not that I mind, I'm always down for a challenge but if you want to keep it secret..." He trailed off looking at the other two.

Jhu could hear him whispering, and she raised an eyebrow at it. Mizuki had some big secret?

The younger shook her head. "Normal, like we spoke of." she whispered back, and stood to her feet.

Maica raised an eyebrow as well. "Armored warrior?" she whispered to Jhu at a level she knew the Romulan-Trill hybrid could hear her at, but not the 2 humans.

Nathan shrugged and stood "It's your decision Mizuki. Do what you think is best. Remember, there is no such thing as normal, like we spoke of." And he pointed over to where the two girls were standing with a grin on his face.

"Of course. I think the term is rather...unique. And special." Mizuki grins a little and picks up a shinai. "Whenever you're ready."

Nathan picked up his shinai and hit it on the floor a few times while he walked to the center of the dojo. " Alright Mizuki, how about you just show me what you got..."

She walks to the center and raises a mid-guard, a very basic stance. She looked unsure of herself and new.

Nathans swung his sword, but not at Mizuki, he placed it, tip down in his left hand at his waist, then he bowed low to her, his eyes never leaving hers. "Always show your opponent respect even if they do not show the same respect to you, lesson number one..."

Mizuki, reminded of her mistake at that point, did the same thing with her blade and bowed low to him. "That's true. Because if you don't respect your opponent's ability. Or if you underestimate them, it will come back to haunt you. Right?"

"Something like that..." Nathan pulled his Shinai and held it out in front of him. "Ok, lets do this."

Mizuki began to mirror his stance, but found herself going into a lower stance. Legs crouched at an angle, holding the blade with one hand to the side. Then, she struck forward twice elegantly.

Nathan easily blocked the shots but smiled, "Very nice form Mizuki."

She's not the only one with good form, Jhu thought to herself, suppressing a giggle.

By this point, Mizuki is moving by instinct. Nothing more. She's not thinking about it at all. Bringing the shinai up with both hands, she strikes the top part of Nathan's guard, Pushing against it, she utilizes that momentum to step back and come around, placing her momentum into a spin slash against his guard.

Nathan is able to block and hold the first move, but the second move he didn't expect her to make and he missed the attack getting whacked on the ass. " Hey there...I thought you didn't know what you were doing!" He chuckles.

"Eh?" Mizuki is momentarily snapped out of her trance, noting the reaction and then looking down at her weapon. "I...hit you? Hmm." she said, pondering this.

Jhu snorted in amusement at the sight of Nathan getting whacked by Mizuki's sword. "Watch where you're swinging that thing. Wouldn't want to cut anything off."

Maica giggled and had to comment as well. "Especially something that Jhu might want to play with later."

Nathans face turned a bight red as he turned to look over at where Maica and Jhu were watching " Maica!"

"I hate you right now," Jhu mumbled at Maica, turning an impressive shade of ruddy emerald.

Maica clapped both hands over her mouth as soon as she realized what she said. "Sorry... Old subroutines..."

Mizuki's eyes widened as she comprehended what they were talking about. Granted, it was from old class material, but... She sighed, lightly facepalming and looking down to hide her blush, words stolen from her at that particular moment.

"Crazy woman." Jhu wanted to laugh at the situation, but she was too embarrassed. "You just like to see me blush."

"Us blush." Nathan said waving his hand around the room.

Quickly recovering from her 'shame', Maica continued her apparent quest to make everyone blush. "You know, blushing is a sign of good bloodflow to your extremeties. It's also excellent for preventing frostbite."

"It's also a good way to embarrass everyone, Maica." Mizuki retorted in a high, embarrassed tone of voice, a blushing giggle on her face.

"Yeah. What she said." Jhu couldn't help giggling at Maica's use of the word 'extremities.' She had a feeling that Maica hadn't meant arms or legs.

"Maybe we should wrap this up and try again another time when there are not so many distractions Mizuki?" Nathan asked, not sure how he could concentrate any longer.

"Probably a good idea." She managed to get out, sighing and shaking her head with a small smile. It was best to train without distractions.

"Sorry." Maica looked a bit sad at the decision. "I'd rather leave and let you practice in peace than be that big of a distraction."

Jhu inched toward the door with a sheepish look on her face. "I was just curious. I can go."

"No no, it's okay." Mizuki gave simply, placing the shinai back where it was. Since the artifact had awakened, it was starting to reintegrate itself as a part of her. Hence her instinctive movements. Thinking of something she needed to do anyway, since she came in in the long pant variant of the uniform, she walks off briefly, and comes back in the skirted variant of the same uniform, with the appropriate boots for it.

Nathan walked over to Jhu. "And you..." he took his bamboo shinai and poked her in her stomach with it, and started gently pushing her backwards. He grinned at her. "This is what you get for distracting me." He pushed her back maybe two steps until she backed into a support beam. Nathan moved his shinai to the side and stepped up to her, pressing his body against hers, trapping her against the pole. He then quickly pressed his lips to her right there in front of Mizuki and Maica.

Jhu giggled when he poked her with the bamboo sword and didn't quite notice he was pushing her back until he had her trapped against the beam. And then he was kissing her in front of everyone. She blushed rather darkly at this turn of events, but she did nothing to resist him.

Mizuki's eyes widened and she momentarily gaped at the scene. "N-n-n-nani?.." she mumbled under her breath, surprised but unable to tear her eyes away...and when she finally did her cheeks were aflame and she hugs the nearest person, which happens to be Maica, tightly. Hiding her fire truck red face.

Maica didn't have much choice but to hug the girl back and make soft cooing sounds to try to comfort her. "Shh... It's ok."

Nathan pulled back from Jhu a little. " I don't have anything else to do this evening." Then he turned and looked at the other two and chuckled. "You ok Mizuki?"

"For once, I don't have anything either. I think Weaver's coping by stealing my work, and I'm okay with that. He can have it." Jhu chuckled a little, looking at how Mizuki was hiding. "I think we embarrassed her."

"I think we should do nothing together." Nathan said to Jhu but he was still looking at Mizuki.

"Sounds good." Jhu grinned, not too concerned about Maica or Mizuki overhearing their plans.

Mizuki pulled back from Maica after a little, pouting, her hands on her hips. "Mou. I congratulate the two of you on being together, but a little bit of warning would be nice next time!" she chuckled, her face flushed a bit. Left unsaid was the recently developed desire to do that herself... Then she gets an idea. "Though, there is something I can sneak in before your plans, if you want."

"Well you'd better share before we decide to leave," Jhu remarked brightly, not commenting on the request for a warning next time. She hadn't gotten a warning either, but she sure wasn't complaining.

She rolled her eyes a bit, and shifted a bit. "Heehh..so I only have a little time, ne? No explanations or anything..." Trailing off, she figures a surprise for a surprise is a good trade. Then, her eyes 'change' just a little in a figurative sense, as she thrusts her right arm down by her waist, and drags it back to her right side. The Alter Ring, for that was the artifact's name, though she hadn't said, appears on her waist, in the same manner it did in Security. Her hands slap the pads on either side, and she turns away from them as light is expelled from the belt itself. The crescendo, repeating sound made by the belt raises in intensity before resolving into an armored figure with a white scarf, and red eyes look over her shoulder at the couple and Maica. "I feel that the two of you are trustworthy. Please keep this to yourselves...I don't want to be treated any differently."

Nathan shielded his eyes from the light, he had already seen this and knew when to look and not look.

The resulting light was too bright for Jhu's eyes, and she recoiled away from it, covering her eyes and blinking several times until she could see again. Then she looked back at Mizuki, gaping slightly. "How the hell are you doing that?"

Maica's eyes tried to adjust but after a moment they were just overloaded completely, blinding her during the transformation. Once Mizuki was finished, Maica could see... well she saw something... Streams of energy she couldn't make sense of, mostly. "Mizupon? Nani?"

Nathan leaned on the beam and shrugged his shoulders. "Not so impressive the second time." But he was ginning, totally joking. It was every bit as cool as the first time he had seen Mizuki transform.

"It's a long story, Jhu-san. But suffice it to say, it is the result of something that happened to me when I was but a little pre-teen." The armored figure replied. "Computer, a group of strong enemies like we might face on the frontier." A number of Klingons, Dominion, a Brikar, and a Nausicaan. appear. The Brikar charges first..and she hits the left pad, reaching down through a purple portal and pulling out a rather large purple hammer with a stone motif. Using her leg to kick it up into the air, she spins around and slams it into the Brikar, sending it flying away with authority, making it disappear.

Jhu stiffened slightly at the sight of Dominion soldiers, as if she expected the familiar Changeling to appear there. If she wasn't trapped between the beam and Nathan's body, she'd be heading toward the door. She barely took note of Mizuki's rapid defeat of the Brikar, too occupied with watching the Dominion soldiers for familiar faces.

Sensing an increase in Jhu's heart rate, Vara opened the holodeck door and surveyed the field for threats. Seeing nothing immediate but noticing Jhu's eyes following the Dominion forces, she stood between Jhu and the holographic enemies to try to at least block her sight of them. "Is everything ok, Commander? Do you want me to smash anything for you?" She had noticed some odd readings from whom she assumed was the cadet they were with, but nothing that would give her pause at the moment.

"I'm okay. No need for smashing." Jhu tried to shake off the anxious feeling the holographic Jem'Hadar had triggered but only halfway succeeded. At least she wasn't melting down this time. That was improvement, right?

Nathan had been threw something like this already so his eyes went right away to Jhu. But she seemed to be ok, so Nathan just moved to her side and grabbed on to her hand.

Red eyes look back to see the discomfort, and then she looks at the Dominion, reverting to her golden armored starting form. They charge with a battle cry, and the first one is met by a fist to the mid-section. Blue blood spatters from the opponent's mouth, like he'd been hit by a freight train. Gold gauntlets raise in defense, blocking two swinging blades, before flipping the owners onto the ground. A swift punch, and high roundhouse, greet the other two dominion, and place them all in one location, piled together in a heap. The crest upon her head opens wide like a fan, and she speaks. "I'll chase away your fear." A strange, ancient symbol appears beneath her feet, and is absorbed into them. Mizuki jumps into the air as one of them get to their feet, and hits him straight on with the kick, knocking him back into his fellows. A circle of light appears over him and he grabs himself in pain, flailing about a bit before exploding, destroying the Jem'hadar completely. Now, her test could continue.

Jhu gave Mizuki's performance a dumbfounded look. She certainly hadn't expected that, but she had to admit... it was impressive. Still feeling a tiny bit apprehensive, Jhu relaxed slightly, squeezing Nathan's hand.

Maica just couldn't figure out what she was seeing, the streams of energy going chaotic all over the place as holographic enemies were apparently taken out with ease. This sort of thing was really starting to make her queasy.

Vara on the other hand was able to make sense of most of the fight with her radar and sensors. Nodding to Nathan, she spoke with a slight bit of an impressed tone. "She might do well against my training program, sir."

Nathan agreed. "That's a good idea. You should push her, find out where her limit is. I think shes going to need someone to help her with this and I can't think of a better person then you Ensign Cho'ren."

The Klingons and Nausicaan remain, and she hits the right side pad of her belt, drawing forth her Flame Saber. Her form's color switches to red, with a prominent right shoulder. Holding the saber out to one side, she goes sword vs bat'leth, moving with apparent speed, or with what some might call foresight, blocking, and slashing. The sword's hilt extends like a fan, and the last three go down in flames before exploding. Same with the Nausicaan. She didn't need to test all of her forms right now anyway. She turns...pointing her blade at Nathan with a small salute, before taking a position and returning to human form in a glow of red light. Sweat marked her body in several places. Neck, forehead, legs...her skirt allowed her legs to breathe, at least.

"Don't worry Little Shadow, I'll make sure Jhu is near by when you do." Nathan winked at Vara, then pulled his hand from Jhu's to start clapping for the display of power. "Ever consider Security Mizuki?" he called out to her.

"Not likely. I intend to use it as an opportunity to escape her." Jhu snickered, knowing now that escaping Vara was impossible.

"I'll uh, have to consider it!" She called back. "Security and Tactical...though the Tactics interest me more. Well thought out plans and strategies, if employed properly, can counter brute force. At least that's what I think."

Nathan nodded his head in agreement. "Well said..."

Mizuki shrugs a little. "Well. I think I'm done here. Unless Cho'ren-san would like to test me now."

Vara shook her head as she turned to face Mizuki. "No, not today. Let's set up a session later when you have some free time to spend in sickbay." Her training program was pretty serious and she didn't want anything to happen, but if it did, she wanted to also be ready.

The cadet nodded, and bowed to them all before parting ways with them. If Cho'ren was forecasting time in sickbay for her, then she'd have to surprise the Lagashi, and prove that she was strong, too.


Cadet Junior Grade Mizuki Masterson
Yeoman
USS Katana

Lt. Commander Jhu t'Dharvanek
Chief Intel Officer
USS Katana

Lt. Nathan Tonkin
Chief Security Officer
USS Katana

Lieutenant Maica and Ensign Vara
Chief Diplomat and Security Officer
USS Katana

Nathan had promised Maica to come have lunch with her before she left on her away mission, so here he was out side her room pressing the call button. He had a lot to share with her and he was sure she would want to grill him about Jhu since she had her fingers in setting them up.

"Come in," Maica called out, the door opening. She was still working on this massive document, though she was almost done with any luck. Her fingers flew across her screens as she tried to summarize the last few hundred pages.

Nathan entered and figured that Maica would be in her office. So he turned that way immediately and was not shocked to find he was rightright. "Hey." He said.

"Ah, Nathan! Give me 2 minutes and I'll be done here. In the mean time, Tell me how things went after the holodeck debacle yesterday." Maica glanced up at him and smiled as she kept on typing.

"Take your time. Things went very well." Nathan grinned, but he suppressed recalling the event at the moment. Nathan took one the seats in front of her desk while he waited.

"I'd like to think I can take a hint, but I failed at that yesterday, it seems. Sorry about that." Maica tapped the display screen a few more times, reading the last of the document before sighing and going back to typing.

Nathan chuckled. " It's really ok. It gave us something to laugh about after. We will be making sure to lock the door from now on. I'm just glad it was you and Andy and not...someone else."

"And not a certain XO I hear has a bad temper? That's true I guess." Maica finished typing, looked over the last bit, and packaged up her 'summary' to be delivered to her friend that asked her to do all this extra insanity work. Finally done, she leaned back in her chair and sighed, closing her eyes.

Nathan huffed at what she said but didn't give her a answer.

Maica rolled her head around to look at Nathan. "Have you ever condensed a thirty six million word treaty into a half a million word summary in another language?"

"Why do you think I'm security and not a diplomat?" Nathan said recovering his happy demeanor quickly.

"Because you look better in yellow than purple?" Giggling, Maica stood up from her chair and headed to one of her racks of bottles. "You prefer Earth whiskey, right?"

"I'm open to new experiences, just not a fan of sweet liquor."

"How about 'Chateau Picard' then? I've been saving this bottle for a while now," Maica said as she picked up the bottle and dusted it off.

"No idea what that is...let try it." Nathan said, stretching to get a look at the bottle.

Carrying the aged glass wine bottle to the dining table, Maica headed to the replicator next to replicate some goblets and a meat and cheese platter. "You've heard of Jean-luc Picard, right? That's from the vineyard he grew up on. You'll never guess who gave me that bottle, either."

Nathan got up and followed her to the table. "Who hasn't heard of Captain Picard. Did he give it to you himself?"

Maica could only chuckle at that as she moved the tray to the table. "I wish. No, it was an old colleague of his. When I got my first commendation I was given this bottle with it. Deanna Troi, if I remember her name right."

Nathan shrugged "Don't know her."

Uncorking the antique bottle and setting it aside to breathe a moment, Maica sat at the table across from Nathan. "She's apparently the only empathic counselor that has experience with androids in the Federation so she was requested to do my initial psych eval when I put in my application for Starfleet. After they determined I wasn't a threat, that is."

"I see. Glad you're not a threat." Nathan smiled at her.

Maica shook her head at his simple reply. "I lost you a while ago, didn't I?" Picking the bottle back up and smelling it, she smiled and poured each of them a good amount in the wine goblets.

Nathan chuckled "Yeah you did." He took up glass and first smelled the contents.

"I thought so." Maica savored the aroma for a moment before sipping her wine. "Mm. Fabulous. Not the best red wine I've ever had, but it's up there, I think."

Nathan took a sip. At lest it was not sweet. He actually enjoyed the bitter bite at the back of his jaw. "I'm not a wine expert, but I like this." Nathan set his glass down and looked across at Maica. "Ok, let em rip. I know you have questions. Expecially since last time I was here you were giving me advice that clearly worked out well."

Nibbling on a piece of cheese, Maica shrugged. "You took my advice, it worked out, you two are a couple. What more is there to know? I do have one question, I suppose. Did you count her spots?"

Nathan grinned and his face went a little red. "I got distracted. She kept biting me..."

"Really. That's good to know." Making a mental note that Jhu is a biter, Maica considered telling him what her count came to yesterday in the holodeck. Why not? She figured she shouldn't keep that knowledge from Nathan. "423 is what I counted yesterday."

Nathan tisked into his glass and took another sip. "I got to 400 one time. Which side has the extra spot?"

"She has 3 in her scalp that are hard to see." Maica nibbled on various things from the tray as she savored her wine. "I'm betting she loves having her hair brushed, too."

"She does. I have not actually brushed her hair yet but I play with her hair and she has not complained." Nathan got a far away look in his eye and a smile on his face.

Maica knew that look. It was a look of love rather than lust. She just munched away happily, waiting for Nathan to snap back to the here and now.

And he did in a moment. "Sorry, got lost in thought there."

"It's fine. I do it too." Maica smiled warmly. "So what will you be up to while I'm away? Anything fun planned?"

"Keeping my head down and dodging Tegan as much as possible all while spending as much time as I can with Jhu." He leaned over and grabbed his cup and took another drink.

"Good luck with that then. I rake it the bloodwine didn't help any then?" Maica asked as she built a little cracker sandwich from the tray.

"Well he kept the cheaper one, and a bottle of whiskey that was given to me by the Admiral when I got this assignment..." Nathan had a very uncharacteristically sour look on his face.

"I'd replace your lost bottle, but since it had sentimental value, I doubt I really can... Unless you request mediation from me, that is." Maica had only mediated a dispute between 2 crewmembers once before and it was in training, but she felt confident enough that she could do it again.

"Naw, thanks though. It's just whiskey. He's an alpha male and I'm one of the few men on this ship who might be able challenge him. This is not the first time I have had a superior feel they needed to put me in my place. I did mess up after all." Nathan explained.

"I haven't read the reports, so I have no idea what really happened. I just know both you and Vara came by asking for bottles of something and Jhu had a panic attack." Maica said as she finished nibbling.

"What did Vara ask for?" Maybe it was none of Nathan's business, but his curiosity had always been his biggest fault.

"Rice wine. I had something similar that she seemed happy with." Maica shrugged. Simple tastes are good too.

Nathan nodded. " I have not read the report either...not sure I want to. But it does not matter. Thank you for offering to help, Maica"

"I like helping people. It's the smiling faces I like the most, I think."

"Me too." Nathan said with a grin. He held his glass up ti Maica "Here's to smiles!"

"To smiles," Maica said as she raised her glass to his, clinking them together.

Nathan took a drink and leaned back in his seat. "Are you looking forward to your away mission?"

Downing the last of her wine, Maica nodded. "I am actually. I've been on plenty like it but this is the first one I'll be leading. It'll also be good to see Shira's homeworld again. It's amazingly beautiful."

"Next time I'll have to put myself and not Waterson in the shuttle." Nathan said almost jealous.

"We may not have a next time - it may be a dedicated Federation team from here on out. I'll keep your name in mind if we do though." Maica said with a bright smile.

