compile summary Your adoring CO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - ACOUNS Ens(sg) Regan Alessi - 1305) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Commander Saleke - 1310) (USS Mystique - Observation lounge - Ensign Taya & Lt.Jason Dema - 1311) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - ACONN Ensign (jg) Andreas Schliegler - 13:12) (USS Mystique - Observation lounge - ACMO Vren Marto - 1313) (USS Mystique - personal quarters - Ensign Taya & Lt.Jason Dema - 1314) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Travis Keswick - 1315) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Commander Saleke - 1317) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - COPS Lt. Travis Keswick - 1319) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Commander Saleke- 1321) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - COPS Travis Keswick - 1323) (USS Mystique - Ten Forward - ACOUNS Ens(sg) Regan Alessi - 1401) (USS Mystique - Ten Forward - ACEO Ens(sg) Norman Harper- 1402) (USS Mystique - Deck 2 - Ensign (jg) Andreas Schliegler - 14:17) (USS Mystique - Sickbay - Emergency Medical Hologram - 14:18) (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - 2O Lt.(sg) CT/S Jason Dema - 1436) (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - ACMO Vren Marto - 1446) (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - Senior Counselor Riven Mias and Commander Saleke - 1448) (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - ACMO Vren Marto - 1450) (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 1452) (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - ACMO, Dr. Vren Marto - 1454) (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - Commander Saleke - 1455) (USS Mystique- Deck Ten Forward- Asst CSO Ensign Narhat (jg)- 1456) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- begin compile Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - ACOUNS Ens(sg) Regan Alessi - 1305) Norm scribbled something on his PADD as Dema and Keswick discussed the problems of communication on the planet. He slid it inconspicuously towards Regan. She glanced down at it, suppressing a smile. She was reminded of passing notes in class, and found it fun. Meet me for lunch? My stomach thinks my throat's been cut. She met his eyes and nodded, than added to the padd: Can we make it 1400? I need to check back at my office first. She slid it back in his direction, careful not to make her actions obvious to anyone else. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Commander Saleke - 1310) "Do we know how communication will be affected?" Travis asked. "I have never seen a planet with such a wide rang of temperatures and zones will we be able to communicate with the other each other in different zones?" "We could plant signal-enhancers when we lose communication. If that isn't enough to communicate with each other, we could always link the communication through the ship." Jason replied. "Indeed, communications will not be a problem." Saleke replied then looked around at the group, no one seemed interested in bringing up any other points. "If that is all then this meeting is adjourned." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation lounge - Ensign Taya & Lt.Jason Dema - 1311) As soon as Jason heard the word adjourned, Jason shot out of his chair like a rocket, and dashed through the door. He knew someone was out for a confrontation, and he knew it would be Taya. Taya walked through the crowd of people exiting hoping they wouldn't notice her half-shoving senior officers out of the way. She tried to walk faster without looking stupid to other crewmembers, she guessed they must have thought she was a woman on a mission as they all jumped out of her way and didn't bother trying to engage conversation with her. Jason drilled his way through the people on his course to the turbolift. Barely inside the turbolift he shouted his designation. "Deck 2, shut the doors." Close behind him the doors closed, allowing no one else into the turbolift. After the short trip, Jason didn't waste any time, and went to his quarters. Taya reached the turbolift as the doors closed and slapped the panel hoping the doors would reopen, but they didn't. She growled in frustration the inner wolf of her taking over her personality momentarily. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - ACONN Ensign (jg) Andreas Schliegler - 13:12) As Andreas got up after the 'get-out-of-here' he walked towards the 2O and had to fasten his pace to catch him. However, the 2O seemed to be rocket-propelled as he shot out of the door before Andreas could catch him. For a moment stupefied he stood still as he had not expected the reaction. ~It was only a demonstration,~ he thought as he suddenly a female ensign flew past him with a rather determined expression on her face who skidded her way towards the door. Andreas's eyes grew wide as he realised the reason for Dema to hightail out of the room. "Ach mein Lieber," he muttered to himself, having been in the same position himself. Unfortunately for Andreas, his 'follower' had been closely followed by a rather large bunch of family members of the woman, all rather miffed with Andreas for one stupid reason or another. He sighed at the memories and shook his head in sympathy for the Lieutenant then looked around. Marto was near Travis at the moment and the fly-boy doubted they would need him around. So he sighed again and wondered what to do next when suddenly a waft of seriously moulded cheese reached his nostrils. Frowning he tried to find the source until it hit him that it came from himself. With a suddenly reddened face, Andreas dashed for the door himself, nearly colliding with the assistant counsellor. If he had timed the 2O and himself, he would he been quite contented as he improved Dema's time by 0.25 seconds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation lounge - ACMO Vren Marto - 1313) "Indeed, communications will not be a problem." Saleke replied then looked around at the group, no one seemed interested in bringing up any other points. "If that is all then this meeting is adjourned." Marto finally looked up. She had never been happier to see a meeting come to a close, however staying where she was she watched as everyone else began to stir. Turning to Travis she leant over enough so that only he could hear her. "I think I'll head back to our quarters just now. Are you coming?" (Reply Travis) She sent him a smile, even if it was a fairly poor one, but it was the best she could manage for now. "Ok, see you later love." Gathering up her padd she left the room and headed off towards the turbolift barely noticing Taya barrel past her. She had already started thinking about seat restraints and how she and Ensign Schliegler could manage to get round Jason's obvious antipathy towards them enough so that he would at least give them a fair hearing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - personal quarters - Ensign Taya & Lt.Jason Dema - 1314) Jason stepped inside, releasing a sigh of relief, as he avoided a confrontation that might have hurt both of them. "Computer, lock the door" After the computer acknowledged, Jason went to sit in the couch. Looking at his surroundings, his attention was drawn to the pictures standing on the small table in the middle of the room. Pictures of him and Cassandra, pictures of Cassandra, their sister and mother, and also one with him and his father. Jason grabbed that picture and watched it closely. He was still young, and holding his sister, Cassandra was still a baby back then, and Jason cared a lot for her, which was shown in his eyes, as he gazed upon his sister. Placing the frame gently back on the table, his eyes fell on the last picture, that stood mostly hidden behind the rest. It was a picture of Sarah, Sarah Nevada. The frame still held the black band over it's corner since he never bothered about removing it. One way he was still mourning about her, but knew he had to move on, but he left the band for a reason he couldn't figure out for himself. A tear was about to be born from his eyes, which was abruptly stopped by the sound of the chime. "Computer, who is at the door?" [Ensign Taya] Jason placed the frame back on the table, and looked down to the floor. "Computer, disable the chime." Jason then walked towards the bathroom, and nearly tripped over one of the feet of the picture table. Though he didn't fall, the table did move, and some pictures dropped to the table, and some to the ground. He didn't bother picking them up, and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. Taya sighed with resignation, it was clear he didn't want to see her. She knew he had good reason as she hadn't turned up for the date, but still she knew that once she told him he would understand..at least she hoped he would. She looked about the hallway and seeing no-one around she leaned against the wall next to Jason's door and slid down hugging her knees to her chest. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Travis Keswick - 1315) "Indeed, communications will not be a problem." Saleke replied then looked around at the group, no one seemed interested in bringing up any other points. "If that is all then this meeting is adjourned." Marto Leaned in close to him as every one started filling out of the Observation Lounge. "I think I'll head back to our quarters just now. Are you coming?" "I have a few things to take care off I will be back in a few hours. Travis sead into her ear. She sent him a smile, even if it was a fairly poor one, but it was the best she could manage for now. "Ok, see you later love." Travis stayed behind as the other offices filed out of the Observation Lounge. "Commander may I have a word with you. Travis asked as the room emptied out. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Commander Saleke - 1317) "Commander may I have a word with you?" Saleke turned his head to see that Lt. Keswick had stopped while the rest of the officer contingent was making their exodus, he nodded and remained seated wondering what point regarding the briefing the young officer wished to rehash. At the top of the Vulcans mind was the order for Travis to lead the initial away team which he had never done before, no doubt he had some questions on the techniques regarding the proper leadership of one. "Of course Lieutenant." He crossed his legs and settled slightly deeper into the chair as Travis crossed over and stood before him a little nervously it seemed. "How may I be of service?" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - COPS Lt. Travis Keswick - 1319) "Of course Lieutenant." He crossed his legs and settled slightly deeper into the chair as Travis crossed over and stood before him a little nervously it seemed. "How may I be of service?" "Commander I have a personal question to ask sir." Travis sead as he talked over to the large windows as he stared into he vastness of space. "Sir we have served together for a long time now and I have developed allot of respect for you as a starfleet officer. Travis paused for a moment as the turned and sat down next to Saleke. "To be honest sir I really don't understand how Vulcans choose friend or if is logical to have friends. I know with humans there are feelings involved between friends and I don't know your stance on that. Travis paused again. "I have come to consider you a close friend we have been threw allot over the years." Travis shifted in his chair. "I will get right to the point, I asked Dr Vren to be my wife and she agreed now we are in the process of planing for the wedding. We are planing having the ceremony when we get back to Starbase Geneva. In a ceremony like this the family from booth sides of the family are present and it is uniting both families into one. Even thew we don't have time contact our families in time for the ceremony but we will continue with it any way. And my first job as groom is to find a best man. The best man has a vary important job in to do in the preparation stage of the ceremony and have a place of honer during the wedding ceremony. So it is vary important I choose the right person for the job and I can tell you it did not take long for me to make my decision. Which brings me to why I'm here Sir I would an honer if you would be my best man and stand with me during what may be the most important time of my life. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - Commander Saleke- 1321) Travis at first didn't look Saleke in the eye, instead his eyes drifted to the window. "Commander I have a personal question to ask sir." "Go on." The Vulcan said patiently. "Sir we have served together for a long time now and I have developed a lot of respect for you as a starfleet officer." He paused and took a seat nearby. "To be honest sir I really don't understand how Vulcans choose friends or if is logical to have friends. I know with humans there are feelings involved between friends and I don't know your stance on that." This was taking an unexpected direction, Saleke's right eyebrow rose to a point as the officer paused again. "I have come to consider you a close friend we have been through a lot over the years." Travis shifted in his chair. "Thank you Mr. Keswick, friendships between Vulcans and non-Vulcans are not uncommon and it is an honor for you to consider me your friend, we have worked together rather closely in the past, however forgive me for asking you what this meeting pertains to." His mind was working overtime as Travis digested this. "I will get right to the point, I asked Dr Vren to be my wife and she agreed now we are in the process of planing for the wedding. We are planning having the ceremony when we get back to Starbase Geneva. In a ceremony like this the family from both sides of the family are present and it is uniting both families into one. Even though we don't have time to contact our families in time for the ceremony but we will continue with it anyway. And my first job as groom is to find a best man. The best man has a very important job in to do in the preparation stage of the ceremony and have a place of honer during the wedding ceremony. So it is very important I choose the right person for the job and I can tell you it did not take long for me to make my decision. Which brings me to why I'm here Sir I would an honor if you would be my best man and stand with me during what may be the most important time of my life. " That struck the Vulcan like a thunderbolt out of the blue sky and for the first time in his short career Saleke found himself dumbfounded. That Travis had asked him to be his friend was certainly the first time someone had expressed those sentiments but to go from that foundation to asking him to be his best man at his wedding? According to Saleke's recollections of the human marriage ceremony the best man did have an honored place in planning for the festivities... this was not something considered capriciously and it was the place of highest honor in the grooms wedding party. After an awkward moment of reflection he nodded with a slight and precise inclination of his head and said soberly. "It would be an honor to be your best man Travis, thank you for considering me." (Reply: Travis) "Congratulations are then in order for yourself and Dr. Vren. I will of course make all the requisite arrangements for the festivities." Part of his mind was already considering the necessary contacts he was going to have to make, Travis had adopted Klingon parents of some renown as he remembered, they would of course have to be notified along with the planning for the Bachelor party and so on. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - COPS Travis Keswick - 1323) There was a moment of awkward silents. Travis sow a look in Salekes face he has in the hole time they served together a look of shock. Travis didn't relies that this question would have such of an effect on the Commander. "It would be an honor to be your best man Travis, thank you for considering me." Saleke sead braking the moment of awkward silents. "Thank you sir the honor is all mine sir ." Travis sead as he saluted Saleke in the Vulcan way way raising is right hand separating his finger between the middle and ring finger. "Congratulations are then in order for yourself and Dr. Vren. I will of course make all the requisite arrangements for the festivities." "Thank you again sir I'm shore that what every you chose to do will be grate. I can't tell you again sir what an honer it is that you will do this for Dr Vren and I." Travis sead with a nod. "Dr Vren is in the process of finding a maid of honer. After she decides on who that will be Dr. Vren and I would like the four of us to get together to discus the wedding planes." Travis added. (Reply Saleke) "I will see you in the morning then before the teams beam down to the planet sir." Travis sead with a nod as he turned and headed out of the room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Ten Forward - ACOUNS Ens(sg) Regan Alessi - 1401) As Norm came to join her, Regan managed a smile for him. She still was not looking forward to the meeting with Ashliu Physioc later, but she tried to banish that from her mind while she had lunch with Norm. Besides, he usually managed to cheer her up. She stole a look towards his hands to see if he had had them seen to yet. "Hi there," she said, pulling out a chair for him. "This is nice, after that meeting." She looked at him, wondering what he had made of it all. "Are meetings on the Mystique always so... interesting?" she asked. "I mean, there was all that tension between Dr Trommashere and Dr Vren, and -" she stopped. She could hardly mention the tension she had noticed in Dema and Taya. If Norm had noticed it and mentioned it that was all well and good, but it wasn't for her to start asking someone else, not even Norm, about it here. "and Commander Saleke," she finished. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Ten Forward - ACEO Ens(sg) Norman Harper- 1402) Norm had found his way into Ten Forward only a few minutes before Regan arrived. He looked up from his glass of water as she arrived and gladly pushed it away and stood to meet her. Water wasn't for drinking in Ten Forward. Water was for engulfing after a long day of work. His hands had begun to return to their normal colour, although they hadn't lost the red tint, and he was glad of it as Regan stole a glance at them. "Hi there," she said, pulling out a chair for him. "This is nice, after that meeting." Norm made a face before he sat. He had been taught that the man was to pull out the chair, but rather that rudely declining the offer, he sat. "Are meetings on the Mystique always so... interesting?" she asked. "I mean, there was all that tension between Dr Trommashere and Dr Vren, and - and Commander Saleke," she finished. Norm grinned and waved to a nearby server, "Forget paying for entertainment. There's enough drama on this ship to flush out all the actors on Earth." As the server neared Norm looked back and Regan and asked, "What was that thing you like? Something with a weird name..." He pivoted his hand on his wrist in the air to indicate that he was thinking. (reply Regan) "I think I'll get one of those." He leaned back and rubbed his hands together and waited for the server to move on. "I finally got my new holodeck programme running." He said, "I based it on my my old dock at home and my mom's old Boston Whaler. I think you might enjoy a ride on the ocean, and maybe a dip in the water. What d'ya say meeting me after duty?" (reply Regan) "I've got a lot to do today, too. Starting with that guy's replicator." He shivered at the thought that he had forgotten to talk to Rosanov about him. "I never thought a project so small could take so long! Then I have to go get my hands checked out," He added the last bit to satisfy her earlier plea. "I'll survive, though." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Deck 2 - Ensign (jg) Andreas Schliegler - 14:17) Having had a prolonged sonic shower and wearing a newly replicated uniform Andreas had taken some time out to treat himself to some lunch. Now fully refreshed he was making his way over to the holosuite to continue the simulations, if slightly adjusted. He had decided on concentrating on flying the standard manoeuvres first with half the ship with and half the ship without seatbelts. The difference would be quite telling, he had no doubt. He started whistling a happy tune as he neared the door of holosuite 3 and with a final grin he let the door swish open and stepped inside.... into darkness. Non-believing Andreas eyed the small room before him, the only light coming from outside through the doorway. That is, until the door swished shut again. He thought he could hear someone whimper but without light the source was hard to find. "Computer, lights!" he commanded without any reaction. "Computer! Arch!" Nothing. Cursing loudly Andreas tapped his badge. "Schliegler to computer! Open door to holosuite 3 NOW! And keep it open until I tell you otherwise!" To be honest, Andreas did not know if it would work, only that it made sense as the computer kept track of the communications through the badge itself. But suddenly he heard the door swish open and the sudden influx of light made him cringe, having adjusted his eyes to the darkness inside. It took him a few moments to adjust to the light when he heard the whimpering again. He followed the sound towards a still darkened corner of the room until he could make out two dark figures on the ground, one wriggling, one lying without moving. Andreas tapped his badge again. "Schliegler to Bridge! We seem to have a power failure in Holosuite 3, deck 2. Please investigate and reroute power!" (Reply anyone on the Bridge) It took a while until the light flashed on and Andreas, caught by surprise again, cursed loudly as he felt the light setting his eyes on fire. This time it took a minute before Andreas could see well enough through his tearing slitted eyes. The wriggling figure on the floor in front of him turned out to be a woman, who held her awkwardly bent arm as she stopped whimpering. "Please," she said softly. "please help us, the power failed ... and we fell ... and I can't see Charles...Oh, please, it hurts..." Cursing Andreas took a step closer. "He's on your other side," he said, "He's unconscious...or dead. I can't really tell the difference. But there is blood underneath his head where it hit the floor." This caused the woman to whimper again and shaking his head Andreas activated his commbadge again. "Schliegler to Sickbay. We had an incident in holosuite 3. Two people are down, one with a head wound, who could be unconscious or dead and one with her arm broken.....in three places, I think. Looks nasty." (reply anyone in Sickbay) When the two had been taken away and a mop-up crew had cleaned the inside of the suite, Andreas shook his head as he talked to a security officer. "No, I don't know who they are and I don't know what they were doing here." he answered the barrage of questions. "I had this suite booked for the whole day but was called away for a meeting. When I came back after lunch, I found the room darkened and them two on the floor there. No, I don't know what program they ran, but perhaps the computer can tell us." Andreas stepped over to the computer console and accessed the log. "Ah, I guess that would explain it, a mountaineering program. So I guess when the power dropped, so did they. Serves them right, they had no business here." "What!" he exclaimed at the officer's frown. "They didn't! I was working on ship's business and they had no right to interfere!" Then he cursed out loudly as he had come across the fragmented pieces of information from his program. "Look at this! It's all one garbled mess! All the work has been ruined! " With a sigh of disgust, Andreas stepped away from the computer and tapped his badge. "Schliegler to Lieutenant Dema. Sorry to bother, Sir, but I had a slight set-back with my simulations. It will take the better part of the day to sort it all out so I won't be able to show you the demonstration. Can we do that tomorrow morning at say 9 o'clock?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Sickbay - Emergency Medical Hologram - 14:18) =/\=Schliegler to Sickbay. We had an incident in holosuite 3. Two people are down, one with a head wound, who could be unconscious or dead and one with her arm broken.....in three places, I think. Looks nasty.=/\= The absence of both the CMO and the ACMO immediately triggered the EMH when the call came through. He stood in the middle of the floor and tapped his comm badge. "Thank you Ensign I will have both of the casualties beamed directly to Sickbay. Do you happen to know how they came to be injured?" (Reply Andreas IYW) "Ah well, never mind. We have them Ensign, and will take it from here. Thank you for your assistance." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Observation Lounge - 2O Lt.