"We will see. Not like I'm going to be lacking in away missions out here on the edge." Nathan said, finishing his glass of wine.

"Yeah I'm sure even I'll see some combat the way things are going lately." Maica said as she nibbled one last piece of meat. "Would you like another glass?"

"Sure." Nathan said. He had time to kill anyways. "I sure hope you don't see combat. Do you know how to fight?" Nathan could not even start to comprehend what Maica might know and does not know.

Maica shook her head no. "I know how to use a phaser and I can fight out of desperation, but... No, I can't." There was a haunted look in her eyes as she spoke.

Nathan nodded. "Time you learned."

With a completely serious look on her face, Maica looked Nathan dead in the eye. "I once talked a Vorta to death in a holodeck training exercise. The point was to stall him as long as possible."

Nathan busted up laughing. He could not help himself.

"What?" Maica asked, still serious. "It took 8 days to do and they still failed me because he died. He never left that room, though."

"That's one of the greatest things I have ever heard!" Nathan was still laughing.

Maica cracked a smile and giggled as well. "Yeah it is pretty cool, huh? After that I didn't try so hard and only got 50/50 results."

Nathan shook his head and wiped a tear from his eye from laughing so hard.

"So yeah, I can fight with words. Is that good enough?" Maica asked with a chuckle.

"It can, but what do you do if your opponent is more interested in shooting at you? You need to learn some basics. Even a diplomatic situation can crumble" he replied.

"But that's what security is for..." Maica said with a pout. "Besides, i'm not supposed to carry a weapon as a diplomat. Too hostile."

"Who said I was going to teach you to fight with a weapon?" Nathan asked looking across the table at her.

"Ok..." Maica looked a bit confused now. "What will I fight with then?"

Nathan smiled at her confused expression. "Your body. They can't take your hands and feet from you."

Maica just stared at Nathan for a moment. "When I escaped from slavery, my left arm was ripped off. That's another reason I don't want to fight."

"I don't want to fight either Maica, but I will if I don't have an option. I will to defend myself, my family and my friends. Sometimes others don't give us the option. " Nathan responded.

"Ok, but you're explaining to Andy if and when I have a breakdown." Maica didn't like the idea, but if Nathan wanted to help her with that...

"What do you mean by a breakdown?" It was an honest questions.

"Just talking about it is dredging up a lot of bad memories... Faced with a similar situation..." Maica just shook her head and looked into her glass of wine.

"If you don't want to I'll understand. I'm sorry. I didn't know our conversation had turned so dark for you." Nathan reached his hand across the table offering it to her.

Maica took that hand and squeezed tenderly, a morose expression gracing her features. When she spoke it was softly, almost a whisper. "I have to believe that talking things through can solve anything. I don't ever want to see another Ferengi again, but I'm sure even that can be overcome by talking. If my talking can keep people from hurting, I think I've done well."

Nathan hopped up and moved around the table to wrap her in a hug. "Your words are powerful and I believe they do better work then my hands or phaser. You have the hard job, don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thank you." Maica simply nodded into Nathan's shoulder, doing her best to return the hug.

"No, thank you." Nathan said, and he meant it too.

Jhu had never been fond of sickbay, and she especially didn't want to try explaining this injury to anyone, least of all someone who could order her to go to anger management counseling. But she didn't really have a choice... she knew her hand was broken, a fact that had easily been proven when Nathan had touched it. Honestly, it was a miracle she hadn't thrown up on him. That queasy feeling still hadn't fully abated by the time they reached sickbay; if anything it was getting worse, even with the ice numbing some of the pain.

Nathan was by her side with a waste basket just in case she needed it. "Sit here on this bed and I'll go find the doctor."

Jhu nodded, sitting down. She didn't have much interest in going to help look for Liam anyway; waiting would give her more time to formulate her words to keep him from suggesting more counseling.

Nathan left the basket with Jhu and wandered off. "Dr. Cohen?"

Ryan turned his head. "Doctor Cohen's in a meeting. I'm Doctor Rose. Can I help you?"

Nathan stopped. Oh thank god, I'm probably that last person Dr. Cohen wants to see in here. "Commander t'Dharvanek needs some help, I think she broke her wrist."

"Okay. Lead the way." Ryan smiled, grabbing a medical kit real quick.

Nathan lead him over to where Jhu was sitting.

Jhu didn't look up as they approached. Instead she remained seated, turned slightly sideways and leaning over the waste basket that was next to her on the bed. "Doc... do us all a favor and do something about the pain before you touch it. Please."

Ryan quickly pulled up Jhu's file to make sure he didn't give her anything she was allergic to or would have a bad reaction to. Then he filled a hypospray with the painkiller and gently injected her. "Give that just a second to kick in" He waited.

Nathan took a seat at the end of the bed and waited.

"Thanks." It took a minute, but the pain slowly faded to a dull ache. Jhu sat up a little straighter, swallowing a bit nervously. "That's... better."

"Alright." Then Ryan took her hand very gently, scanning as he also did a visual inspection. "I'm going to numb the hand." He informed her. With the hand numbed and the painkillers kicked in, Ryan was confident enough to get to work repairing the hand without causing Jhu undo pain. He checked her wrist, her elbow, and her shoulder, explaining as he went. "Sometimes a punch reverberates and you get damage further up the arm, but everything looks good."

"Familiar with the concept." Jhu smiled a very tiny bit. "How bad is the wrist?"

"No damage this time. I see some minor bone remodeling from a previous break, but the nerves look fine." Ryan answered. "Might I suggest a heavy bag next time, less damage for the engineers to fix." He gave her a small smile.

"But it hurts." Jhu gave Ryan a perplexed look. "I mean, it did. Before the injection. Nathan touched it, and I almost threw up on him."

"Well that's not an uncommon reaction when you break your hand. It's not still hurting, correct?" Ryan asked, just to be sure.

"You're confusing me. I thought you said no damage." Jhu blinked at him, wondering how she'd gotten so lost.

"Your wrist is fine, it didn't sustain any damage, but it's still very common for the wrist to hurt after you break your hand." Ryan explained. "The nerves get overloaded with pain impulses, and they misfire, send both my wrist hurts and my hand hurts messages. It's akin to phantom pain."

"Oh. Okay... that makes sense." Jhu nodded slightly, understanding now. "It doesn't hurt now."

"Good. Now try to stay out of here." Ryan teased.

"Only my second visit. Save that lecture for Nathan." Jhu hopped off the bed to leave, already planning a safer venting strategy for the future.

[ON]

Well, that was it; an endless assortment of PADDs ranging from small to large had finally managed to back Lieutenant Commander Cameron Chandler into a corner, requiring his careful review as to the USS Katana's repair progress, and his stamp of approval on various requests. As the executive officer pressed his thumb onto his ninth PADD, he sighed heavily. There were days he missed being a non-commissioned officer. Somehow, there'd been less paperwork involved back in the day.

Setting the PADD on his table, Cameron studied the excess of PADDs laying on the small leather sofa across from his table. He was going to be here a while. And he'd at least convinced himself by this point that, as much as he hated sitting in his office going over reports, it had become a necessary evil that he could no longer ignore.

"Computer, Raktajino." The Klingon/Trill hybrid ordered as he stood up and walked over to the replicator. A materialization of blue/white energy condensed into a small white mug with a large base. Removing the beverage from the fabrication area, Cameron sniffed the aroma, and took a sip. He then deposited its contents back into the mug. "Yuck... you call this a Raktajino?" It was only luke-warm, at least by his standards, and lacked the flavor of real Klingon coffee. "Computer, set a reminder for me. I need to speak with Requisitions Officer Sosa about getting some Raktajino beans before we depart. If I'm going to have Raktajino, it's going to be real Raktajino. Understood?"

"Note created. Shall I set a reminder?" The computer asked.

Cameron thought it over as he regarded his stack of PADDs again. "Remind me in five hours," yes, it would take him about that long to get through all of these.

Will had been working on the internal workings of the Transporter in Transporter Room Two and had built up an impressive list of parts needed to btmring that room fully up to specs and make it operational as well as a list of parts that were needed for ghe lateral sensor array. He took the decision to pay the XO a visit with his PADD to request these and take the time to introduce himself now he was on board.

Will prepared the PADD with the lists and after checking on the XO's position, he headed down to his office, pressing the door chime when he arrived.

"Come."

Will made his way into the office and immediately saw the piles of PADD's in different places and wondered if the XO was too busy to see him. "Excuse me, I hope I'm not intruding. I have a few requisition orders for you to look over and authorise?" Will asked.

Cameron looked up and examined the officer before him. He'd gotten to know most of the officers and SNCO's on board the Katana, either through study of their service jackets, through a one-on-one encounter, or a combination of the two; he hadn't gotten all the way through the recent surge of personnel meant to replace those that were lost during the Katana's fight with the Jem'hadar, however, and the person before him stood unrecognized. Silently regarding the PADD in Will's hand, Cameron gestured to the sole empty chair in the room. "Alright. Have a seat, Mister..." Cam stretched the last word out.

"Morgan sir, Will Morgan," he said introducing himself to Lt Cmdr Tegan. "I'm the new Assistant Chief Operations Officer, recently assigned," he explained, taking the seat indicated to him.

The name sounded familiar. Cameron must have read over Morgan's service jacket at some point in time, at least. "You'll be working under Chief Carter, then?" He asked, knowing Andrea 'Andy' Carter a little better than he did Will Morgan.

Will nodded. "Thats correct sir, we served together previously on the Lexington during the war, I can guarantee you'll never get anything less than my best at all times," Will explained, feeling proud to be on a starship again.

"That's good to hear," Cameron pointed out. "Now, I'm sure you didn't come up to my office just to make introductions."

Will shook his head, "Oh no sir, I was here to see if you could authorise the parts and requisitions needed for the repairs to the ship," he explained, returning to the business at hand. "She's taken quite a beating recently."

"That she has," Cameron said in agreement. He took the PADD, studied it briefly, and then pressed his thumb into the recognizer. "Consider it authorized, lieutenant. Now it's up to you and Chief Carter to get this ship back into working order before we reach Starbase. Andy has made it quite clear that she has no intention of allowing station personnel to set foot on this ship. Anything else?"

Will stood up as he felt the moment had come to return to work. He picked up his PADD and shook his his head. "No sir, she wont allow anyone on board, I know that for a fact," Will answered. "We'll get the ship back up to running order, no worries there."

"Good to hear," Cameron nodded. "If you or Carter need any other resources, let me know."

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Cameron Tegan
Executive Officer
USS Katana

Lieutenant Will Morgan
Assistant Chief Operations Officer

Andy bounced on the balls of her feet, then back to her heels, back and forth as she waited for the lift. She was having an alright day for the most part. Having nightmares again was leaving her a little tired, but other than that things were good. The Ops team was almost caught up with all the repairs, the new crew were working well into the established routines, Maica was finally finding a sense of normalcy in her new body and they were finally getting over the scare of her brush with death.... things were good! But that didn't mean that something wasn't off.

Andy was avoiding the new counselor. She hated counselors almost as much as she hated doctors and avoided them like they were infected by some sort of plague. She was well overdue for a routine visit to both and was taking great pains to ensure she wasn't sent to either out of necessity. The night she had collapsed and had Kris take her back to her quarters, he had threatened to send her to Sickbay and to see the Counselor, that had been a moment of genuine panic for her! She said she would do it so long as Kris delayed the 'sentencing', and she was willing to do it to save Maica, but luck had smiled on her that night and Kris ended up keeping her breakdown to himself. She never really thanked him for that. Maybe she should. She wondered what the Captain was doing now...

But Andy's thoughts came to a crashing halt when the doors to the lift opened and there standing before her was the new Counselor, Lia Grae. Fuck me! So much for having a good day! She was tempted to say she'd wait for the next lift, but that would have been painfully obvious she was avoiding Lia. Instead, the ex-borg woman nodded amiably and entered the lift, ordering the cab to the right deck and waited.

Lia was on her way back to her office when the lift halted and the doors parted revealing Andy with a horrified look in her eyes. The same look every single officer on this ship had given her. She took a step to the side, allowing the woman to stand next to her. She waited patiently until the doors closed before speaking. "Judging by that five second look you had given me, you must be due for an Eval."

Andy remained silent for a while. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckity fuck! "I will neither confirm nor deny the allegations," Andy eventually said in a flat tone.

"I'll take that as a no." Lia replied, a small smirk forming on her lips. "You're CPO Carter correct?"

"Uh, no..." Andy said evasively, trying to fake an innocent expression.

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." Lia shook her head, "Lying doesn't suite you very well, Ms. Carter."

"Are you kidding?! I'm a fantastic liar! I mean- shit!" Andy's shoulders slumped when she realized that the counselor had bested her. And Andy was a great liar when she wanted to be. She had yet to find anyone who could call her bluff during poker, but this wasn't poker... "Yes, CPO Carter, and I'm way past overdue for my eval."

Lia nodded, "I know, I had reviewed your file." She smiled and then extended a hand, "Lia Grae, the terror on the ship."

"You want that title, you gotta earn it," Andy replied when she shook Lia's hand. "I am currently the reigning terror, I do not take lightly to challenges."

"Considering that look of fear and dread you gave me when those doors parted, I say you yielded you title." She winked chuckling lightly.

"Pictures, or it didn't happen," Andy said factually.

"I have a photographic memory. But I'm sure I'll be able to stop by the security office and retrieve the video feed. Not to mention internal sensors could let me know of your vitals at the moment the doors opened." She grinned, "but don't worry, you can keep the title."

Nope, Andy couldn't keep the title unless she earned it! Which meant as soon as she stepped off the lift, she would be heading to the nearest console to erase all evidence of her moment of panic outside the lift. "The challenge has been extended and accepted. Good luck Counselor, I fight to the death." And she cheats, but she wasn't about to admit to it so openly.

"You're a survivor, I already know that." She grinned.

Andy's expression dimmed from one of excitement and even amusement to a dull sorrow. "No I ain't... Just too stubborn to give in," the ex-borg woman said quietly.

Lia leaned a little closer and whispered into Andy's ear, "That's what a survivor is."

Andy cut a glance towards Lia before again facing forward. "And you think you're so smart, just 'cause you read my file..." Andy muttered. For a moment there, she almost thought this woman would be alright, but now she had her doubts.

"Considering there wouldn't be a file for me to read if you weren't one..." Lia let her voice trail off so Andy can think what she wants about that statement. "Besides, I rather be a smartass than a dumbass."

"I suppose I can't fault you there," Andy admitted, but said nothing else. Dammit, since when did it take the lift so long to get where she needed to go? It was the Counselor, she was warping time and space around her. Yeah, that had to be it...

"You did an excellent job with Maica. She spoke very highly of you." Lia replied, feeling very relaxed.

"Huh, what?" Andy blurted out, looking over at Lia. "What did she say?"

Lia turned to look at Andy, "I am not allowed to tell you that, however I will say it was all positive." She smiled, "She's quite remarkable, she actually wanted an psych eval."

Who the hell wanted a psych eval? Apparently Maica, the loony... "She is something," Andy agreed with a nod of her head.

"Yes, yes she is." Lia agreed.

Andy bobbed her head in silence, again rocking on her feet as she waited for the lift to stop. "I'm gonna keep avoiding my eval," she admitted shamelessly.

"And why do you think that?" Lia asked, her eyes looking forward at the door.

"I don't think, I know," Andy insisted. "I don't like shrinks pokin' at my brain, so I will do everything in my power to avoid an eval."

Lia's smirked at Andy, "Is that right? How would you even know if you are successful?"

"You're counting this conversation as an eval, aren't you?" Andy asked. Fuuuuuck. Time to bail out!

Lia blinked and her smile grew. "Well I was just going to issue an order for one, but now that you mentioned it... It would save me considerable time." she said as she thought it over.

"I yield this round," Andy said, admitting her defeat. "But there will be a next time and I won't be so easy to find," she promised.

"I am so glad to hear that." Lia turned her head to look at Andy, and with a small she spoke out, "Computer, restore turbolift speed to normal." And mere seconds after she spoke to the computer, the doors of the lift slide apart. "This is my stop." she grinned as she stepped out, looking back at Andy she added, "And congrats, Chief. You passed."

Andy watched Lia leave with a glare. Damn, she hated counselors...

Sabrina stretched as she waited for Kyle to arrive. She felt incredibly guilty for the 5am time, but it was when she could fit it in, and part of her hoped it would help keep Kyle's mind off his personal problems. She liked him, and though she couldn't offer much help, she hoped her banana bread and coaching distraction would help him.

Kyle had always been a morning person. He enjoyed the solitude, being able to study or meditate, or just to have some alone. These days, he was getting more than enough alone time. So he was up and ready for the day long before his appointment with Sabrina. He ate another piece of her banana bread, then dressed in sweat pants and a rather tight fitting t shit, he headed to the gym.

Entering he saw her just finishing her stretching and said, "Good morning, fancy meeting you here."

Sabrina looked up and smiled. "Good morning. You look awake." She commented. "Are you a morning person?"

"I am, " he replied, "always have been. What about you?"

"Yeah, me too most of the time. The best waves happen early, I'm use to being up before the sun." Sabrina stood up and grabbed a PaDD. "I got the specs for a standard triathalon bike" She offered the PaDD to Kyle so he could look it over.

'Nice," he said after looking at them, "I'm not much of an engineer, but they look pretty aerodynamic. This should be fun, just remember I'll be with you all the way."

Sabrina smiled. "Thanks." then fed the specs to the holodeck. Once the bike 'appeared' Sabrina looked at it and frowned. "It's huge!"

'It is," Kyle acknowledged, "you'll still be fine. I've got your six."

Sabrina tried to lower the seat on the huge framed monstrosity, but it wouldn't budge. "Ok, I think the holodeck went a little overboard with the realism." She chuckled.

"It does seem a bit much doesn't it. You could always replicate another one. I can use this one after we make sure you're up and running on your own, then I can ride along side of you."

Sabrina nodded at that idea, then replicated one with the seat in the lowest position. It was still a stretch, but she managed to get up and going on the bike. "I don't know how you guys do this." She blushed, realizing she'd just said that out loud. The seat was uncomfortable, she couldn't even imagine what it must be like with extra equipment between the legs.

"Yeah, it can get a bit uncomfortable, but you just have to learn to suck it up. Remember the objective is to beat the pants off of what's his name. Figuratively that is."

Sabrina chuckled, then leaning forward she started pedaling faster.

By the end of the training, her legs felt like jello. She wobbled off the bike.

Kyle was in better condition after their workout, but not by a whole bunch. His legs and ass were sore, but he wasn't going to show it if he could help it. He laid a steadying hand on her shoulder "You okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just going to be sore. This is suppose to be fun? Says who?!" Sabrina chuckled.

"Your legs will get used to it. Your bum, not so much."

Sabrina laughed. That was an amusing way to put it. "Well, thanks for your help. I don't think I'll fall off at least."

"You know," Kyle suggested, "we should go out for drinks sometime."

"Really?" She asked. Oh, she liked Kyle. He was nice and he didn't treat her like some lower life form. She was just surprised by the offer. He wasn't interested in her romantically, so the offer of friendship must be on the table.

"Yeah, just hang out you know. If you see a cute guy, I'll be your wingman. If I see a cute guy you can be my wingman."

Sabrina smiled. "Wait, what if we like the same cute guy?"

Kyle laughed, "I thought of the same thing, I guess that would be up to him, wouldn't it?"

"Oh, yeah I suppose so." She blushed. She really should have thought of that. "Sure, I'd like that. I've never really been out drinking."

"Well we'll try not to get you too drunk the first time out."

"Sounds like fun." Sabrina smiled.

"We can go to the lounge, maybe do something in the holodeck at least till we get to a spaceport and take our chances there. What do you think?"

"Celebratory after triathlon drinks in the lounge, sounds like a plan." Sabrina answered.

"Good, I'm buying the first round."

"Deal." Sabrina stuck out her hand with a grin.