(sg) CT/S Jason Dema - 1436) Jason, who was still enjoying some company from Taya, felt relaxed, that everything was spoken about, instead of still ignoring her. In a romantic silence, Jason held Taya, gently stroking through her hair, her head resting against his chest. This silence was shortly broken by an incomming communication. "Schliegler to Lieutenant Dema. Sorry to bother, Sir, but I had a slight set-back with my simulations. It will take the better part of the day to sort it all out so I won't be able to show you the demonstration. Can we do that tomorrow morning at say 9 o'clock?" "It's a date." Jason said, and without waiting for a reply he continued. "Jason out." Jason closed the channel not wanting to disturb the blissfull silence for much longer then needed. "So, where were we?" He softly said to the one that stole his heart away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - ACMO Vren Marto - 1446) Marto listened to Angeni and simply shook her head. "Oh for pity sake Angeni. Grow Up. You sound like a spoilt little brat who's throwing a temper tantrum because the grownups have told her that she has to share her toys with the other kids." She carried on before anyone else could stop her. "I hate to be the one to break it to you girl but it's not your personal, private little sickbay and you aren't the one who's ultimately responsible for the hiring and firing around here." "I'm your rival?" Marto said with disbelief and shook her head again. " I can't believe you just said that. You're supposed to be a Starfleet Officer Angeni. I suggest you start acting like one. Either that or go into private practice." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - Senior Counselor Riven Mias and Commander Saleke - 1448) Riven could understand some of the anger Angeni was projecting as she walked up to the table as it was based on her shame and humiliation at being called out before the senior staff but there was a lot more there that was underlying and undergirding it, he was hoping through this meeting to be able to understand exactly what it was that continued to undercut all his attempts at finding a stable mental foundation for her. He felt clearly Marto's consternation when she found out the purpose of this meeting but Saleke was right, you couldn't have the medical staff of the ship at one another's throats or any other of the officers for that matter, it was either come to an understanding or entertain far deeper and less attractive ways of dealing with the problem and he knew the Vulcan was not interested in those options. There were also reasons for his recommendations it be held in the Lounge that the young women would not be interested in yet suited his purposes, in a meeting in some dark office they would hide their feelings behind StarFleet regulations and discipline but here.... here they would let down their guard somewhat and be more open and vulnerable. That had the possible drawback of inducing an explosion but Riven felt the odds were in his favor that more would come to light... and be dealt with than elsewhere. He caught Marto's glance before Angeni's withering look, both had focused on him as the more probable culprit for the encounter it seemed, ah well they weren't in StarFleet because they were stupid. Angeni projected hurt more than anything else but there were circumstances she had no knowledge of. "So this is what all the hoop-la is about. Why didn't you just come to me and ask me what was going on instead of calling the interstellar tribunal?" She asked into the tense atmosphere. "Hrm...I don't like her because in the medical field, it's a solo job. The higher up you go, the less people you can trust, and then you thrust me with her, after what would've and could've been a career ending injury, and you expect me to be happy with it...I think not. That's why I show animosity to her. She's a rival to me...she'll take my place at a moments' notice, therefore...I won't and can't trust her." "Oh for pity sake Angeni. Grow Up" Marto sounded up. "You sound like a spoilt little brat who's throwing a temper tantrum because the grownups have told her that she has to share her toys with the other kids. I hate to be the one to break it to you girl but it's not your personal, private little sickbay and you aren't the one who's ultimately responsible for the hiring and firing around here. I'm your rival?" Marto said with disbelief and shook her head again. "I can't believe you just said that. You're supposed to be a Starfleet Officer Angeni. I suggest you start acting like one. Either that or go into private practice." Angeni seemed to barely acknowledge Marto but instead looked at Saleke. "You seem to have the wrong assumptions regarding senior staff on the Mystique," Saleke said after the two had wound down. "Dr. Vren was not placed on this ship with replacing you in mind but to complement you as your assistant and to make this a more functionally efficent ship by taking some of the burden