Kyle, took it and shook it with a smile of his own.


PO3 Sabrina Corbin
Repair Specialist


Lt Kyle Weaver
Asst.Intel

Nathan made his way threw the halls of Katana. It had been a rough day. He was off duty, but only barely. His duty jacket was unzipped and hung from his shoulders. He held his left hand up to the side of his face as he walked. He looked beat.

He made it to his destination and hit the call button on the door.

Jhu had only been off duty for a little over ten minutes, so she'd just gotten home and collapsed onto the couch when the door bell went off. She didn't get too many visitors, so it wasn't hard to figure out who that was. "Come in! Don't let Lydek sneak out."

Nathan entered quickly making sure the cat didn't escape. Once the door was shut he leaned back on it and sighed. " Hey, boy am I glad to be off."

"Whatever you do, don't punch my replicator." Jhu smirked slightly. "What went utterly and horribly wrong today?"

He lowered his hand from his face to reveal an angry red welt on the side of his face in the shape of a fist. It was starting to swell. "Got anything strong to drink?"

"Who did that to you?" Jhu demanded, getting up from the couch and retrieving an ice pack from the replicator. She wrapped it in a thin towel and handed it to him. "I have a bottle of Romulan ale hidden in my bedroom. I'll share it if you don't arrest me."

"Just to be clear, we are off duty and you are my girlfriend right now not the Commander." Nathan took the ice pack and pressed it to his face. "It was an accident. There was a fight over who got to use the holodeck and fists started flying. Wrong place wrong time." Nathan walked over and took a seat on the couch. "You don't want me to put you in cuffs?" He gave her a grin.

"No I do not. I don't like restraints." Jhu grinned at him, ducking into the bedroom and returning with the bottle of blue liquid. "As long as it wasn't purposeful, I'm not going to do anything about it. Unless they hit you again. Then they'll regret it."

Nathan smiled at her. "Hun, I'm head of security. On the USS Katana. You need to get use to people trying to hit me. It's when they start shooting at me that we have a problem. Your concern is cute though."

"Don't patronize me." Jhu bopped him on the head with a pillow, grinning a little crookedly. "Just because I expect people to try hitting you does not mean I won't hit them."

Nathan blinked at getting bopper on the head and playfully glared at her. "Hey! I might be really hurt here! Your bed side manner sucks."

"You're not bleeding," Jhu retorted, grabbing two glasses from a shelf and pouring a glass of ale for each of them.

Nathan sat there watching her. When he took the glass from her he said "You're beautiful..."

Jhu blushed a little, sitting back down with her glass. She was never sure how to respond to compliments like that, and she suspected Nathan knew that. "Um.... thank you. You're not so bad to look at either."

Nathan took a sip from his glass and put the ice back on his face. " Yeah I'm a real looker right now."

"Bruises heal. Besides, it adds character." Jhu took a sip from her glass, leaning back into the couch cushions.

Nathan leaned back into the couch next to her and sighed. He took another sip from his glass and the leaned his head back so the ice would balance on his face.

"So... what else? One fight wouldn't put you in that mood."

"Just tired. I'm getting ready to request an over haul on main security and the brig. I never knew how much paper work all this crap takes."

Jhu snorted at him. "At least you have a chance he'll say yes."

Nathan grinned and turned his head to the side to look at her. "If I can get you to say yes I figure I can get anyone."

"Very funny." Jhu tapped his nose, trying not to laugh at him. "I'm not the ice queen everyone makes me out to be."

"We'll I know that. I get to see you here when you relax. I get to see the you who jumps up and gets me an ice pack instead of laughing. You do a great job playing the part though." Nathan said, grabbing her hand after she tapped his nose.

"Hey, let go." Jhu giggled, trying to free her hand. "I was concerned."

Nathan pulled the ice from his face and grabbed her hand with his other hand. Now, having her with both his hand he started dragging her over to him.

"Whoa, wait a minute." Giggling, Jhu pulled back, setting her glass down. "Computer, lock the door and disable the doorbell."

Nathan laughed at this. " At lest one of us learned that lesson! "

"I am not letting Maica or anyone else do that again. Too embarrassing."

Nathan pulled her into him. "Thank god it was only Andy and Maica. Could you imagine if it had been Mizuki? She would have blushed to death."

"Worse. Tegan. Or Kris. No blushing from them but lots of lecturing or snickering." With the door safely locked, Jhu happily accepted his rather insistent embrace. "Or Shira! Can you imagine the questions?" Jhu loved Shira to pieces, but she still didn't want to be explaining romance to her.

"I have not met Shira yet..." Nathan said, sounding a little far off in his mind.

"She's brilliant, but she has the innocence of a toddler sometimes."

Nathan picked his glass back up and took another sip. His other hand he snaked his fingers between Jhu's.

"Uh huh. I see. Not interested in the little fairy girl tonight." Jhu grinned a little crookedly, carefully retrieving her glass with her free hand.

"I have seen her once, and she was tripping out on some poisoned soup in the mess. So no, I'm not really interested in the little Fairy girl tonight. Oh wait..." Nathan looked down at Jhu, "Did you know she was sick?"

"No." Jhu sat up a little, concern for Shira written all over her face. "Is she okay? What happened?"

Nathan shook his head. "I really don't know. It's medical's case. Waterson was also poisoned and he's fine. One of us would have heard by now if something was really wrong with her I'm sure."

"Well, yeah. But poison? Who the hell would poison Shira? Everyone loves her."

Now that Nathan thought of it, it was weird that he had not heard anything about what happened. "Well Ill tell you what, first thing in the morning lets go find out what happened."

"I'm going to hold you to that promise. I want to know who would ever want to hurt that sweet girl."

Nathan nodded. "First thing in the morning. You can hold me to that."

"Good. Now what were we talking about before this side bar?" Jhu sipped her ale, well aware of what they'd been doing.

"You might have to remind me." Nathan said, hiding his grin behind his own glass.

"I think it went a little like this." Jhu entwined her fingers in his again, kissing his cheek while he sipped from his glass.

Nathan settled back into the couch. "Oh yeah, that's right."

"Mmhmm." Sipping from her glass, Jhu gave him a mischievous grin and settled in against his shoulder.

Nathan tucked his arm behind her neck and buried his nose in her hair. "How was your day?"

"I am overworked in that tiny office. And the environmental system in there is all... wonky. Someone set it to tundra like conditions... I was freezing all day."

"Mmm" He snuggled around her a little closer. "This helping?" he asked quietly.

"It's helping a lot, actually." Jhu had still been feeling a bit chilled, but that feeling was now rapidly subsiding.

Nathan just sat there with her in the silence. He slowly drained the last of his drink and set the glass on the coffee table.

"There's plenty of that left if you want more. I know where to get another bottle." Jhu smirked a little, still enjoying her first glass.

"Maybe in a bit." He said wrapping his now free hand around her waist, out of the way of her drinking arm.

"I'll save it for later then." Jhu finished the rest of her drink and slid the empty glass onto the coffee table. Now she was free to enjoy the quiet warmth of sitting practically on top of him.

Nathan accepted the sitting on with a grin. "Comfy?"

"I'm cold. You're warm. Do the math," Jhu replied cheerfully.

"Equals, very. Got it. Good thing I took female math of different species at the academy huh?"

"Didn't know that was an option," Jhu remarked teasingly, grinning a little crookedly. "I could just raise the temperature in here, but that would be rude."

"I'm appreciating the 'sit on Nathan' option actually." He said ginning back at her.

"I thought you might." Jhu gave him a kiss then leaned on his chest.

He kissed her back and snuggled back down into her, again burying his nose in her hair. " Have I told you yet how good you smell?"

"Um... no? Is it a particular thing you like?"

Nathan took a deep breath and let it out. "Yeah. But your eyes are still my favorite."

"I meant is it a particular scent. I use more than one product, you know." Jhu giggled a little. "Still my eyes, huh?"

Nathan shrugged " I don't know...must be the combination." He gave her a sly grin. "Yes your eyes. But I do have to say your spots are moving up quick on the favorite part of you graph."

"Oh, really? I can't imagine why."

"Uh huh, I'm sure you can't" Nathan said with a chuckle.

"Nope. Not a single clue." Jhu smiled innocently.

Nathan leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He ran his hands up and down her back. "That Romulan ale is good stuff. My headache is already gone."

"Usually it makes headaches worse. Mine, anyway. I suppose it would be different for you."

"Mine did come from a fist. I don't know..."

"Hmm." Jhu thought about it for a moment. "Maybe that's why then. This might call for more experimentation."

"Oh yeah? As long as I'm not getting hit in the face any more today I'm interested in hearing more."

"Oh no. I'm not going to hit you. Not yet anyway... maybe later." Jhu grinned fiercely, even though he wasn't looking directly at her.

"That's all your going to give me, maybe later?" Nathan said returning the grin, a hint of a challenge in his voice.

"Yep. That's all I'm saying. Maybe later." Jhu snickered, not elaborating any further. She was sure he'd figure it out eventually anyway.

Nathan chuckled, but he also reached up and touched his face. " I think this this is swelling. Were is that ice pack?" He reached over to the coffee table and grabbed it with out hardly moving Jhu on his chest. He leaned his head back and put the ice pack back on. "Character right?"

"Exactly. Imagine all the sympathy you'll get while it heals too."

"Probably not a lot..." Nathan said with a big dramatic sigh, his voice muffled by his hand and the ice pack.

Jhu poked him in the ribs. "So melodramatic. If I didn't know better, I'd think someone had broken your arm."

Nathan jerked to the side and laughed. "As long as it's sympathy from you I'm ok with it." He said raising his head and grinning at her.

"You're getting close to your sympathy limit for the night. I can only be this nice for so long because I lose my mind."

"Ok then." Nathan said sitting up, still holding her where she was but now in a sitting position. " Don't want to use it all up now."

"Definitely not. It needs time to recharge."

"So then, what now?" He was still holding her, she was not pulling away and he was not going to push her away.

"Hmmm. We could stay like this for a while. Or..." Jhu paused, grinning wickedly. "Despite how tiny this cabin is, I do have a big bed."

"I think I remember, but you should show me again." Nathan said tossing the ice pack back onto the coffee table.

"I think I will." Jhu got up and picked up the ice pack and the empty glasses, sliding them all into the replicator to be recycled before returning to the couch and offering him her hand to help him up.

Nathan took her hand with a grin but grabbed her on the way up. He wrapped his arms around her waist and his mouth to her's, kissing her deeply.

Caught off guard, Jhu would have toppled if he didn't have such a secure grip on her. "Getting a little carried away, aren't we?"

Nathan got a mocking worried look on his face. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were such a delicate flower." He lessened his grip on her and placed them most gentle peck on her lips ever.

Jhu tried to keep a straight face, but she laughed despite her efforts. "A delicate tropical flower. With thorns."

Nathan laughed with her. "On the outside one of the most beautiful things ever, but if you miss handle it you will bleed. I would say that's an accurate description of you."

"It does sound appropriate, doesn't it?"

Careful not to 'mishandle' her, he ran his finger along her neck; over her spots, and back around behind the back of her neck. Nathan pulled her her to him and he kissed her.

"Oh my," Jhu murmured. "I think we ought to move this party somewhere more comfortable."

It had been a while since Andy had taken the time to regenerate. Having such a lovely bed-mate, it was understandable as to why Andy had chosen the bed over her alcove as of late, which was a good thing considering how often she used to make use of her alcove. Choosing to sleep rather than regenerate was good for her in the long run, but she did still need to pop into her alcove from time to time. It had just been a while...

Truth be told, Andy didn't need to regenerate anymore, not like was once necessary. She had reached a point where she could have her cortical node removed and after a very rough transition she could adapt to surviving without it. It would require some genetic modification to re-engineer certain brain functions to take over the functions of the node, so it wasn't something she could do without medical intervention, and given her loathing of Sickbay it was a no brainer as to why Andy hadn't done so already. And she actually kinda liked regenerating. She liked that if the need arose she could fall back on her Borg make-up to sustain her. It made heavy workload schedules easier to manage when she could just turn off her fatigue response when sleep wasn't feasible and then pop into her alcove for a quick nap on demand when the moment allowed it.

But until the day came when she finally had her cortical node removed, regeneration was an inevitable necessity, as it was now. Maica had just left for her assignment to Arborea and now seemed as good a time as any to catch a few winks in her alcove. She entered their quarters and shucked her duty jacket, tossing it casually onto the bed as she stepped up onto the alcove platform. It used to feel so strange, the sensation of her alcove connecting with the cortical node in her brain and the feel of her body going rigid in the device, but now it came naturally to her.

Only this time, something went horribly wrong. Her body went rigid with the connection, but then her brain started registering a searing pain from an undefined location. Her body jerked and spasmed in the device as she disconnected herself and staggered towards the bed. In her old quarters, she had failsafes in place to automatically alert medical and security should something happen while she was in her alcove, but she hadn't installed those failsafes since moving her alcove to Maica's quarters. More to the point, she hadn't gone through emergency procedures with the Doctor or Nathan, they wouldn't know what to do!

Andy fell onto the bed; her body wasn't responding as it was supposed to, indicating something was disrupting brain functions. Panic hit her as she struggled to get to her duty jacket, to her commbadge. She was struggling to breathe, the implants that controlled respiration were failing! Shit, if the implant on her heart failed, she was fucked! She clawed her way to her jacket, grabbing the garment and quickly fishing around through it for her commbadge.

=/\= "Nathan!" she gasped out as she found the badge and tapped it. "Help!" she called out desperately.

Nathan was in Jhu's quarters getting ready for the day. He had just secured his badge to his duty jacket when it went off. What he heard on the other end made his blood run cold. "Computer locate Chief Carter!" He yelled at the computer. "Jhu!" He yelled out as he ran out the door.

The note of panic in Nathan's voice grabbed her attention, and Jhu came out of the bathroom, still trying to dry her hair. "What's--" He was gone already, so she snatched up her jacket and ran after him. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know!" Nathan said over his shoulder he ran through the halls to Maica's quarters. That's where the computer had told him she was. He wished he could stop and Jhu exactly what he had heard but he was not going to stop until he got to Andy. What ever was going on he knew him and Jhu could handle, and if not the two of them, Vara had to be close by.

"Fvadt... Andy!" With Maica away, that was the only person inside. Jhu pushed past Nathan, entering the master override code and darting inside the moment the doors opened. Andy was sprawled on the bed, struggling to breathe... as if something was trying to suffocate her. "...what do we do?"

"Med... kit..." Andy gasped out as she managed to point towards a side table. Damn, she was glad they were here!

Jhu was about the only person on this boat that Nathan would not take issues with pushing him out of the way. Mater of fact he more just got out her way. It gave him a the opportunity to snag the med kit and bring it to the bed. He ripped it open and looked to Andy. "Now what?"

Andy grabbed the tricorder in the kit, fumbling with it trying to get it open. Nathan had to open it for her and took some scans of her, then placed it where she could see the results. Fuck... "Sabotage," she choked out, fumbling again with the med kit. Someone had sabotaged her alcove to upload bunch of random junk code to the implant in her cerebral cortex, hindering her ability to function properly. She didn't think it was designed to be fatal, but but the end result was going to put her out of commission for a while. "In... my hair..." she instructed Nathan, shoving a device, a sort of probe, into his hand. there was a port on the back of her head that the device would attach to, then they could use the tricorder to purge the junk code.

When Andy said "Sabotage" Nathans head shaped up and looked at Jhu. "The fuck did she just say?" But Nathan heard all too well. He took the probe and started digging around in her hair, a task to say the lest. But he found the port and attached it. "There you go Andy." He gently started rubbing her arm.

With a few shaky keystrokes on the tricorder, Andy gave a choked gasp. After a few deep, gulping breaths she began to breath normally. "Oh, fuck me..." she groaned once she had finally caught her breath. "Jhu, check my alcove," she said, still laying immobile on the bed as the probe continued to filter junk code from her head. "Look for anything that doesn't belong there. Someone used my alcove to shove some shit in my head and I want it out, NOW!" Andy was fighting hard to not give in to panic, but she couldn't move, couldn't do anything to improve her situation. At least she could breathe now and she didn't have to worry about her heart stopping.

Nathan took Andy's hand in his. "Seriously, we forgive you for barging in the other night. No need to go to such lengths." He said. Trying to calmer her, and maybe himself a little.

"Deep breaths. Slow and steady," Jhu said quietly to both of them as she retrieved a science/engineering tricorder from the replicator. Her own heart was steadily racing along, but she kept her breathing in check. Somehow.

"I'm good," Andy replied, but did as Jhu instructed none the less, taking a moment to slow her breathing and take a few deep breaths. It definitely helped to calm the panic, though Nathan's comment helped take the edge off too. Andy actually smiled. "I just wanna go on record: that was not my idea the other night and I had a nice, long talk with Maica about barging in on other people's private time," Andy said.

Scanning the alcove, Jhu frowned at the readings. She wasn't getting anything abnormal on scans, so instead she carefully accessed the information management system, and there it was. A colossal information dump, right into Andy's skull. With an eerily familiar type of signature to it. "Aw hell..."

"What is it?" Andy asked, unable to see what Jhu could see. Somehow, she didn't have a good feeling about this...

Nathan looked up at Jhu with a look on his face. "What?"

"I don't think you want to know." Not elaborating on the matter, Jhu tapped into the system, carefully prying the bad information free. "Good news is I can fix it."

"Tell me," Andy said, a strange sort of calm in her voice. She needed to know who had messed with her alcove. This wasn't simply a random sabotage of equipment, her alcove meant life!

Jhu sighed inwardly, not wanting to stress Andy out any more than she already was. "My former employers must have taken offense to you disabling their little device."

"You mean that little fucker in the brig?" Andy asked, more than a little indignant over the revelation. "I'mma kill him as soon as I can move!"

"Worse. He's not that smart... he'd have electrocuted himself." Jhu didn't like the implication in those words, but she kept her tone as level as possible as she worked. "And you're not killing him. I get to kill him... he tried to murder me, remember?"

Nathan had been oddly quiet. Andy could see something that not many people get to see. Nathan was pissed. Not upset, not annoyed, but pure anger sat on his face. His hand was also gripping Andy's tightly. Good thing she had the exoskeleton.

"Alright, fine, but can I at least seriously maim him?" Andy asked. She did her best to look up at Nathan, worried about the grip he had on her hand. It didn't really hurt, he wasn't nearly strong enough to actually hurt her, but he was still holding pretty tight. She tried to give his hand a squeeze in return with feeble results, he probably wouldn't even notice. But at least she tried.

"Yeah, you can maim him. Question... how the heck are we getting you back in this thing to reverse that download?" Jhu glanced over, taking note of Nathan's posture that read as anger. Lots of it.

Nathan stood very suddenly and smacked his badge. He stalked to the other room.

"Once I'm sure the memory buffer is clear, you just need to stand me up in it, I can do the rest," Andy assured Jhu. "One of you is gonna have toWhat the hell am I going to tell the Captain? This junk fucked me up inside, I'll need at least a 12 hour regeneration cycle to undo all the damage. At least. And is there any way I can get a guard? I don't have all the usual safeties installed since I recently moved my alcove, I'll be vulnerable for this to happen again."

"We'll get you a guard. Nathan's got my back, so he can reassign Vara... you'll be safest with her." Jhu painstakingly cleared the memory buffer then set the alcove to run a self-diagnostic. "Do you want me to call Maica?"

"Vara's good," Andy said, feeling much better about this already. Vara would keep her safe, and she would be understanding about it too. "Don't call Maica," Andy added softly, "I'll be fine by the time she comes back; I don't want her to worry if she don't have to, she won't be able to focus on her mission if she knew..."

"Yeah, I suppose that's true..." Jhu glanced in the direction Nathan had gone.

"Hey..." Andy said, feeling awkward about this whole thing, "can you roll me onto my side? It's kinda hard to carry on a conversation like this..." Damn, this was fucking embarrassing, but there wasn't much she could do about it at this point.

"Sure. I can do that." Jhu left the alcove running its diagnostic and went back over to the bed, looking at Andy's position before carefully pushing the other woman onto her side, placing the pillow behind her back for support.

"Thanks..." Andy looked up at Jhu as she walked back to her alcove. "Let me know when that's done," she added quietly, not really knowing what to say now, though this incident was giving her a reason to think about... things. She began wondering if she should even keep her cortical node at this point. Being free of her alcove... that might be nice, right?

The alcove beeped, and Jhu checked the result, double checking just to be sure. "It says it's done, and I don't see any extraneous code. Can you get up with just my help or should I call Nathan back in?"

"I am dead from the neck down right now, you'll have to either pick me or or you can just bring me the tricorder with the readings and I'll verify everything," Andy said, hoping Jhu wouldn't opt to pick her up. She'd lost enough dignity with this incident, she didn't want it to get worse by having Jhu carry her around.

"I'll save you the embarrassment of having Kris see you being carried around." Jhu smiled a little, picking up her tricorder and taking it over to Andy. She held it where Andy could see it easily, tilting the display sideways for her. "It looks okay to me, but you're the expert around here."

Andy took a moment to study the results that scrolled by on the tricorder. "Yeah, it looks alright," Andy said, but she was probably going to overhaul everything once she was able to move again, just to be on the safe side.

"All right. But we'll wait for one of the boys. I can tell you're not thrilled with the idea of straight up being carried." Jhu smiled just a little. With help from Nathan or Kris, Andy could be supported on both sides, so it wouldn't feel so much like she was being hauled around.


"Tonkin to Captain Kerouac." Nathan said over the comms as he paced around the room.

Kris was in his Ready Room at the time when the 'call' was sent to him. "Go ahead, Lieutenant" replied Kris calmly.

Nathan was doing his best to gave control over his rage, but he was not doing the best of jobs. His head was already pounding with pain from the adrenaline and his jaw hurt from clenching his teeth together. He spoke slowly and through his clenched teeth. " Captain, I'm sorry to bother you first thing but I am going to need to have you come down to Maica and Andy's room right away. There is a situation your going to want to see for yourself." That was about all Nathan was willing to say over open com lines.

I thought I had a First Officer and Second Officer for a God damn reason thought Kris, somewhat biting his bottom lip. Kris was a bit preoccupied at the moment with a matter of importance. However, it was a Commanding Officer's life to be pulled away from things. "On my damn way" replied Kris as he stood up from his chair and proceeded out onto the Bridge and into the turbo lift.

Nathan waited for the Captain in the main part of the room. He paced back and forth racking his mind about what the hell to do about this parasite that was infecting his ship.

A few minutes later, Commander Kristopher Kerouac was able to better compose himself. He arrived at Lieutenant Maica and Chief Petty Officer Carter's quarters only to find that the entrance parted ways immediately. Maica nor Andy were there to greet him. Instead, it was Katana's Chief of Security. "Lieutenant?" replied Kris to the strange sight. "Is there something wrong?" added Kris.

And he was not looking all that happy. " I would not have called you sir if everything was ok Sir." Nathan pointed into the bedroom.

Kris looked at Nathan with a peculiar gaze. "Uh, Lieutenant... usually I am the one who points a man into a bedroom" replied Kris with a small smirk. He proceeded anyways. "Use your words, Lieutenant. Tell me what is gong on."

Nathan was not sure the Captain really wanted to hear his words, but he asked for them. "I'm about to do something very drastic if Section 31 keeps FUCKING WITH MY SHIP!!!" He could.not stop the rage flowing out of him. His race was red and the veins in his neck were bulging.

"Fuck you! I keep this ship in working order, it's mine!" Andy called out from the bedroom.

"Both of you, shut the fuck up before I ram your skulls together to make a decent brain between the two of you" said Kris firmly but he did not shout. "This is OUR ship. So, tell me exactly what the fuck is going on."

"Those Section 31 fuckers tampered with my alcove and broke me!" Andy called out. When Kris finally entered the bedroom, he could see that the ex-Borg woman laying on the bed. Jhu had been kind enough to roll her onto her side so she could see what was going on, but she was completely helpless.

Kris looked at Andy and then at Jhu. "Someone tell me how exactly they did this. Please tell me that it was somehow remotely done."

"Any tampering done with my alcove has to be done directly. It doesn't connect to the computer, so there's no way to access it remotely," Andy explained.

Kris looked at Lieutenant Tonkin. "I want to know who has been in here. I don't care what for, even if it was me" said Kris firmly. "Find the piece of shit working for Section 31."

Seeing the Captain confirm his anger actually started to help Nathan calm down. "Consider it done Sir. Should I assume that this is also to be kept between the 5 of us?"

"You're damn right. It's not a secret you lot want getting out. And enough with the snapping at each other!" Things had calmed down, but Jhu was saying it anyway. "How do you think I feel with some Section 31 asshole sneaking around hurting my friends?"

"Why do they have such a hard-on for you anyway?" Andy asked. "I've heard that you never really leave Section 31 once you're in, but they must want you to do something if they're trying this hard to get to you."

Nathan leaned on the door way behind the Caption. But Andy asked a good question.

"One of two things. Target acquisition or assassination. Two things I happen to not want people knowing I'm good at! Besides which, they're still pissed over the Dominion mission I screwed up." Jhu combed her fingers through her rather unruly hair, exhaling sharply. "So now you know. I kill people."

Andy snorted. "Like you're the only one with a body count?" Andy challenged. "And you're Intel, I don't think anyone was assuming you were rescuing puppies and kittens." To Andy, it didn't make a difference that Jhu killed people. Everyone had things they were good at, and sometimes a little killing was necessary. It didn't make Jhu any less of a person in Andy's eyes. "Maybe it's time to send a message: you're ours, not theirs anymore."

It didn't shock Nathan at all either. He too had a body count and was not exactly proud of it as well. But there was one thing he agreed with. "Definitely time to send them a message..."

"Oh no. You don't get it. It's different when it's not defensive." Jhu shook her head slightly.

"If I could move right now, I would hit you," Andy muttered. "Just shut up and let us defend you, dammit."

Kris shook his head. "If Jhu wants us to defend her, she'll ask. Right now, we just need to focus on finding the S31 scum and scrape them up from the crew."

"I'm afraid I won't be much help on that front for a while, Captain," Andy said. "They uploaded a fuck-ton of junk data to the processor in my cerebral cortex. I'm having to shunt vital functions through an external probe just to stay breathing, and it's going to take 12 hours at least to clean this shit out of my head and fix the damage it caused," she briefed her Commanding Officer.

Kris felt bad for Andy. "You just work on keeping yourself functioning. I want you to get the best we have to assist you" replied Kris.

"They have now tried to kill Jhu and Andy." Nathan added, forgetting rank.

"I'll get Vara to help me find the bastard. She found the first two, and they don't have a way to beat her sensors." Jhu's gone was resolute. Firm. And a tiny bit terrified too.

"I want Security and Intelligence to work together on this. I don't care how you find them, just do it! Jhu, you have a new cybersecurity specialist in your department. Have Mr. DeLancer come inspect Chief Carter's alcove and see if he can add some additional security measures to its systems. I do not want a repeat of this incident."

"No one touches my alcove," Andy barked defensively. "It's already had enough strange hands on it," she insisted.

"Don't be a bitch. You can watch" replied Kris with a glare.

"I don't give a flying fuck what orders you give," Andy replied with a glare of her own. "That ain't just a random piece of equipment, it's a part of me. And it's been violated enough. DeLancer can submit his recommendations for security measures, but I'll be the one to implement them." Andy wasn't going to budge on this and she didn't care if it earned her a disciplinary write up for her file. She had let Jhu work on her alcove, but that had only been because there had literally been no other choice. Not to mention, there was a measure of trust between Jhu and Andy, but she didn't know this DeLancer guy.

"Fine!" shouted Kris in response. Your alcove is on MY starship. Your alcove can be taken off Katana just as fast as it came here thought Kris with anger burned into his face.

This situation didn't anymore volatility added to it. Nathan spoke up hoping to deflect the conversation. " We will find them and we will get them Katana. And that transporter thing too. With your order Sir I will make this top priority and devote all my resources to taking care of it."

"You can bet your ass that you have my fullest approval" replied Kris.

Nathans eyes narrowed. "Then consider it done Sir."

Vara had been protecting Andy for a little while now. Apparently, that Section 31 group considered Andy a threat as well as Jhu. She was only 1 woman and though she had alerts and watches setup for covering Jhu, if something happened to her Vara wouldn‘t be able to protect Andy as well. She smelled a plot and a rat and she didn’t like it. She considered the attack on Andy to be one of 2 things. A distraction to get her away from Jhu and a trap to get Andy out of the picture for the next little while. For all she knew, it was Jhu whom had done this to get Vara herself away from her so she could do some secret intel bullshit. Vara didn’t think Jhu would intentionally harm another crewmember like that, especially a comrade and friend, but at this point, she couldn’t put anything past anyone and would remain vigilant. Even the Captain himself was a suspect in her mind, trying to pay Andy back for the outbursts she had supposedly made.

Andy’s alcove made a sound in anticipation for the end of the regeneration cycle, though Andy’s body remained rigid in the device. Seemingly lifeless, her face looked calm and peaceful despite the anger she felt. And to think she had actually thought to trust her fellow crewmates! No, she couldn’t think like that…. It wasn’t Jhu’s fault, she didn’t mean for this to happen. Even Andy could see through her anger to know the difference between cause and effect and blame and responsibility. Sure, Jhu brought this problem onto the ship, but it was completely unintentional, and Jhu had proven herself to this crew.

Slowly, Andy’s eyes opened, blinking a few times before coming to rest on Vara. she was really glad Vara was here right now. Vara would understand how uncomfortable this whole situation was making her.

“Hey, can I get a hand?” Andy asked, not quite ready to release herself from the alcove, fearful her body wouldn’t work right and she would fall. “I gotta piss like a racehorse,” she added bluntly.

“Of course.” It may have been a long time since Vara had helped Andy in and out of her alcove, but she stepped up into it and wrapped her arms around her former love the same as she always had, the scent of the other woman tingling in her nose.

With a mere thought, Andy released herself from the alcove, her body going slack in Vara’s arms as she regained control of herself. She could stand, but just barely, she definitely needed help walking. “Thanks,” Andy grunted, still embarrassed about all this.

Vara steadied her, keeping one arm under her as she helped Andy from the alcove. “Don’t worry about it. I’m here for you,” Vara said softly. “Besides, I know you’d do the same for me.”

Andy nodded; she would do anything to help Vara… “It’s just… fucking embarrassing…” She didn’t like feeling so vulnerable, so helpless. But still, at least it was Vara here and not someone else.

“I imagine you feel as bad as I did after that incident. Look on the bright side though. You can still move more than your eyes and can think past a kindergarten level.” Vara said with a chuckle as she helped Andy to the toilet.

Vara had her there… “I just can’t believe I left myself so vulnerable,” Andy admitted as she relieved herself. Ohh, that feels gooood…. “I mean, I didn’t even bother installing the safeties and failsafes when I moved my alcove! How could I be so stupid?!”

“The same way everyone else does it. Growing complacent in your own skills and routine.” Vara shook her head and looked into the bathroom mirror. “That’s how it normally happens, anyway.”

“I guess…” But that answer didn’t really satisfy Andy. Somehow, it felt like more than that. She had come to trust the crew, became comfortable around them, enough so that she didn’t think she needed the safeties. It made her feel so stupid! She finished her business and managed to stagger to the sink to wash her hands. “Hey, I’ve been thinking…” Andy knew when she heard those words, it usually didn’t inspire much confidence, but she had been thinking… “Maybe I shouldn’t be so dependant on my alcove… While I was in there, I got to thinking maybe I should have my cortical node removed…”

Vara had mixed feelings on that. Less tech? It went against the way she lived a lot of her life, but she could see why. Being tied to an alcove like that would be rather restrictive. “Is that safe? Doesn’t it do a lot of your memory and data processing? Don’t most die when it’s removed?” No matter Andy’s decision, Vara would support her and she knew Maica would too, but she was definitely worried.

“Removing it has its risks, but so does leaving things be,” Andy begrudgingly admitted. “And the cortical array can function without the node with the proper rewiring.” Each drone was different and the risks for this procedure were different. After the war when she had gone to Earth for medical leave, she had been a good candidate for the procedure but had opted out of it. But now? there was no telling! She had lived with her tech for so long, was it even possible? “I’m just not sure I can trust it anymore…” she said, referring more to the alcove than anything else.

“I’d offer some help with that tech, but I don’t think I have any strings left to pull. Not since the incident and especially without you being a Lagashi citizen. I can understand though. I hated being tied to a wall the few times I’ve had to be. I can’t imagine doing it for life.” Vara wrapped an arm back around Andy to help steady her and help her out of the restroom. “Do you need something to eat?”

“I’m good for now,” Andy said as they made their way back to her alcove. “I just want to finish regenerating to get this crap out of my head.” But she was having trouble even looking at her alcove. It had been violated, how could she trust it now?

“If it helps any, I now have the same biosign alerts on you as I do on the Commander. If anything happens and I’m not here…” Vara’s words trailed off as she looked at the alcove.

“Thanks,” Andy said, stepping up into the alcove. Her body again went rigid in the device, but she didn’t submit to unconsciousness just yet. “I’m glad it’s you here,” she said softly.

Smiling with a lopsided grin, Vara nodded. “Do you really think I would leave some raw crewman to guard you? I love you too much to do that.”

Andy was silent for a moment. At first, she just didn’t know what to say in response to Vara’s confession of love, but she knew she had so say something. “I’m sorry I could never return those feelings,” Andy said sincerely. Vara was a wonderful person, she deserved someone who could reciprocate and Andy hadn’t been emotionally ready for that when she had been with Vara.

“Don’t worry about it. Things worked out for the better, I think. I couldn’t do half as much in a hundred years as Lt Maica has done for you in less than a month. Just seeing you happy with her…” Vara paused and gazed up at Andy with a tenderness belying the wolf and vicious huntress Vara had grown to become. “I owe her for a lot.”

“I never meant to… I mean… I didn’t expect to… have such strong feelings for her,” Andy said, having a really hard time articulating her thoughts. She just wasn’t good at this ‘talking’ thing. “She just… inserted herself into my life and somehow I was okay with that,” she offered with a hint of a laugh.

“That’s how it happens in your culture, isn’t it? No interviews or compatibility profiles or arranged marriages…” Vara just shook her head.

“Like I care about culture or customs,” Andy replied with a crooked grin. “You’ll find someone, Vara. Someone you can love and who can love you back… But I am sorry that it couldn’t be me.”

Vara’s expression fell at Andy’s words. “I did find someone. On the Hera. Things didn’t work out though. He couldn’t stay with me when I needed him and…” She went silent at that point, a lost expression on her features. “No, It’s ok it wasn’t you. We both had things we had to move on to.”

Andy really wasn’t good at all this and had long since moved past her comfort zone for this conversation. But still, she felt the need to say or do something. She released herself from the alcove and fell forward, wrapping her arms around Vara. It was a clumsy and awkward hug, but it was genuine and from the heart.

Vara caught Andy and belatedly realized it was a hug. There was nothing she could say as the words stuck in her throat. Those had been hard heart crushing days and she had tried to be more of an icey emotionless workaholic since then. With Andy here though… Her heart ached again. It was a tiny thing, barely there, but she could feel it starting to melt again.

Having overstayed her welcome in the realm of mush, Andy put herself back in her alcove, her eyes closing as her regeneration cycle restarted. She just hoped Vara wouldn’t take the withdrawal the wrong way, but there was only so much sappy shit Andy could take...

Vara was just happy. Simply happy. Andy needed her regeneration though, and Vara would watch over her.

Nathan knew that Vara; as super as she may be, could not sit 24/7 with Andy. At lest with Jhu she could still preform basic duties. But with Andy like she was, someone had to be right here for her.

So Nathan decided to take an evening shift and he dragged Jhu along with him. Andy had been regenerating when they showed up and relieved Vara for a few hours. So far the evening had been quiet.

The Borg device made a loud clack, signaling the end of Andy's regeneration cycle. The ex-Borg woman staggered out of the alcove, shaking her head to dispel the disorientation. It had been a while since she'd had to regenerate for so long...

Nathan was in the other room but he came right in to see what the noise was. He saw Andy out of the...thing that she slept in and went right to her side. "Hey you..."

"Hey..." Andy replied drowsily, glad someone was here to make sure she didn't fall over. "I... damn, my head is killing me." She sat down on her bed, fishing around through her fall of fiery curls for the probe Nathan had put on her head before.

Nathan took a seat on the bed next to her and guided her hand to the probe, he kind of knew where it was. "What can I do to help you?"

"I just need a moment... to get my bearings..." Andy removed the probe. "Well, I guess you could find the tricorder for me," she added, glancing around but unable to see the medical device.

The med kit had been packed back up and put away, but since Nathan was the one who got it in the first place he went right to it. He brought it back to the bed and opened it once he started back down with Andy. He pulled out the tricorder and handed it to her.

Andy took the tricorder and took a few scans of herself. She still needed some rest, but she was more or less 'fixed' now. She gave a relieved sigh and handed the device and the probe back to Nathan. "Glad that shit is over with," she said, flopping back onto the bed.

"Jhu is here too. She's in the bathroom. Vara needed a night off. I would bet money she's around close by though." Nathan chuckled a bit.

"Yeah, that sounds about right..." Andy snickered. Vara wouldn't be Vara otherwise. "So, didj'all figure out why Section 31 wanted to scramble my brain, or are we still at the 'just guessing' phase of the investigation?" Andy asked.

"We are guessing still...but I think you were a distraction. A fuckin good one too." Nathan replied while packing the med kit back up. "But why..." Nathan trailed off.

"You know what? Just once, I'd like someone to try to kill me because I'm worth taking out, not just to be a fucking distraction!" Andy griped. Seriously? Wasn't she good for more than just getting in people's way?

Nathan chuckled " It could have been because you were messing with their little toy in Jhu's old room. Would that make you feel better?"

"Even still, I'm just the fucking distraction, a means to an end," Andy grumped with a frown.

Nathan just smiled down at her.

"Oh, hey, you're awake." Jhu hadn't heard any of their conversation through the bathroom door, but Andy's frown meant it couldn't have been a pleasant topic. "What are you two up to anyway?"

Nathan smiled up at Jhu. "No good, clearly."

"This isn't what it looks like," Andy said with a serious expression. "I know it looks like we're just sitting here talking, but we're actually having sex."

Nathan held his hands out to the side. "And there it is, the cats out of the bag. I have to say that it's way more dull then I would have thought. Kind of depressing really."

Jhu snickered at them. "Uh huh, and who's going to tell Maica?"

"Fuck, Maica..." Andy said, running her hands over her face. "What am I gonna tell her about all this?" she asked. "Should I even tell her? I mean, I'm fine now, she don't have to know, does she?"

"She's going to find out, Andy, whether we tell her or not." Sighing a little at the change in topic, Jhu sat down near them. "Besides, wouldn't you want to know if someone was trying to hurt her?"

"She needs to know and you need to be the one to tell her. This is not something you want to hear about in a report somewhere." Nathan added.

"Shit..." This was one of the reasons she avoided relationships, Andy didn't like worrying over someone else or having them worry over her. It was just easier staying unattached. But then again, the idea of not being with Maica made her ache inside. Or maybe that was just her empty stomach complaining at her... "I'll tell her after I eat, I'm starving," she said as she pulled herself off the bed and headed for the replicator.