of responsibility from you and giving you a medical officer you could count on to fill in during your absence or help you in an emergency. The circumstances you describe would be apprapo in the Mirror Universe but in this StarFleet officers rise by talent and hard work, not by undercutting their superior officers and should I entertain such a conjecture and find it to be true the offending officer would find the resulting court martial swift leading to a penal colony. Do I make myself clear?" She seemed to be dazed, Riven thought as he looked at her, there was also flashes of something as he concentrated. He could see some of the things coming through that they had talked about before and they now merged into a focused coherent point. Riven smiled as things started to make sense. "Fine...you want me to be nice to her...that's perfectly okay. I'll be as nice to her as she wants me to be, but don't expect me to be happy about it, number one, and number two don't expect me to trust her..." Her eyes lifted briefly to Rivens and he could hear in his mind the plea she was thinking. ~I don't know what to do...~ "Allow me to specify then exactly what I expect Doctor..." Saleke began. "So that's it." Riven broke in. Saleke stopped quickly and his head flashed toward the Betazoid. "Do you think that's what this is Angeni?" Riven was concentrating completely on her now. "Do you think that all the ghosts of your past have to be laid to rest by driving yourself to the breaking point to prove them wrong?" (Reply: Angeni) She wasn't happy about his but it had to be done and he was breaking no rules, exposing no confidences. "All this time I thought we were dealing with your experiences since coming aboard but that's not true is it? You're in a race against something in your own mind, a race that can only end in shattered health and a ruined career, that's where you're going. Marto is not your enemy, neither is Saleke or myself, we're here to help you not cause you to stumble. You're doing a far more capable job of that than we could ever do." (Reply: Angeni) "Do you remember what you told me soon after you came on board the Mystique Angeni, that the hardest step was in learning to trust?" His eyes bored into her now. "It's time to take that step, take it or forever turn back from what you want to do as a Doctor. Is your dream worth that step or NOT?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - ACMO Vren Marto - 1450) Marto smiled quietly to herself as Angeni barely acknowledged her. Marto had been expecting that, her comments had only been her opening salvo after all, so she sat there calmly listing to both the Commander and then Dr Mias as he broke into the conversation and began to question Angeni. All the anger Marto had felt during the meeting in the Observation Lounge had long since drained away although she was pretty sure that the doctor was too intent on Angeni to have noticed. That suited Marto perfectly just now and as she listened to his questions she began adding up various bits and pieces in her head. However, since this meeting was supposedly to clear the air between her and Ange, and since she had a lot more to add before she was finished, Marto was the one who jumped back into the conversation immediately. "What's the matter doctor, cat got your tongue? Well, its certainly shown itself to be catty enough in the past. Or are the feelings of a jumped up stretcher fetcher beneath you?" Marto finally smiled broadly and nodded her head as she continued. "Oh yes, that comment did indeed make its way back to me. Really, if you're going to try to trash someone's reputation Ange, you might want to make sure you do it somewhere a little more secure in future. Well then, if you won't deign to answer me, at least show some civility toward the good doctor and answer him." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - CMO Angeni O. Windsong-Trommashere - 1452) "So this is what all the hoop-la is about. Why didn't you just come to me and ask me what was going on instead of calling the interstellar tribunal?" She asked into the tense atmosphere. "Hrm...I don't like her because in the medical field, it's a solo job. The higher up you go, the less people you can trust, and then you thrust me with her, after what would've and could've been a career ending injury, and you expect me to be happy with it...I think not. That's why I show animosity to her. She's a rival to me...she'll take my place at a moments' notice, therefore...I won't and can't trust her." "Oh for pity sake Angeni. Grow Up" Marto sounded up. "You sound like a spoilt little brat who's throwing a temper tantrum because the grownups have told her that she has to share her toys with the other kids. I hate to be the one to break it to you girl but it's not your personal, private little sickbay and you aren't the one who's ultimately responsible for the hiring and firing around here. I'm your rival?" Marto said with disbelief and shook her head again. "I can't believe you