"Care for company? We have not eaten yet. We came here right when we got off duty." Nathan asked

"Knock yourselves out," Andy said as way of invitation. She replicated a sandwich, some barley soup, and a mug of coffee, then took a seat at the dining table, moving some of hers and Maica's instruments out of the way to make room for Jhu and Nathan at the table. Though she had given away her two antique violins, she had an electric violin she kept, and she put it on a wall mount next to Maica's lyre.

"I don't mind staying for a while longer. We gave Vara some time off... she won't be back for a while. And I'm not leaving you here alone, not with the possibility of some stowaway sneaking in here to mess with you again." Jhu wasn't that hungry, but she poked through the replicator menu for a moment anyway, eventually settling on one of her classic favorites. Miso ramen might not be much of a meal, but it was something she quite enjoyed after a long day.

Nathan replicated a steak and a small salad and took his seat near Jhu.

Andy sat down to eat, tidying up some sheet music she was working on strewn about on the table. "After I rest a bit more, I'll run full diagnostics on my alcove and install the safeties. It won't happen again," Andy murmured over her cup of coffee. More to the point, she was considering going alcove free, something she wasn't really looking forward to, but the alternatives were... unsettling.

"Until then someone will be here with you. And not just a random Ensign, someone you trust. I promise you that." Nathan had a very serious look on his face.

"Thanks," Andy said, stirring her soup around and around in her unease. She still didn't like being on this side of the protection detail. "What are you going to do about them, Jhu?" Andy asked seriously. "The ship can't keep functioning properly if they keep interfering."

"I don't know." Jhu shook her head, sipping some of the broth from her soup. "We can't get the device out of the bulkhead without setting off alarms... or maybe worse. For all we know the thing could blow up in our faces when we unplug it."

"Let me take another look at it, maybe..." Andy sighed. "Maybe there's a workaround, something we can do to eliminate the risk."

"Only if Vara or Nathan is there too. Last time we messed with it, a Section 31 lackey showed up." Jhu paused for a moment, thinking. "What if we didn't touch it when we removed it?"

Andy thought about that for a while. "Transporter," Andy said, then munched on her sandwich.

Nathan sat there quietly, ate and listened to them talk. He spoke up. "I was thinking of a reverse shield around it or something..." This was not really his area.

"A reverse shield could work, but we'd need an external power source. That complicates things." Jhu stirred her soup, not really eating any of it. "The transporter though... it could sever the connections and get rid of the damn thing all at once."

"Forget severing the connection, though I could do that... I was thinking just beam the device and the wall it's attached to straight into space, then blow it to hell," Andy said. Although Nathan's idea might make a good backup plan in case the device did blow mid-transport.

"The whole wall? Can we do that without weakening that section of the ship?" Jhu didn't know enough about starship design to know if it was possible.

"Oh yeah, that wall can be easily replaced," Andy assure Jhu with a nod. "When it comes to crew quarters, most of the walls are removable to open up a space into the next cabin. It's part of the modular design that allows quarters to grow with family units. The Intrepid class may not be designed to accommodate families, but it's still standard design element."

"If it's that easy what are we waiting for? I know the Captain wants that thing off this ship as much as we do." Nathan said looking excited. This Problem had been weighing on Nathan a lot since he stumbled across it. This was the first time they had come up with an actual idea. "We are going to need to scan the entire ship and make sure we only have one. I would hate for them to just beam a team over with one we didn't know about."

"The transport and the shields I can do no problem, we can have that thing off the ship in under an hour, but if we're sweeping the ship for more devices first, I-" Andy sighed. "My head is killing me. Not that I don't think this is a plan worth ignoring the pain, but I'm fucking tired. I need a little more time in my alcove before I can start working again."

Nathan nodded "Of coarse Andy. We can start getting things prepped so when you do come back its not so hard on you. But for tonight, we should just be glad that your going to be ok."

"Relax for a while, Andy. I'm not really up to doing that tonight either. I might run a few preliminary scans but actual searching? Not on my agenda right now." Jhu ate a little more of her soup then slid the bowl back, barely touched.

"Thanks," Andy said, grabbing the second half of her sandwich. "I should be good to go in the morning," she added as an afterthought.

"Will you be 100%?" Nathan asked with a worried look on his face. " I can't have you dropping again while Maica's away. You reached your one crisis while wife is away limit for this away mission."

"Not 100%, but good enough to get back to work. Don't worry, I'll pace myself," Andy promised.

Nathan eyed Andy for a moment. He had heard about her nearly working herself to death. "Vara will be with you the whole time." And providing me with updates

Fuck... "Fine," Andy said with a roll of her eyes.

"Would you prefer to pass out on the floor and end up in sickbay?" Jhu asked pointedly. "Medical's not a good place for you. They'll make you rest and do nothing."

"I said I would pace myself!" Andy retorted defensively. "I know my limits, dammit." And they all knew why she had pushed passed her limits before, but she had no intentions of ignoring those limits now.

"No one said you didn't." And Nathan left it at that. But his eyes drifted from Jhu's bowl of soup up to her eye, with a slight cock of the head to the left.

"Just making sure. No need to get defensive." Jhu smiled a little. Then Nathan's questioning gaze caught her eye, and she slowly pulled the bowl back over.

Nathan chuckled and shook his head. "If you're not hungry don't eat. I just want to make sure you're ok. That's all."

"If I'm defensive, it's because you two are treating me like I don't know how to take care of myself!" Andy ranted, grabbing her mug of coffee and heading to Maica's desk with her sheet music. She didn't mean to be like this, it really wasn't her fault; extended regeneration had a tendency to have a negative impact on her brain chemistry, her emotions would be all over the place until she leveled off.

Knowing that Andy had effectively been asleep for way longer than normal, Jhu ignored the outburst. Andy would be herself again later. "I'm just tired. Like... have you ever been so tired you got sick? It's like that. I need a break."

"Bed's in there," Andy said, using a pencil to point to the bedroom. "Ain't like I'm gonna use it tonight..." she grumbled.

Nathan had never dealt with Andy like this was less nonchalant about it that Jhu, but after watching Andy storm off he brought his attention back to Jhu. "Yes, I have. When was the last time you just took a couple of days?"

"Since before Zanaar died. Not sure how long exactly, actually." Jhu tried to think back to when she'd last taken even a day off, only coming up with the one Kris had given her after she'd spent so many hours looking for Shira's planet. "And I am not sleeping in your bed, Andy. I'm not sure Maica would like that."

"Tul Zanaar 'departed' the USS Katana 2 weeks, 5 days, 14 hours, and 36 minutes ago," Andy said without looking up from what she was doing at Maica's desk. "And I wouldn't have offered the bed if you weren't allowed to used it. There's also the couch, which is pretty comfy."

Nathan glanced over at Andy again and then back to Jhu. "Two days. Its what you need. I'll take them with you? We can just sleep."

"If you're 'just sleeping', you're doing something wrong," Andy mumbled as she scribbled on her sheet music.

"I'm sure we'll do more than just sleep." Jhu snickered a little. "Okay. Two days."

Nathan chuckled a little. "Yeah, I mean Lydek would be pissed if he didn't get fed for two days." He winked at Jhu.

"You have no idea. He gets mad if his breakfast is five minutes late." Jhu returned the wink, grinning.

"Oh, would you two just get a room already?" Andy barked out. "Shit, I don't even care if you use my bed to do it, just get it out of your system already!"

"What makes you think we haven't had sex already?" Jhu asked innocently, trying not to laugh at Andy's reaction to their conversation.

"Oh, I know you've had sex," Andy said with certainty, "I'm just tired of watching you two dance around each other. Stop winking' at each other and just do it, you'll feel better."

"You know huh?" Nathan said with a chuckle.

Andy looked up from her sheet music and glanced back and forth between Jhu and Nathan. "If you could see what I see..." she muttered and left it at that.

Nathan smiled and looked at Andy. "Enlighten us, what do you see?"

"Ohhh no! I ain't a party trick!" Andy said, looking back down at her sheet music. Thinking about the chords she was jotting down helped her work through and process a lot of the jumbled information in her head; essentially the music helped bring order to chaos, just like... "Seriously, you two kids go have fun. I'll contact Maica in a bit then I'll go back to my alcove for some more rest"

Nathan sighed. "We are not going anywhere until Vara is off break.You requested this, remember? "

Again Andy pointed towards her bedroom. " 'Go forth and multiply'."

"We are not having sex in your bed. That's weird." Jhu laughed a little. "And what do you mean, you know we've had sex already?"

"You would not believe the shit I can pick up on!" Andy declared with a wide grin. She said she wasn't a party trick, but now they were both asking, so she better give them something... "Okay, so I can see a rise in body temperature, an increase in heart rate, and a few other subtle cues indicative of arousal. Well, and he has a very noticeable physical reaction that I'm picking up on infrared. Oh, and there's this subtle flush that you get in your spots... Now that's just arousal, that don't mean you've had sex. However, I am a mostly human being with a working brain and an interesting lifetime of experience behind me; I can read between the lines." Should she give them the last bit? No, she shouldn't... Ok, she was gonna do it! "Also, I smell semen."

"I told you she'd be able to smell it." Jhu felt like she should be embarrassed, but she was laughing. "And I don't need infrared to know about that... reaction."

"Oh Geez." Nathan said leaning back in his seat. His face turned a bright red. Turns out he didn't really want to know.

"You asked first," Jhu reminded him, cackling a bit.

"I also know that someone likes to bite..." Andy said teasingly, scribbling furiously at the paper in front of her.

Jhu shrugged, remaining unflappable. "He bit me first. Turnabout's fair play."

Andy snickered, but said nothing. Ahh, these two were just too cute...

Nathan shrugged. "Its true, I started it." He nodes to Andy. "What are you working on over there?"

"Nothing!" Andy said evasively, quickly covering the papers with her arms. "I ain't doing nothing!"

"Nothing? Awfully defensive for nothing." Jhu snickered a little. "Is this nothing for Maica?"

"No!" Andy replied, quickly shoving the papers into a drawer in the desk. How could she be so stupid? Of course they would notice... "Ain't none of your business!"

Jhu raised an eyebrow at that particular outburst. That one was Andy after she'd been caught doing something 'mushy'or girly. "Your secret is safe. Besides, I probably won't remember this later."

"You never struck me as being particularly forgetful," Andy commented disbelievingly as she rose from the desk, locking the desk drawers in case Jhu decided to sneak a peak at what she had been doing. And she hadn't been doing anything girly or mushy, she had simply been writing music, but Andy still didn't like people knowing she was musically talented.

"I'm usually not. But I'm not exactly completely awake right now. Besides, who would I tell? Maica probably already knows, and no one else needs to." Jhu poked at her soup some then pushed it toward the center of the table again. "Maybe I should go take a nap."

Nathan chuckled at the exchange. "Only if you go to the couch, don't forget I'm on double duty tonight and your not leaving my sight." He said to Jhu.

"Couch is fine, long as you two don't throw a party." Jhu smirked a little.

"No parties for a while," Andy said as she went to the replicator to refill her coffee. "Can I ask you two to step out for like... dunno, 5 minutes? I'd just like some privacy to contact Maica."

"Yes of course. Tell her I said hi?" Nathan had anticipated this and had set his com badge ahead of time. He pulled it off his shirt and tossed it to Andy. "This is a panic button. All you have to do is press it and it will alert Jhu's badge. We will be just out side the door." Nathan stood and held his hand out for Jhu.

"Clever." Jhu took Nathan's hand and stood up. "Don't get her in a panic. She needs to have a clear head right now."

Andy caught the commbadge as she headed back to the desk. "I'm fine now, so there's no need for her to panic," Andy replied, but she would still be mindful to not upset Maica too much.

Andy felt.. uneasy to say the least. She didn’t like the idea of delivering bad news to Maica, but everyone had been right in their assertions that it would be better to hear it from Andy rather than from someone else or a report. Still, Andy didn’t feel good about this as she waited patiently for the subspace channel to connect to the Away Team’s shuttle.

After a few minutes, the channel finally connected and Maica’s face appeared on the screen. “Andy! Is everything ok?” Maica hadn’t expected a call just yet, but she was still happy to see her ‘wife.’

“umm, kind of?” Andy offered with a weak smile. “Something kind of… happened. And don’t freak out, I’m alright now, but something… yeah…”

Now Maica really was worried. “Are you ok? Is the ship ok? Is Jhu ok?”

“No, the ship and Jhu are fine…” Andy sighed. How do normal people so this? “I, uh… my alcove was sabotaged and… it kinda messed me up.”

“Sabo…” Maica was feeling something unusual so she let it flow a little. “Who are they and how do I kill them?” Yeah, maybe Andy was rubbing off on her a bit.

“I think Jhu has dibs on them since they tried to kill her first,” Andy replied. “But, I was promised that I could maim them first.”

“I want in that line too then,” Maica said with a bit of a growl. “The main thing though, is that you’re ok. What exactly did they do?”

“They tagged my alcove with junk data, nothing my brain could make sense of, and when I started to regenerate it all got dumped into my head,” Andy explained. “It messed me up, I’ve spent most of this time trying to get it all out. I think I’m alright now.”

Maica was clearly shaken by this. If it had happened to her, it would effectively kill her. She could only imagine what it did to Andy. “It’ll take us some time to get back… Will you be ok? Are you eating and resting ok?”

“Maica, I’m fine,” Andy assured her. “Just focus on your mission, I’ll be alright. and I’m taking care of myself. Vara’s been assigned to watch over me and she’s not letting me cut any corners.”

Maica was a little relieved that Vara was looking out for her at least. “Ok then. I’ll still try to hurry here, though I’m still expecting us to be back at the 48 hour mark.” And not a second longer...

“How’s the Twig doing?” Andy asked, at least trying to make sure everything was going well on Maica’s end.

“Pretty good, I think. She’s kept us all fed with real food and no one is complaining. I’m sure she’ll be glad to get back, but for now I think she’s too excited telling everyone here about things on the ship,” Maica said with a smile.

Andy smiled as well. At least one thing seemed to be going alright. And the Twig was growing on Andy, just a little bit. “Glad she’s having fun,” Andy said, then she looked away, considering if she should broach this subject now or later, but it was weighing heavily on her mind. “Maica… I’ve been thinking… I’m not sure if this is a good idea, but what happened over here, it really scared me, and I didn’t want to do anything without talking to you first, but…” She seemed to be having a hard time saying what it was that she needed to say.

Maica did her best to be tender. It was obviously something that bothered Andy, whatever it was. “What is it, love. Talk to me.” Maica wished she could hug through the comm line, but she couldn’t.

“I’ve been thinking…” Andy ran a hand over her hair, then sighed. “I know it’s dangerous, but I think it’s time… no, I know it’s time… Once we’re done with the space whales, I’m going to have my cortical node removed.”

Maica didn’t know what all that meant, but Andy’s admission of danger was all she needed to hear. If she was admitting it was dangerous, she was saying it might kill her. At least that’s what Maica had come to understand in their brief time together. “You’ll have to go over some specifics with me when I get back, but if this is what you want and it’ll make you feel safer, I’ll support you in it.” She just hoped her near cluelessness wasn’t too obvious.

“We can talk all about it when you get back,” Andy promised. She was glad Maica was willing to be supportive, she was going to need that support. “I don’t even know if it’s a viable option yet, but if it is… I’m just glad you’ll be there, I don’t know if I could make the transition alone.”

“My love, I would do anything for you. You know that,” Maica said with a loving smile. “And even if it isn’t viable, we’ll cross that bridge together as well. Even if you hadn’t saved my life, I love you too much to let you go through something that obviously bothers you so much alone.”

“I know…” And it really was bothering Andy. Vara was right, in a way, she had become complacent with the technology that kept her alive when she really shouldn’t have. She had let things go on for far too long and it was time for a change. She just hoped this change wouldn’t kill her. “I can’t wait for you to come home,” Andy said, giving Maica her best puppy-dog eyes as she rested her chin on her hands on the desk. “I miss you…”

“I’ll be home as soon as I can. In the mean time, if you want to, check my portable holo-emitter. It doesn’t do anything near as nice as the holodeck, but it’ll project scenery on all the office walls and clothing onto you. Some of the programs might help you relax.” Maica technically only had it for work, but sometimes doing those meetings naked under a holographic uniform helped her.

“Nah, I’ll pass,” Andy replied. “I’ll just keep myself busy until you get back, then you can help me relax.”

“Fair enough.” Maica said with a smile. She was looking forward to their ‘reunion’, but she’d still be gentle with Andy just in case she wasn’t 100%.

Andy wanted to simply stare into those wonderful crimson eyes a little while longer, feeling like a total sap but not caring about it, but the subspace connection began to degrade. Probably interference from that damned nebula… “Hey, contact me when you’re on your way back,” she said quickly, hoping to get a few more words in before the connection was severed. “And… I love you… and stuff.” She was still so awkward about saying the ‘L’ word.

Maica barely caught that last bit through a burst of static, but she could make it out easily enough and a wide smile spread across her face. “I will. I love you too.”

That smile of hers made all that awkwardness worthwhile. With a lopsided grin, Andy closed the communication channel and tilted her chair back with her hands behind her head. Yeah, she was feeling much better about things now.

Jhu still hated the idea of coercing Andy into donating nanoprobes for the torpedo project. They hadn't gotten along at first, but they'd quickly become friends. Kris was asking her to jeopardize that friendship. While she understood the need for the project, she wished there was someone else who could convince Andy to help.

At least Andy was easy to find on duty. The trick would be getting her alone for a while, which seemed impossible with how many people worked in engineering! Jhu ducked around a few people before finding Andy and gently - but firmly - grabbing Andy's arm. "We need to talk."

"This can't wait?" Andy asked as she delegated some work to the Engineering crew by handing out some PaDDs with orders. "I'm kinda behind on things here."

"No, it can't. If it could, I'd have sent you a message about meeting up for lunch." Not wanting to attract more attention, Jhu lowered her voice. "It's important. I could make it an order, but I don't want to do that."

"You ain't gotta do that," Andy assured Jhu, handing off the last of her orders and sending off the work teams to get started on their duties. "Here, come with me," Andy said as she led Jhu to the lab just off the main bay. It was the lab Andy had converted into a sort of cybernetics lab to rebuilt Maica. Now, it was again a multi-purpose lab space, but it still held some tech for Maica should she require any maintenance. "Now what's this all about that you feel the need to pull rank? If this about what we talked about in my quarters, I was about to go find Nathan to get started."

"No, this is different. Remember the Gekli pod?" Andy hadn't been at the briefing, but Jhu knew she would have at least read Maica's notes. "It's more complicated than a few lost whales."

"The space whales?" Andy asked, a bit confused. "From what Will told me about the briefing, it seemed pretty straightforward. What's so complicated about it?"

"This." She was breaking a dozen rules about classified materials, but Jhu didn't care. She took a miniaturized PADD from her pocket, handing it to Andy. "A portal into fluidic space, probably how the Gekli got here. But they aren't the problem."

As soon as Jhu said 'fluidic space', Andy knew exactly what Jhu was talking about. "Species 8472," she said as she looked over the information on the PaDD. The Borg excursions into fluidic space had only been a recent development at the time Andy had been assimilated, but the information from the Collective was there. "I see plans for nanoprobe bioweapons, a precaution in case we make contact. I think I have a pretty good idea why you needed to talk to me..." Once Voyager had returned to the Alpha Quadrant, bringing with them their research and developments on the Borg to aid other recovered drones like Andy, she had learned about their use of nanoprobes to make weapons that could fight Species 8472.

Jhu nodded grimly. "You know I hate to ask this of you, but we need that defense. Without it, we're all dead."

Andy didn't like the idea of being harvested for her nanoprobes, but Jhu was right: if they didn't have a good defense against Species 8472 then they were doomed to die. "I just wanna go on record that I ain't happy about this," Andy said as she headed straight for the replicator create a modified hypo that would be able to extract the nanoprobes from her blood. "You and Kris better be careful with what I'm about to give you."

"I already told Kris you wouldn't like it," Jhu said quietly. "I'll be careful, Andy. No one else even knows about this... just you, me, and Kris. No one else will until we actally have to use the torpedoes. Then Nathan will have to know."

Andy nodded, then leaned against a deactivated console and pressed the hypo to her arm, closing her eyes as she internally monitored the volume of nanoprobes in her system. She let the hypo draw as much that she could safely tolerate and still remain functional, which was quite a significant amount. Hopefully, they wouldn't need anymore. She rolled the hypo around in her hand for a moment, staring at the amberous fluid in the vial as if considering if she should even hand it over, but eventually she removed the vial and hesitantly placed it into Jhu's hand. What they were doing was incredibly illegal. If even a few of those nanoprobes ended up in the wrong hands... well, Andy didn't want to think about that. She just hoped she could trust Jhu and Kris with this.

"That should be enough for a good number of warheads, and it'll take a few hours to reprogram them. I don't exactly have the information on how to weaponize them, but it should't be that hard to get your hands on the research. And you might need Nathan's help to modify the torpedoes, I think..." She just hoped Jhu would understand that this wasn't easy for her. "I won't be able to give you anymore for a while, so be careful with them."

"This is the most precious resource in all the Quadrant," Jhu said quietly, securing the vial inside the zippered pocket of her uniform jacket. "We'll use them as sparingly as possible... I know they take time to regenerate, and I don't want to make you sick by taking too many."

And nodded, rubbing her arm where she'd used the hypospray. "Once this issue is resolved, make sure they're destroyed. After they're weaponized, I can't take them back, they're useless to me, but we can't just leave them lying around either."

"Absolutely. I don't want them in the wrong hands either."

Andy returned the hypospray to the replicator to be recycled. "Was there anything else you needed?" she asked.

Jhu shook her head. "No. Not right now anyway."

Andy's eyes fell on the pocket in Jhu's jacket where her nanoprobes were safely tucked away. She couldn't help but worry, both about the potential for facing Species 8472 and the potential for something to go terribly wrong as a result of her nanoprobes, but there was little she could do about it at this point. "Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help," she said in a somber tone.

"You know I will, Andy." Jhu smiled a little. She hoped they were ready to face what was coming.

Nathan woke up and was not immediately aware of where he was. He looked down at Jhu, who was asleep on his chest. Oh yeah... He carefully moved Jhu off him and crawled out of the bed. There was a scowl on his face.

Not quite awake yet, Jhu gravitated to his pillow, seeking the warmth she'd had a moment before. But residual body heat faded quickly, and she found herself both awake and more chilled than usual. She didn't quite realize why until she pushed the blanket back and remembered she was naked. Ah, yes... that would explain it.

Nathan pulled on his shorts and made his way to the replicator. He thumped it with his fist and said " Tea, Oolong, hot." Once the cup was there he took it out and took a sip.

"No coffee this morning?" That was odd. Jhu didn't remember Nathan ever drinking tea.

"Oh...yeah. It's a Buddhist thing." Nathan leaned on the wall and rubbed his left temple.

"Oh. Okay." He hadn't had tea yesterday, but Jhu wasn't going to push it. "Well, I only have one bathroom. So leave the door unlocked when you go in for a shower."

Shower, that's a good idea. "Yeah no problem." Nathan still had a scowl on his face as he stumbled into the bathroom.

Jhu watched him head into the bathroom, a puzzled expression on her face. She couldn't help wondering if she'd done something last night to upset him.

Nathan got into the shower and... OH MY GOD actual hot water fell over his head. He had not even bother to close the door, let alone lock it. "How did you get actual water pumped into your quarters?" He yelled over the sound of the water.

"I asked!" Wondering how he could have forgotten, Jhu scrambled off the bed and went into the bathroom, giving him a bewildered look. "Medical reasons, remember? The sonic showers make my ears ring, and the frequency tweaks don't work for me. I told you the first time you spent the night here."

Nathan turned and looked at her " Oh right...yeah heh. Long night."

Right... a long night. Jhu gave him a skeptical look. "Are you okay? Because you've been acting a little... odd this morning."

Nathan was still looking at her and he gave her a smile. " Yeah...just mornings right?"

"That's my point! You're usually annoying and cheerful all morning, and I want to kill you until I've had my coffee. This isn't like you at all."

Fuck... "Uhh, I guess I...I must not be feeling well this morning." There was a small amount of irritation in his voice. Why the hell was she bugging him so early? Everyone is groggy first thing in the morning.

Why was he so annoyed with her? He was normally so bubbly and cheerful when woke up, often to the point that she did threaten to kill him. And then he laughed and handed her a cup of coffee. Not thoroughly convinced by his answer, Jhu gave him a very concerned look. "Nathan, if something's wrong, I want you to tell me."

"And I will." he stated mater of factually. Sticking his head under the hot water. God he had a headache, and Jhu's nagging was not helping him any.

Elements, he was acting strange. Sensing significant irritation in his voice, Jhu retreated to the bedroom. Other days she'd followed him into the shower, but today that seemed like a terrible idea.

Nathan finished up with his shower and dried off. He stepped out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped around his waist. "All yours." he said to Jhu, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

"Thanks," Jhu said dully, going into the bathroom. She took her time setting the shower to her preferred temperature before climbing in. Something weird was going on, and she couldn't figure it out.

After getting dressed for the day Nathan popes his he'd into the bathroom. "You want something to eat?"

"Half a whole wheat onion bagel with sun-dried tomato cream cheese spread." Jhu paused, still a little concerned. She ate the same breakfast all the time, didn't he know that? "With a soft-boiled egg and coffee. Strong and sweet, no cream."

Nathan took mental note and went to the replicator and put in her order, but ordered a hard boiled egg on accident.

Still wondering just what was going on, Jhu finished her shower in brooding silence and toweled off. She wasn't normally a lolly-gagger, but she took her time hanging up her towel and getting dressed, tying her hair back as she joined him at the table. He already had breakfast ready, so she sat down, gingerly peeling her egg without saying anything.

Nathan was already done. He had not waited for her to get done. "I got to run, I have a shit ton of work to get to and I need to get an early start today." He stood from the table and cleared his plate to the replicator. He walked back over to her. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, fine." Setting the shell aside, Jhu went to crush the egg onto her bagel, surprised when it didn't yield. Hard boiled. Oh well. It wasn't worth arguing, so she sliced it and layered it over the cream cheese.

"Great!" Nathan said and leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "I'll see you tonight then?"

Jhu nodded. "Yeah. I have reports to send though, so I'll be late getting off work."

Nathan nodded and smiled at her, the most kind thing he had done all morning really. " Okay then, I'll see you then. I love you. Bye." And he turned on his heels and headed out the door as if everything was totally normal.

Ooooh, that stung more than his attitude earlier! How could he walk away like that after being so snippy all morning?! Suddenly too upset to actually eat her breakfast, Jhu got up and shoved it back into the replicator and recycling it before leaving her cabin to go to work.

Andy headed up to the security office to meet Nathan for what was quickly becoming their regular lunch meetings to go over reports and just chat. She had a few PaDDs for him to look at, nothing major, and no doubt he had some reports for her. Just the usual stuff. She pressed the chime on the office door and waited for him to let her in.

Nathan was looking over a PaDD on his desk when the door to his office chimed. “Come!” he yelled in a gruff tone. All the constant interruption were really wearing on him. How did other Security Chiefs deal with this crap?

Andy didn’t take notice of the tone. She entered the room and immediately made herself comfortable in one of the chairs across from him. “Hey, you ready for lunch?” she asked. But then she took note of the stressed demeanor. Uh oh. Something was up.

Nathan looked up at her. Lunch? His face was hard looking, not the normal smile he normally wore. “Uh, yeah...Lunch. Sure. But first; Carter, Commander Tegan wants up to get the shield harmonics recycle down to 60 second intervals.” He tossed a PaDD down on his desk in front of her.

“Shield harmonics, got it,” she said, looking over the PaDD. Tricky, but not an unreasonable request. then she handed him the PaDDs she had been carrying. “I’ve got a couple things for you too. Nothing major, just a few issues I came across during repairs. I just need you to make recommendations and sign off and I can get the work done,” she added, carefully taking note of everything that was just off about him today.

He took the PaDD’s with a heavy sigh. “Yeah ok, I can do that for you. How soon do you need them?”

“If you can’t get to it today, it’s no big deal,” Andy replied. “So, are we good for lunch? If you’re busy, I can go to the mess hall and bring something back for you,” she offered casually.

Nathan sighed again. He looked tired. “ Yeah, I need to eat something.”

“Alright,” she said, rising from her chair and tucking the PaDD on the Shield Harmonics into her jacket. “So...” she started as they headed for the door, “any reason for the formality?” she asked.

“I’m sorry?” He asked looking sideways at her. Got this headache was holding itself right at his left temple. He reached up and rubbed it.

“You called me Carter,” she commented, not sounding all that upset about. Everyone had their off days and she wasn’t going to hold it against him. “Even on duty, you usually call me Andy, or at best Chief.” She was getting worried about him, though. His heart was racing and his blood pressure was through the roof. Something was definitely off…

Nathan shook his head “Just a bad day…” He hoped this would get her off his back about it.

“If you say so…” she said. She’d leave him alone about it for a while, but she was definitely keeping an eye on him. “I wonder what they’re serving in the mess hall today,” she wondered aloud, hoping the change in topic would improve his mood.

Nathan didn’t respond to her questions. “Does the replicators here make painkillers or do I have to go to the doctor?”

“Uh, no, none of the replicators make painkillers except for the medical replicators in Sickbay,” Andy informed him. “But I know where the med kit is in the mess hall and there’s usually a basic painkiller in there.”

“This headache will not stop” Nathan said squeezing his eyes together. “ Would you?”

Andy stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder. She was really worried now. “How long have you had this headache?” she asked, looking into his eyes once he opened them.

“Just since this morning” He replied “ I was hoping that some tea this morning would help but I have felt like crap all day.”

She studied his eyes for a moment to make sure they were focusing properly and tracking movement. During her initial recovery after her assimilation, she quickly became familiar with a number of self testing methods for keeping track of her various function, one of which was testing motor and cognitive functions and coordination. not that it was helping much here, but his eyes were tracking well which was a good sign.

“C’mon then, lets get you something to eat and I’ll find that painkiller for you,” she said sympathetically as they started walking again.

He stood there and stared into her eyes for the moment that she was looking, but the grim look on his face never left. He looked wiped out and stressed. “Thank you.” He said as they started walking again.

Andy decided to leave out the small talk since he wasn’t very talkative right now, but they quickly made it to the mess hall. “Go get your lunch and find us a table, I’ll go get the med kit,” she said, then left him alone for a minute.

He went to the replicator and simple ordered a glass of tea and found a seat. He leaned his elbows on the table and placed his chin in his hands, breathing in the hot steam from the tea.

Another anomaly Andy noticed once she returned to him. Nathan never drank tea… “Not in the mood for coffee today?” she asked as she fished a hypo out of the medkit. not in the mood for food either apparently. She loaded a vial and set a mild dose, pressing the hypo to his neck and releasing the medicine with a hiss. “There, that any better?”

The second the medicine was in his neck, the pain subsided. He looked down at this tea then back at Andy. “ Its a Buddhist thing.”

“Oh yeah?” she asked. “Will you tell me about it when I come back?” she asked as she put the hypo back in the medkit and closed it.

“Uh...it’s personal. Not something I talk a lot about.” Yeah...thats it

Andy shrugged. “I just meant Buddhism in general, not this thing if it’s personal,” she commented. There were a lot of things she didn’t like to talk about either, but she had shared some of it with Nathan. Somehow, she had hoped that would be enough for him to… reciprocate. But she wouldn’t force him to talk about something he clearly wasn’t ready to talk about. “Be right back, I’m gonna grab my lunch.”

He watched her walk away, maybe a little too closely. He picked up his cup and took a sip, watching her over the rim.

Andy put the med kit away and hopped in line for the mess hall special, which was apparently some sort of goulash, but it smelled great. A quick trip to the replicator for a cup of coffee and she returned to their table. “Sorry,” she said as she settled into her seat and noticed that he was still without food. “I shoulda asked if you wanted some while I was up, I woulda got a plate for you,” she said apologetically, but it really had slipped her mind. “I can go get you some if you want?”

"I'm fine thank you. I had a big breakfast with Jhu this morning." Nathan said, his cup still in his hands.

Andy nodded, then started working on her lunch. “So… Buddhism?” she asked around a mouthful of goulash.

Nathans face broke out into the first genuine smile she had seen from him today. "You should not talk with your mouth full, no matter how cute you are while doing it."

Andy smiled, taking a moment to swallow and clear her mouth. “I knew I’d get you to smile eventually,” she said with a chuckle. “C’mon, talk to me. What’s up? You know you can tell me anything… At the very least, tell me about Buddhism. I’m only vaguely aware of the concept.”

"It's a life philosophy. A way to live your life at peace with the universe around you." Nathan took another sip of his tea.

“Well that sounds awfully boring,” she commented, then took another bite of her lunch. “Any particular reason you’re not feeling so peaceful now?” she asked.

Because people keep fucking bothering me? He thought. "Even Buddhist have bad days Car...err Andy" And boy was Nathan having a bad one.

“Are you dying?” she asked rather bluntly.

Nathan leaned back in his chair and set his cup down. Aww moments like this make it all worthwhile "Yes..."

“I’m not talking about the philosophical ‘We’re all slowly dying’ bullshit,” Andy added, narrowing her eyes at him, not believing the answer was quite that simple.

He chuckled " Ok fair enough." Not the reaction he was hoping for. "No, I don't think I'm dying" Nathan stated.

“Then what’s up with you?” she asked seriously. “I’ve seen stress, Nathan, this is beyond stress. You look like hell… You look like you’ve seen hell…” Andy sighed. “I can’t make you talk. I mean, I know better than anyone that sometimes there’s things you just don’t wanna talk about, but… Is there something I should be worried about?”

Nathan nodded " Fuck yeah there is, Section 31 is after you now. I would be very worried about that."

“You think I’m not worried?” Andy retorted. “You bet I’m worried, but I’m doing something about it. But here I am more worried about you and I can’t do shit about it because you won’t tell me what’s wrong!”

"There is nothing to tell you Andy." He shrugged and picked up his cup again. "We all have off days."

“This is not just an off day, Nathan, your blood pressure and heart rate are through the roof,” Andy declared, not caring if she was making a scene. “And in the hall, you looked… fuck, you looked dead to the world.” She was about ready to walk away from him and let him figure this out by himself, but she was also worried he would keel over any minute with the way his vitals were.Andys

"What do I need to do to reassure you?" He asked. He needed to get out of this situation right now.

“Just talk to me,” Andy said. “Is there something going on between you and Jhu?”

"No, we are great!" But he didn't add any more about that. "If it's just my heart rate that's bothering you I'll take it easy the rest of the day." Nathans headache was returning.

“No, we’re going to sickbay,” Andy said. “You are not fine, Nathan. I don’t know what you’re hiding and frankly I’m getting to the point that I don’t care anymore, but you’re still my friend and Jhu would kick my ass if I let anything happen to you. I can see it in your eyes, your headache is coming back and that ain’t right. Hell, you ain’t right.”

Ok, cute and a pain in the ass "Chief... The only place I'm going is back to work." Nathan stood and looked back at her. "I'm sure the next time you see me I'll be just fine."

“I’m sure… Lieutenant,” she said coldly. This wasn’t right, he wasn’t right… She didn’t know what to do, but she had to do something! “Are you watching me tonight or is Vara gonna have to pull another all-nighter?” she asked. “I’m sorry, sir, Ensign Cho’ren,” she corrected herself with more than a hint of attitude.

"I will be there..."he said just as cold as she was being.

This was wrong. This was very, very wrong. “You know what, no. I’ll take my chances alone,” she said. She picked up her lunch tray. “Enjoy your tea, sir.”

Nathan leaned on the table. "You do not have the authority to make that call." Then he turned his back on her and walked out.

Andy watched him walk away, more worried than ever that something was most definitely wrong with Nathan. As angry as she was at him now, if made her all the more determined to find out what exactly was going on...

Sabrina sat on the ground with her toolkit spread out around her. She had a large panel cover off, and was poking around inside. The ODN, EPS, and two minor systems ran through this section. It was the largest repair Sabrina had attempted unsupervised, and she was determined to get it right. She cataloged three different areas of damage, and made a list of things she would need. Her toolkit wasn't ready for this detailed of a repair, she would need parts.

Once she had the list of what she needed, she closed off the panel, and headed to the quartermaster's office. "Excuse me Ensign Colletare." She came up beside him, and made herself known.

Ethan was sitting in his office, a supply manifest on his console screen. The most recent supply shuttle had just arrived, and he had to make sure that the shuttle had what the ship needed. He looked up from the screen as a young lady in a yellow uniform entered the room. She's a nice looking lass, Ethan thought to himself. "What do you need?" Ethan asked.

"Hello sir." Sabrina said politely. "I have a repair requisition." She pulled out a PaDD. "I need several parts to complete it. I was hoping you could help me."

"Okay, first I'm going to have to fill out an official requisition form. What is your name, rank, age, and position?" Ethan sighed. He hated paperwork like this, but it was a necessary evil. Keeping track of equipment was important, and could be a matter of life or death in certain situations.

"Petty Officer Third Class, Sabrina Corbin. I'm eighteen and I'm a repair specialist." She gave him a look. He seemed put out because she was asking him to do his job, it was a little annoying. But he was an officer, and she was enlisted. "Sir." She added.

Ethan typed in the information, pretending that he didn't see Sabrina's look. "Okay, then. What equipment do you need?" Ethan pulled up the equipment room manifest onto his computer screen. He was positive that the manifest was accurate, he had to take inventory earlier that morning!

Sabrina tapped a few keys on her PaDD and sent the list to him. "Oh, and I need a new plasma flow inverter." She reached into her tool bag and pulled out the spent piece of equipment. She'd put it through a lot of use since she'd been on board.

Ethan pulled up Sabrina's list on his screen, and cross referenced it with his manifest. He nodded in approval. "Everything on the list, I have." He glanced over at the tool in Sabrina's hand, and he tried recalling its name. No luck, Ethan hadn't seen one of those since his first year of Academy, in his applied engineering class. Looking over at Sabrina, he asked "What's that thingy in your hand again, Petty Officer?"

"That's good." She smiled, glad he had everything. She didn't want to delay the repair any longer than she had to. "Class two plasma flow inverter." She told him.

Ethan examined the manifest listing. "All right, we have one in stock." Ethan stood up from his chair, and snagged a PADD from his desk drawer. "So, let's go find your tools."

"Thank you." Sabrina grinned, she hadn't gotten to see where all the tools were stored. You couldn't just replicate everything you needed after all.

Ethan walked over to the door, opened it, and motioned for Sabrina to follow him. As they stepped out into the hallway, Ethan asked "So, what do you need those tools for?"

"Oh, I'm fixing an access panel that was damaged. I need to remove the outer casing then reroute the flow around the area so I can replace the ODN module." Sabrina explained. "It's going to take awhile, but it should be fun."

"Oh, that's nice. I bet you travel around the ship a lot. I rarely leave my office during work hours, with all of the forms and reports and manifests I have to fill out."

"Yes, I know her like the back of my hand by now. Actually better, I don't spend a lot of time staring at the back of my hand." Sabrina giggled. "I bet the paperwork gets boring."

Ethan chuckled along with her. "Oh, it gets boring, all right. Imagine staring at a screen for eight hours, filling out forms and approving or denying requests." They reached the turbolift and stepped inside. "Deck 1," he said to the computer. "You have any hobbies, besides fixing the ship?"

"Not really. That and study. Sometimes I get time to go to the holodeck and do some surfing, but it's not the same as the real thing."

"Oh, that's nice. Did you live near the coast, before you enlisted?" The turbolift doors opened, and Sabrina an Ethan walked out into the hallway.

"Yes. I lived practically on the beach. I was swimming before I could walk it seems." She smiled. "Where are you from?" She asked.

"Providence, Rhode Island, the largest city in the smallest state. And you?"

"Coronado California, coast of southern California. I've never been back east. I hear it snows there, but I think that's a rumor." She smirked.

"Oh, it snows up there, you can be sure. It's a lot of fun, until you have to start shoveling it."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound fun. I'm not sure I could have fun while getting hypothermia." She joked. "I've never seen snow. Well in person, you know what I mean."

Ethan raised his eyebrows. "You haven't? Oh, playing in the snow is a wonderful experience!" He cleared his throat. "How about, tomorrow night, I'll take you down to the holo deck, and show you what snow is all about?" Ethan looked at Sabrina hopefully. Ethan had tons of fine childhood memories of snow, and was really excited to share them with someone else.

"Sure, that sounds fun. But what do I wear?" Sabrina had to asked. She was prepared for beach volleyball and surfing. She had no snow attire. She was sure the replicator could handle it, but she needed to know what to ask for.

Ethan scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Two layers of pants, a long sleeved shirt, a heavy coat, and a hat. It seems like a lot, but you'll thank me once you've experienced the cold." The two walked over to a door on the right side of the hallway, which Ethan opened and waited outside of. "After you," he said with a smile.

Sabrina jotted his instructions down on a PaDD, "Alright, I've got it." She told him, then stepped inside. She looked around, never having been in this storage area before. "Is that a titanium polarizer." Sabrina looked at the item like a kid in a candy store.

Ethan walked into the room, and glanced over at the tool. "Oh, yeah. But there's so much more!" Ethan motioned around the room. "Look at all you want, but take only what's on your list." He smiled good-naturedly. "Not that you'd steal anything, of course."

Sabrina chuckled. "Yeah I don't think ending my career over a a pair of deuterium crystal aligners would be a wise move." She did ogle them however, as well as several other tools, but when she ran into a tool she actually needed, she picked it up, showed Ethan, and checked it off her list.

Ethan reached over onto a shelf, and snatched a tool from the shelf. Showing it to Sabrina, he said "You needed a plasma flow inverter, right?"

"Right. Thank You." She smiled, taking the tool. By the time she was done, her satchel was full, and getting heavy. "Ok, that's everything. Thank you for your help."

Ethan gave her a low, joking bow. "I'm just doing my job." Straightening his uniform, he nodded his head to her and said "I'll see you tomorrow, Sabrina."

"Oh, what time?" Sabrina asked. She needed to make sure she didn't get distracted with extra work or studying if she wanted Ethan to show her snow.

"6:30, if you're not busy then." Ethan's shift ended at five, so he would have more than ample time to prepare.

"That will work." Sabrina headed out of the supply room, eager to get her heavy satchel unloaded and get to work. "I'll see you tomorrow." She smiled at Ethan, and headed down the corridor.


PO3 Sabrina Corbin
Repair Specialist

Ensign Ethan Colletare
Quartermaster

After her "meeting" with Commander Tegan, Bridget decided to meet the civilian he had assigned to her. So she went to find Shira. She wasn't really sure exactly what she was going to do with her but, given what Cameron had said about her green thumb capabilities, she figured something botanical or biological in nature. Walking into the Hydroponics bay she was more than a little surprised by the being she was met with. She wasn't quite sure what she expected but Shira definitely surpassed any expectations. "Hi, Shira?" she said questioningly. "I'm Bridget O'Connor. Commander Tegan asked that I work with you."

Nestled among the lush greenery of the bay was the little Arboreal girl swinging idly in a hammock, still somewhat recovering from her recent mushroom hallucination trip, the natural humidity and higher temperature of the bay creating a better environment for her recovery than the cool, dry air of her quarters. She looked up at Bridget drowsily, sitting up in her hammock with a languid stretch. "Tegan?" she said curiously, then remembered how Maica had explained that some people had family names and titles. "Yes, Cameron said you were to teach me," Shira affirmed as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her fragile wings vibrating slightly as that heavy, drowsy feeling left her.

"Umm...yes," said Bridget. That wasn't exactly the term Cameron had used but she supposed it was close enough. "He told me that you are good with plants and are interested in science. Is that right?" Bridget asked.

"Yes," Shira replied. With a flutter of her wings, she rose out of the hammock and moved to hover in front of Bridget, neatly straightening out her dress. "I have been tending to hydroponics and the arboretum since the crew rescued me, but I want to study the stars," she articulated carefully. Her vocabulary and proficiency at speech was improving everyday, but it was still clear that it was not natural for her. There was a sash tied around her waist that she began to untie. She removed the delicate, airy material to show Bridget. "On my world, I watched the stars," she explained as she revealed that the beads decorating the fabric was actually a star map, tracing stellar patterns with her long fingers. "Jhu started to teach me some about... astrometrics, but I have much more to learn."

Bridget bent down to get a better look at the sash Shira was showing her. She traced her fingers over the stellar patterns. "This is quite beautiful," she said softly. "I'm not an expert in astrometrics," she began, "but I can definitely have you continue to work with Jhu if this is what interests you." This tiny girl both fascinated and impressed Bridget.

"Maica's wife has started to teach me about some things, too," Shira said, not really understanding that Maica calling Andy her wife was just a joke. "She said I will be an apprentice and wear a uniform, and I will have to learn many things from her and from you, and one day I may even be a Petty Officer like Sabby!" She seemed very excited by all this, especially the idea of having something in common with her roommate.

Bridget couldn't help but smile. Shira was just so enthusiastic. Although, she was a little confused as to who Maica's wife was; she hadn't realized Maica was married but she decided to figure that puzzle out later. "We can certainly try for that," smile Bridget. Shira's energy was infectious. "What does Maica's wife teach you?"

"Andy teaches me how to read time so that I know when it is time to work! And stuff called 'protocol'? Oh, and 'rules of conduct', but a lot of that I don't understand yet," Shira admitted sheepishly. Many of those rules were based on social customs that she didn't quite grasp yet, thus her lacking understanding, but she was trying hard. "Ohh... I am supposed to use proper names and ranks... I am sorry-" she paused to look at Bridget's rank, "Lieutenant!" she enunciated carefully, excited that she said it correctly the first time. "I am sorry if I did not show proper respect, ma'am."

Bridget grinned. "I am very impressed you said it correctly the first time," said Bridget. She had noticed Shira seemed to be concentrating very carefully on her rand and was indeed impressed. "You can call me Bridget when we are just talking," she said. "There isn't any need to be formal right now. It seems Andy has been doing a good job of teaching you." That Andy was teaching Shira explained the mystery of who Maica's "wife" was.

Shira smiled. "Thank you. I have been trying hard to be a good student. I want to be useful," she declared proudly.

"I see that," said Bridget. "Unless there is something more you want to do, I think you can continue to work with Jhu on astrometrics and Andy on protocol for now. If you continue to work with Jhu you can specialize. Which means, if you do end up joining Starfleet, you would work in the science department and could work mostly with astrometrics," explained Bridget. "Of course, you can always change your mind if you want to."

Shira nodded. "I like stars," she reaffirmed. She had left her world to see them, why would she change her mind?

"Do you have anything you want to ask me about all of this?" asked Bridget.

Shira looked adorably thoughtful as she gave the matter a great deal of consideration. "Yes! When can I start a duty shift?" she asked.

Bridget chuckled," let's get you up to speed on protocol and code of conduct first and then we can worry about that."

"Yes ma'am," Shira said brightly, ready and willing to do whatever it took.

Bridget O'Connor
Chief Science Officer
USS Katana

Shira
Botonist
USS Katana

Nathan woke up, but it must have been night still because the room was still dark. Images of the evening before he fell asleep floated through his mind. He smiled and rolled over reaching for Jhu, but all that awaited him was a hard cold wall that he jammed his fingers on.
“Son of a Bitch!” Nathan exclaimed and sat up. Now more awake he realized that there was a strange blue light in the room. Turning to face the light, realization hit him.
“Good morning Mr. Tonkin.” A strange voice said.

Kyle awoke to an empty bed. A bed that had been empty, with the lone exception of Will Morgan for one night, for the better part of two weeks now. Being with Will had been a nice distraction, but they both knew it as a no strings attached kind of thing. Kyle thought he had gotten used to waking up alone, but he was wrong. It was just after 4 AM. He' woken up and now his mind was running and he knew he'd wasn't going to be getting any more sleep. So he grabbed some workout gear, navy shorts, white t-shirt and a pair of cross trainers and he headed to the gym, to get a workout.

Ryan suffered from bouts of insomnia quite frequently. Last night he'd managed 4 hours of sleep before he awoke, and his mind simply refused to go back to sleep. So he headed to the gym earlier than normal. He was doing push ups when he heard the doors open, and looked over to see who else had decided that 4am was an appropriate work out time.


Kyle shook his head slightly as he saw the other officer. "Another masochist, I see," he said dryly, "here I thought I'd be the only one."

Ryan chuckled, standing up to greet the man. "Ryan Rose." He introduced himself. "It's nice to meet you. I wouldn't quite say masochist though." He grinned.

"Kyle Weaver," he responded, extending his hand, "so what would you call being up at zero dark thirty and in the gym to top it off?"

Ryan shook the man's hand then replied. "Dedication to physical fitness sounds so much better than masochist, don't you think?"

"That does have a nicer ring to it. I'm usually up early, just not this early. But I'm still not used to being... Never mind, I just woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. What's your excuse?"

"The same. I managed to get about three hours before waking up. Sometimes it's not worth it to try and get back to sleep, a good work out and a long days work, and hopefully better luck tonight, that's my theory anyway."

"Well, I hope it works out for you. Nice form on the pushups. You lift weights too?"

"Thanks. Yes I lift too, but more to tone than to bulk." Ryan was bulked enough, and had learned years ago than any bulkier made surgery more difficult, he started to loose dexterity and flexibility to muscle mass. "Yourself?"

"Mostly isometrics, cardio, swimming when I get a chance and some gymnastics. You do look like you keep yourself in shape. So, you're a doctor, a surgeon. I was married to a doctor once."

"I am." Ryan smiled. He knew the crew of the Katana by now, at least by their medical record. "And you're the assistant chief for Intel if I remember correctly. I imagine being married in Starfleet is a challenge." Ryan didn't ask specifically, he didn't want to pry, but he left it open ended enough (he hoped) that Kyle would feel free to talk if he wanted to.

'That's right, I am the assistant Intel Chief. And you're right, I guess.Being married is a little too difficult," Kyle admitted, "since he left me. I think I've passed the fall on my sword woe is me stage. But sometimes, like today I wake up and think he should still be there and he's not. Then I can't turn my mind off. But I'm sure you don't want to hear my life's story. Sounds like you're single."

"I don't mind. Sometimes it helps to talk and not have the other person taking notes or asking you about your mother." Ryan joked. "I'm not married, but ummmm, it's complicated." To say the least Ryan thought.

"Well my story is fairly simple I guess. We met when we were 14. I was crying or close to it because some assholes were making fun of me because I had, well have two fathers. We became friends, boyfriends, you get the picture. He was my first and only guy I'd even been with. We got married two years ago, but really except when he was finishing up med school and I was on assignment, we were together for like half our lives.

"Complicated you say? That sound interesting. I've told you my story now it's time to hear yours."

"Well, on my first posting right out of med school, I made friends with this guy when we became accidental room mates for a bit. He kissed me, I panicked, we patched things up as friends. Then we ended up taking a short sabbatical together while we waited on a new assignment. Things got heated, but then got left up in the air when I got sent to Teplan. He ended up there as well, and now he's stationed here. I'm attracted to him, but he's the only male I've ever been attracted to. Blonds and curves has always been my thing, still is purely aesthetically. So, it's complicated."

"Ah, it does sound complicated. I mean, personally, I've never been attracted to women. I'm more of a brunette and angles kind of guy. But it seems like fate keeps tossing you together. Who is he and how serious is it now?"

"Ensign Callaghan." Ryan didn't know how he had ended up discussing this with a near perfect stranger, but it was nice to talk. "And how serious. I don't know. We haven't really labeled anything. I think he's waiting for a blonde and a rack to turn my head."

"Well I am blond," Kyle joked, "but no one has every accused me of having a rack. Seriously I wouldn't want to come between you and the Ensign, but if you were honest with yourself do you think your head could be turned by a woman?"

Ryan chuckled, knowing the man was joking. "Well yeah of course. Just physically speaking. I've always considered myself heterosexual. I thought maybe it was a bi-sexual thing at first, but I've never looked at another man. It's just a Caddy thing." Ryan smiled, thinking of the ginger curls on the man's head. "I think complicated is putting it lightly." Ryan smiled. "So are you looking yet? Did he pass away?" Ryan finally asked, hoping he wasn't poking a sore spot, but the conversation was going well and it was nice to talk.

"Well you could be bi-romantic,there is such an orientatio, but as to your question, no I'm not really looking. And he didn't die, though it kind of seems that way at times. He divorced me and left the ship. Kind of hush,hush middle of the night thing. Left me a Dear Kyle letter. Didn't even have the balls to tell me to my face."

"Ouch. I'm sorry. That's pretty harsh. No wonder you are here at four o clock in the morning. You want to go for a run? That usually helps me feel better."

"I tell you what, I'll go on a run with you, if you go swimming with me after. Deal?"

"Ummm." Ryan ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how to swim. I'm kinda hydrophobic actually."

Kyle cocked his head slightly. "Well then maybe we should just avoid the water. I mean normally, I could teach you to swim, but not if you fear the water. Is there a story behind that, or is it any of by business?"

Ryan gave Kyle a small smile, thankful that the man hadn't made a big issue of it. "No it's ok. I was just tossed in as a kid and almost drowned. Anyway, ready for that run?"

"Sure thing, just give me a minute to stretch my hammys."

Ryan nodded, and starter stretching his quads while he waited. "Even five years ago I could just hop out of bed and run. Now if I don't stretch my body lets me know about it."

Kyle resisted the urge to tell him he had a nice looking body. Instead he said, "That's because you're getting old. But then again so am I?"

"Oh well, it's nice to know the ripe old age of twenty-seven is considered old." Ryan chuckled. Now that he was stretched, Ryan looked to Kyle to see if he was ready.

"Twenty-seven?" Kyle asked,"well I better keep my big mouth shut. We're the same age."

"Ha, that'll teach you." Ryan teased, then took off jogging.

Kyle took off right behind him. "So, are we jogging or racing?" he asked.

Ryan grinned. "Just jogging, I'll leave the competitive stuff to you Security and Intel folks. I end up with more work from accidents with you guys than anything else."

"Sorry, just how I'm wired. But hey jogging works for me. How do you like your new boss, Dr. Cohen?"

"He's nice enough, professional. Can't really ask for more than that. How about in Intel?"

"My boss, well she is different I guess. She and Kr,,, the captain didn't get along at first, they're still not at the top of each others Christmas list. I thought there was some sexual tension, but I think he's more interested in your boss than mine."

Ryan chuckled. "I haven't actually met him or your boss yet. Seems like there is quite a lively assortment here though, that's good."

"Yeah, you can't tell the players without a program as the old saying goes."

Dr Ryan Rose
Surgeon


Kyle Weaver]
Asst. Chief Intel

Nathan had been told about a "Public Gym" time that was held. He thought what a great idea that was. Every day holodeck 1 was reserved from early morning to mid evening for a gym space for the staff. Nathan made his way down the hall to the holodeck. He was shocked to find himself the only one in here today. The sapce was large and have several customizable rooms for structured activities like martial arts, spinning, kick boxing, ect. Today Nathan opted for the weights.

Nathan was dressed in typical gym attire, a light blue tank top and grey shorts.

He had been at it for about 20 minutes when he moved over to the bench press. He set up his weight and laid down on the bench and readied himself.

Haley entered the gym, dressed in a blue sports bra and black shorts. She usually enjoyed coming at this hour because many people aboard the ship were still sleeping, or busy working. She was surprised to see someone already working out. Her body still felt sore from her encounter with Gul Duset. Walking over, she saw that it was the new Security Chief that she had met before leaving for the Raeu Mission. "Well, hello there," she said, stepping over him at the bench.

Nathan sat up on the bench and smiled "Hi Lieutenant Collins. Hows it going?"

"Are you always so formal?" she asked with a grin as she set grabbed a nearby jump rope and began her warm-up routine.

Nathan chuckled " I have found threw out the time in Starfleet that it is better to be formal and find out that the person your talking to is ok with informality then the other way around...Hayley."

"Better. I've never been a big fan of formality," she stated as she got into her rhythm with the jump rope. "So, Nathan, tell me about yourself. What made you be a Security goon?"

Nathan layed back down and took up the weight bar, doing his set while talking. " Goon huh? Its in my blood. My father was security and Im just following in his foot steps. Not to mention Im really good at it. As far as 'about my self' goes..." Nathan finished the first set and set up with a sigh, looking back to Hayley. He watched her jump for a moment the said " How do you even answer that question? I'm a Scorpio and like long walks on the beach?" Nathan chuckled. "What do you want to know? Ask me anything."

"My parents were Security. Always so obsessed with discipline and protocol. Ask you anything, huh? A dangerous question if there ever was one," she replied with sly grin. "So, you're at least a 2nd generation security goon, a Scorpio, and you like long walks on the beach. Ever been married?" She set the rope down and moved over to the dumbbells, beginning to do curls.

Nathan smiled at Hayley, finding something in common with her "A fellow brat! It was just my father in my house but he was very strict. I hated it as a kid but it made me the man I am today. I'm not really a Scorpio by the way."

Nathan chuckled "Sometime I feel like I just got married to Katana, but no. Never been married. I'm a man of my word and that one hell of a commitment. Not that I'm against it, just have not found the right woman yet." Nathan laid back on the bench and stared pumping out his second set.

"Ah, so you're a player, and a liar. You're a bad boy, Mr. Nathan," Hayley replied, setting her weights back onto the rack, grabbing heavier weights and beginning to do one-arm rows.

Nathan set his bench bar back on the rack and sat up again breathing hard. "Sometimes I'm good but when I'm bad I'm even better" Nathan said with a smirk.

Haley finished her set, sitting down on her bench. "And overconfident....I believe I'm beginning to like you."

Nathan chuckled "Overconfident, that is never been a word to describe me. Thought I will admit, my friend here on Katana have done wonders in helping me build my confidence. So what else do you want to know?"

"Your friend?" Hayley asked.

Nathan nodded " Yeah, Maica. She has been a great friend to me since I came on Katana. Shes helped me with some...issues I was having."

"Ah, the shrink. I hear she's an expert on helping men...and women as well."

Nathan laughed "The shrink? I'm not exactly sure she would like being called that. But she has been very helpful. Though it sounds like you might be implying something...if you think I would do anything to piss off Andrea Carter, like doing something with her wife you are out of you frigging mind!"

"I've often been accused of that," Hayley smirked, before grabbing another set of weights, going back to curls. "So it's a threesome then?" she raised an eyebrow with a smirk.

"HA!" Nathan blurted out and his face blushed a little. " I'm not sure I would know what to do with the two of them."

"Ah, too wild for you?" Hayley grinned but focused on doing her curls. It was obvious the counselor had helped him with something to do with a woman and guessing Nathan was the typical male, she deduced he had a crush on someone. "So who's the lucky girl then?"

"Ahh..." He laid back down to do another set, but it was really to hid the blush to his face. God I hate how easy my face gets red " Its Lieutenant Commander Jhu t'Dharvanek." He said.

"The spook?" Hayley turned back to look at Nathan. She did feel a bit of jealousy coming on. "So what do you see in her?"

Nathan set the bar back on the rack a little hard, rattling the weights he was pressing. He sat up and looked Hayley in the eyes "Spook? Really?" He took a breath, then said " I wounder how shes going to feel about you calling her that."

But he calmed quickly, a result of his years of training and meditation. " Shes intriguing, very mysterious. When we are alone together she is sweet and caring. Shes a bit awkward like me but in a different way then I. We seem to fit together very well and I have not enjoyed a woman's company like I do hers in almost a decade. When I see her walking down the hall I find it hard to breath, but I find I like the feeling. Her smell is intoxicating and she has the most amazing eyes I have ever looked into. When she lays next to me, the way her body curls around mine...it's almost like we were made to be like that..." Nathan trailed off a, a dreamy look in his eyes.

"Alright, lover boy. You're going to make me sick," she smiled. "Sounds like you're heads over heels for her."

Nathan shrugged, but could not stop the grin from spreading over his face. " Its been a really long time..."

Hayley set the weights back down. "I know the feeling. Well, I'm happy for you," she forced a smile.

Nathan gave her a knowing smile " Yeah I know, I'm one of the few straight men on this boat."

Hayley laughed out loud this time. "You sure about that?"

Nathan chuckled and shook his head. "Oh yeah, positive."

"So, by the way, what's the story with all of the ink?" Hayley questioned.

Nathan looked at his arms. "I'm a Buddhist. " He stated. "And I like getting tattoos." He looked back up at her. "You got any?"

"An mar this beautiful skin? Ha!" Haley joked.

Nathan shrugged and chuckled at the same time. "Your body's a temple. My temple has different wall paper."

"Yeah, and in need of a good cleaning," she chuckled.

Nathan acted insulted but was chuckling the while time "Now what's that suposta mean?"

"You stink," she commented simply with a smile.

"And I need to get to work soon too." Nathan grabbed his towel and water bottle off the floor near where he was sitting and stood, stretching his left shoulder.

"Same here," she sighed, grabbing her towel, exiting the gym.

Jhu had been thinking about Nathan's weird behavior all day, and when her shift ended she found herself not wanting to go home, where he would easily find her. Of course, going to see Andy was predictable too, but at least there she'd know if she was imagining all this or not! Andy would tell her the truth, like she always did. Hoping she really was just being silly, she rang the doorbell and hoped Andy was home.

There was a hesitation before the door swished open, Andy standing in the doorway looking around the hallway. "Is Nathan with you?" she asked in a hushed tone.

"No. He doesn't know I'm here." Jhu paused, looking at her curiously. "Why?"

"He freaked me the fuck out today," Andy said as she waved Jhu inside. And it took a lot to freak Andy out, so that was really saying something.

"Elements bless, it's not just me!" Looking over her shoulder, Jhu stepped inside. "You first. What'd he do?"

"Ok, lately we've been having lunch," Andy said as she got a cup of coffee from the replicator. "We just get together to go over reports where there's overlap in our departments. Nothing major, but there's definitely a routine forming. Anyway, it was like he didn't even know what was going on. And he called me 'Carter'. Even the day we met, he never called me that. And he was drinking tea. Since when does he drink tea?" Andy took herself to the couch and flopped down on it, kicking her feet up on the coffee table. "I'm really worried about him, Jhu. He was evasive the entire time, his blood pressure and heart rate were through the roof, he had a headache even though I gave him a pain killer... And when I tried to get him to go to Sickbay, he pulled rank on me!"

"Nathan pulled rank?! He calls me 'Jhu' on duty, and I outrank him!" Jhu shook her head, flopping onto Andy's couch. "He was so weird this morning. He woke up mean... and he's not like that. He's normally chipper and bright and annoying. But this morning? Grumpy. Snippy. Rude. Then he asked me about my shower again. Didn't remember what I eat for breakfast... and screwed it up when I told him."

"Weird..." Andy commented as she sipped on her coffee thinking it over. "Maybe we should, I dunno, have an intervention or something?" she asked. "I mean, I thought he would talk to me if something was wrong. Don't get me wrong, I know you're his girlfriend and he should be talking to you too, but I shared things with him that I just don't share... And I thought that meant something!"

"How do you think I feel? He totally blew me off this morning. I don't even know what I did!"

"Shit," Andy said with a sympathetic gaze. She wanted to asked about how the sex was since she hadn't noticed signs of sex on Nathan, but just because they hadn't had sex didn't really mean anything. After all, she and Maica didn't have sex every day. Although... Wait... "Jhu, I... did you and Nathan have sex last night?" she asked. She had already revealed the other day that she could smell semen, even after showering. Jhu smelled of sex, but Nathan didn't...

"What does that have to do with this?" Jhu rubbed her eyes, trying to hide how upset she was. "Yeah. We had sex. Why?"

"When I had lunch with Nathan... he didn't smell... of sex... like you do..." This was just getting too weird....

"Stop sniffing me. It's weird. And that doesn't make sense... I most definitely had sex with him."

"I'm not sniffing you! It's just..." Fuck, Andy didn't know if she could explain it to Jhu's satisfaction. She took in a lot of data at once, constantly. Smells were merely a small fraction of the data she was able to process in all that and most of the data collected was discarded as useless. But not now. this was definitely useful. "I don't know how, but Jhu... you had sex last night, but Nathan didn't." This was beyond bizarre...

"Can't have had sex with anyone else. They're all gay." Jhu sighed a little. None of what Andy was saying made sense. Of course she'd had sex with Nathan! She was only dating one man. "Worst part is how cold he is today..."

Well, Jhu had a point, not like there were many choices left in their ragtag bunch. "Something is wrong here, Jhu. I don't know what's going on, but... I'm gonna help you find out. Ain't many people I call friend and you and Nathan are part of a very short list... We'll figure this out." Because that's what friends do...

"Believe me, I know something's not right. And I would appreciate your help because this is weird."

Andy knew Jhu was upset and she wanted to do something to comfort Jhu, but she really wasn't a cuddly sort of person. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and awkwardly gave Jhu a pat on the back.

"What are you doing?" Jhu asked.

"Comforting you. Is it working?" Andy asked uneasily.

"Ummmm... sort of. Totally not you though." Jhu managed a small laugh. "Do it your way and raid Maica's stash."

"Can do!" Andy hopped up off the couch and started to browse through Maica's rather impressive stash of fine liquors. "Any requests?"

"I don't know. Something that'll make me feel better."

"Whoo, then you are asking for the wrong tonic," Andy said with a chuckle as she picked a bottle and gave it an experiment whiff. Yeah, that'll do nicely... "Booze is supposed to numb to all the things you don't wanna feel," Andy said. popping by the replicator to grab a couple of glasses.

"It'll work then. Not feeling this is better than trying to deal with it right now."

Andy handed Jhu a glass, then plopped herself back onto the couch. "I shouldn't be drinking," she said as she unstoppered the bottle and poured some into Jhu's glass. "My brain chemistry is still all over the place after what happened in my alcove but... good friends don't let friends drink alone." She poured a glass for herself then reclined back on the couch.

"I shouldn't be either, but I don't care." Jhu took a sip from the glass, pondering whether she should try having dinner with Nathan or just scrap the idea entirely.

"Hey," Andy said, looking over at Jhu, "we'll figure this out," she promised the other woman.

"I know. It's just... this is really fucked up, Andy. I finally found a man on this rainbow boat who isn't gay, and the whole Elements damned universe goes pear shaped. It's not fair."

"Life ain't fair, Jhu," Andy said softly. It may not have been what Jhu wanted to hear, but it was what she needed to hear. "Sometimes, things just work out this way. But what defines us ain't what kind of shit gets dumped in out lap, it's what we do about it that matters. If there's something wrong with Nathan, something we can fix... then we'll find a way to fix him, because he's worth the effort."

"Right now I intend to handle it by getting drunk. And maybe crying." Jhu wanted to tell Andy to stop ruining her rant, but Andy had a good point. "If I knew what was wrong, that would be nice..."

"Cry if you gotta, I won't tell no one," Andy said, taking a sip of her drink, but she was still running everything through her head, trying to solve this problem for Jhu.

"Not even Maica?"

"Not even Maica," Andy promised. She looked at the amberous liquid in her glass and it got her thinking... "Hey, I need to ask something of you."

"You're a sweetheart. Don't tell anyone I said that." Jhu smiled weakly, but she wasn't a dramatic weeper. Just quiet tears until Andy said something about a question. "Yeah? Go ahead and ask."

"When I gave you my nanoprobes, I said you might need to work with him to modify the torpedoes, and I don't know if you've told him already, but..." Andy sighed. She didn't like that she felt she couldn't trust Nathan for this... "This whole situation has me uncomfortable, so... if you haven't told him already, don't let him know you have my nanoprobes. Until we get this figured out, I'm just not sure if it's safe to trust him." If he knew already then they would worry about that later, but if the information was still contained, it would be better for them all if it stayed that way.

"Oh that. I haven't told him yet. We were... kind of busy last night and I've barely talked to him today." Jhu took a few sips from her drink, contemplating her options. "I have the schematics, and I know how to get the work started. I'll do it without him until he's... normal again."

Normal? That was a relative term considering this crew! But her words put Andy at ease. "Thanks," the ex-Borg woman said, taking a sip from her glass. "I don't like the idea of excluding him, but... hopefully we won't have to keep this from him for too long," she said, making an attempt to be optimistic and not just for Jhu's sake.

"You're welcome. And I hope you're right, Andy. I really do."

Arthur entered the mess hall, ready to have a quick lunch before heading to work. He had been writing a bunch of reports on the Jem'Hadar attack. Because he hadn't been aboard the ship during the attack, Arthur had been reading up on it. Arthur knew that Lieutenant Tonkin was bogged down with quite a bit of paperwork, and wanted to help take a little bit of the heat off of his friend. So, Arthur, in need of a well-deserved break, stood in the threshold of the mess hall door, deciding where to sit and what to eat.

The mess hall was usually quite busy since the addition of the galley. With the extra produce coming out of the hydroponics bay, all thanks for Shira, several crewman took it upon themselves to take turns cooking in the galley. So far, the crew was loving having fresh foods, and the diverse meals helped keep things interesting. Today, it was soup and salad day and Crewman Anderson had outdone himself making several tasty soups to try. Shira was waiting patiently for him to serve a bowl of mushroom soup. It smelled so good and she was so excited! with her soup and salad in hand, Shira found a table and sat down, so pleased with herself that she was able to help the crew in this way.

Arthur walked over to the galley, looking over all the food available. While not a big fan of salads, Arthur knew that healthy food might help him keep his physique that he struggled so hard to maintain these days. Walking over to grab a salad, Arthur stopped abruptly after getting a whiff of a fantastic smell. The extremely pleasant aroma seemed to be emanating from one of the soups. Walking over to inspect the source, he found it to be a delicious broth mixed with chunks of mushroom. Arthur grabbed the bowl and a spoon, and looked for a table. He decided to sit down across from an arboreal creature.

"Oh, hello!" Shira greeted with a chipper smile. She was always glad to have company, even from strangers. Although, after the scare with the Dominion, she had become quite wary of strangers, but she had been trying to learn the faces of some of the crew and recognized this man. She couldn't remember his name, but she knew he was crew so she wasn't at all afraid to share her table with him for lunch. And what a pleasant lunch it was! This soup was delicious! Shira was definitely pleased with herself for contributing to the welfare of the crew in this way.

"Hello, there." Arthur gave the arboreal a sort of small smile as he sat down. He knew the person across from him was named Shira. Overhearing the conversation of a few security officers, Arthur came to lean that Shira had some sort of plant-powers, or something. He suspected that Shira somehow had a hand in the new salad bar that was established. "So, how are you doing this fine day?"

"Oh, very well, thank you!" Shira replied cheerfully, though she was starting to feel a bit warm... "And how are you?" she asked.

"Oh just fine," Arthur nodded as he took a bite of his soup. "Good food here, eh?"

"Indeed!" Shira said excitedly. "This soup is tasty!" But she was still feeling really warm... "Eating food from the replicator is strange for me, it doesn't taste right, but the Captain said I could grow food in hydroponics, he just never expected that I could grow enough to feed the whole crew."

"Aye, it tastes a bit off, but you'll get used to it after a few years. Though I will admit, this is fantastic. So, you grow all this yourself?"

Shira nodded. "Yes. On my world, we grow everything we need," she informed him. She was nearly done with her soup and was contemplating a second bowl. Oh, but what if there wasn't enough to go around? She didn't want to be rude and take food from someone else. But maybe she could try one of the other soups? Goodness it really was getting warm in here...

"Oh, that's nice. I used to be a potato farmer myself, I can appreciate the value of old fashioned agriculture. So, I guess you work as a botanist, or biologist, or something along those lines." Arthur scratched the collar of his uniform, it felt like the temperature increase a few degrees.

"Oh no, I am learning about stars," Shira replied. "On my world, I finish my chores fast so I could chart stars. My family thought it was foolish hobby, but now it is not foolish," she explained awkwardly, her limited knowledge of language showing. She blinked rapidly a bit, her eyes having trouble focusing. Perhaps there was something wrong with the filters in her eyes?

"Ah, the stars. Beautiful balls of gas indeed. You'll do well to study them." Arthur tugged on his shirt sleeves. It was really getting hot in here.

Shira kept blinking, seriously wondering if there was something wrong with her light filters. Colors were starting to become more vibrant, sharper yet strangely hazy. "I like stars..." she said distractedly as her eyes followed a strange ripple in the fabric of reality in the wake of a stranger passing by. Oh my...

Arthur squinted as the room turned purple, then yellow, then blue. He waved his hand in frot of his face, and saw an orange trail follow it. Arthur was confused. Everything was changing color rapidly, and his ears could hear a lot clearer. "I'm not feeling very well," Arthur stated.

"I too am feeling a bit unwell all of a sudden," Shira admitted uneasily. She felt so 'floaty' and the sounds of conversation of the room sounded distant with an echo, but Arthur's voice was sharp, almost painfully so. Everything around her seemed to take on a shimmering, luminescent quality. It was really starting to scare her. "What is happening?" she asked, unable to hide the fear and apprehension.

Arthur clutched his head, as his head started throbbing. Everything he saw was a purplish blur. Arthur knew this was some sort of drug, he took classes on mind altering chemicals in his A school. "Something bad! Drugs, I think!" But which drug this was, Arthur probably knew, but he felt too bad to figure it out.

Shira whimpered softly. She didn't understand the word 'drugs', but she understood that he meant something bad was happening. She reached for her commbadge, tapping it to call for help, but the soft little chirp it gave caused a myriad of colors to bloom across her vision, leaving her enraptured and unable to speak.

Arthur only finished half of his soup, so his reaction to the drug wasn't quite as bad. Arthur tried to stand, but the whole world started spinning in a colorful mass, and he sank to the floor. Arthur closed his eyes to avoid the vomit-inducing sight around him. Arthur desperately tapped his commbadge, and managed to get out "Nathan. Mess... Purple..." before succumbing to the colors that flashed in his mind as he said the words.

Arthur and Shira weren't the only ones affecting by the mind-altering mushroom soup, but when Arthur fell to the floor, a few officers who remained unaffected came to their aid. Shira was only vaguely aware of the people around her, her senses were just so... wrong... And she was burning up. Or at least, that's how she felt. She felt a hand on her, heard words, but she couldn't make sense of it all. Everything was just wrong! "Help," she managed to squeak out with a tremor as she collapsed against the table.

Nathan was one the bridge at the time, looking over some specs for when they came up on the pod of space whales when he got the strange call from Waterson. " Chief Waterson, please repeat. You broke up."

One of the people that remained unaffected was a security officer, who opened a channel to Nathan and said "Sir, you need to come down to the mess hall, now. We have a problem." Meanwhile, Arthur himself was sat back in his chair, watched over by a nurse who was on lunch break.

Nathan logged out of main tactical and ran to the turbolift. " Mass hall, now!" He shouted and the turbo lift took off. He then slapped his com badge.
=^="Ensign Vara, meet me in the mess hall double time!" =^= Nathan had not idea what he was talking into, best to call in the heavy hitter right away.

Acknowledging the call, she headed immediately from the security offices where she had been monitoring Jhu towards the mess hall. She had no idea what to expect so she just headed there as prepared as she could for anything.

The little Arboreal cringed at all the sounds around her. It was all so overwhelming! She had never experienced anything quite like this before. All the sounds! She could see them, touch them. Oh, she felt so sick... She wanted it to stop, but all the voices around her just made it worse. Little did she know, those voices were calling for help, Security and Medical, but she couldn't discern what they were saying.

The turbo lift doors open and Nathan burst from it, phaser in hand. He ran down the hall, to the mess hall. He came into the room, his phaser at his side but ready for anything.

Vara arrived a second after Nathan, ready to fight any enemy. Well, any enemy but what she saw... Were they hallucinating or freaking out?

Nathan stood there for a moment then slaped his com badge "Tonkin to Medical, I need assistance in the mess hall right away." He then moved over to Waterson's side.

Arthur was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed. He groaned as his head throbbed repeatedly, and he faded in and out of consciousness. "Ugggh..." he moaned as Nathan approached.

Shira just cringed and whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut in an attempt to keep all the colors away, they were so bright! But then again, she had no way of knowing that her current condition was causing the light filters in her eyes to malfunction; the dilation of her pupils induced by the hallucination was sending a false cue to the filters that her eyes needed more light and caused them to reduce how much light they were filtering, thus making the colors she saw painfully bright. But closing her eyes did nothing to stop the display burned into the back of her eyes, so all she could do was whimper softly as she tried her best not to cry.

Nathan put one hand on Aurthor shoulder and his other hand he shoved into Shira's hand. We're the hell was Medical...

Pulling the emergency medkit from the wall, Vara popped open the medical tricorder and scanned a few people and foods before kneeling next to Nathan. "Sir, I know some basic first aid, but I have no idea what to do about this. The tricorder is saying they ingested some sort of eukaryotic hallucinogenic agent... I think that means the mushroom soup because the same agents are registering in it."

Despite the bloom colors in her vision prompted by her words, Shira recognized Vara's voice, even recognized some of her words. The soup? The soup made them sick? "Vara..." she called out feebly with a pitiful squeak, hoping that they could do something to make everything stop spinning around her.

The call into sickbay had apparently come at a rather busy time, as it took several agonizing minutes to find someone who could respond. When Nolira arrived, she was out of breath and looking just a little frazzled as she approached the table, with her tricorder already in her hand. She'd heard just the tail end of Vara's comment about the soup, but she'd investigate that once she was sure Shira and Arther were all right first. "Does anyone know when this started?"

Glancing up at the new arrival, Vara stood and addressed her as she stepped out of her way. "During lunch it seems. My best guess is within the past 20 minutes for most of the afflicted."

"How many are we looking at?" Shira seemed to be in the most pain, so Nolira went to her first, gently touching Shira's arm before scanning her, so that the noise from the tricorder didn't frighten her. "Tell the kitchen to stop serving the soup but not to throw it out."

Nathan hopped up to deal with the kitchen, he also made a quick look around to make sure no one else had been served the soup. He was just really glad that this was not Medicals problem and not his anymore.

"Have them send it to the lab!" Nolira yelled after him. Neither Shira nor Arthur looked like they'd gotten a lethal dose, but she still wanted to know what exactly was in the soup. And where it had come from. "These two will be fine once the compound metabolizes."

Nathan turned to look back at her. "Got it." He said on his way into the kitchen.

Kneeling next to Shira, Vara placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "Is there anything you can do for them until then?"

"I can make them comfortable. Or knock them out... which might be better for Shira. I can't imagine what the poor girl is feeling with this sort of reaction." Nolira deftly loaded a hypospray, pressing it against each of their necks. "This should help them cope with the symptoms, but once I get them to sickbay, I can do more."

Little Shira did not like how the medicine made her feel, but she didn't have long to ponder it, for shortly after the drug Nolira administered had her drifting off to sleep. A slightly disturbing sleep, but sleep none the less, which with any luck would help the time pass by faster.