just said that. You're supposed to be a Starfleet Officer Angeni. I suggest you start acting like one. Either that or go into private practice." Angeni turned to Vren, and she wished that with a snap of her fingers, she could reduce the woman to a pile of molecules. The anger and frustration seemed to rise like a cess pool, and her face went flush as she tried to keep her voice an even keel. "I worked harder to get here...to get to this point than you ever have or will..." She realized that her heart was nearly ready to beat out of her chest, so she closed her mouth for fear of saying something she'd ultimately regret. "You seem to have the wrong assumptions regarding senior staff on the Mystique," Saleke said after the two had wound down. "Dr. Vren was not placed on this ship with replacing you in mind but to complement you as your assistant and to make this a more functionally efficent ship by taking some of the burden of responsibility from you and giving you a medical officer you could count on to fill in during your absence or help you in an emergency. The circumstances you describe would be apprapo in the Mirror Universe but in this StarFleet officers rise by talent and hard work, not by undercutting their superior officers and should I entertain such a conjecture and find it to be true the offending officer would find the resulting court martial swift leading to a penal colony. Do I make myself clear?" She stared loosely at Saleke, her mind in a fog. One minute she was almost back to normal, the next she felt like crap. She couldn't understand what she had done wrong. She didn't realize that just not liking someone was such a problem. Turning her unfocused attention to Saleke, she nodded vaugely, turning back to Riven when suddenly she focused on a single thought in her mind for a split second. "Fine...you want me to be nice to her...that's perfectly okay. I'll be as nice to her as she wants me to be, but don't expect me to be happy about it, number one, and number two don't expect me to trust her..." Her eyes lifted briefly to Rivens and he could hear in his mind the plea she was thinking. ~I don't know what to do...~ "Allow me to specify then exactly what I expect Doctor..." Saleke began. "So that's it." Riven broke in. Saleke stopped quickly and his head flashed toward the Betazoid. "Do you think that's what this is Angeni?" Riven was concentrating completely on her now. "Do you think that all the ghosts of your past have to be laid to rest by driving yourself to the breaking point to prove them wrong?" She turned to Riven with the slowest movement possible for fear of snapping her own neck in the process. She wanted nothing more than to dissapear from the table because yes, he had struck a nerve and struck it hard. All of her life people told her she couldn't...and she was willing to end up in a pine box to prove that she could in the end. Nothing else mattered to her than to prove that she was the best at everything she accomplished, so she stared at Riven as he spoke with a slack jaw, trying to keep him from speaking any further about it... "Please...don't...just stop..." All the fight in her had officially weined out of her. She felt like her head was on the chopping block and that they were reading off her sins right before they killed her, and she wanted it all to end. "All this time I thought we were dealing with your experiences since coming aboard but that's not true is it? You're in a race against something in your own mind, a race that can only end in shattered health and a ruined career, that's where you're going. Marto is not your enemy, neither is Saleke or myself, we're here to help you not cause you to stumble. You're doing a far more capable job of that than we could ever do." Angeni's grey eyes closed tightly, as if their closing could dampen the noises coming to meet her. She didn't want to hear any of this. She felt betrayed, hurt, and all the more depressed about her situation. Why he wouldn't just stop was beyond her. She was more than sure that he was reading her thoughts at that very moment, so why couldn't he just see that she wanted him to knock it off. "Do you remember what you told me soon after you came on board the Mystique Angeni, that the hardest step was in learning to trust?" His eyes bored into her now. "It's time to take that step, take it or forever turn back from what you want to do as a Doctor. Is your dream worth that step or NOT?" Angeni opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, and she couldn't force herself to make any noise to even show she acknowledged anything that occured when she heard Marto speak. "What's the matter doctor, cat got your tongue? Well, its certainly shown itself to be catty enough in the past. Or are the feelings of a jumped up stretcher fetcher beneath you? Oh yes, that comment did indeed make its way back to me. Really, if you're going to try to trash someone's reputation Ange, you might want to make sure you do it somewhere a little more secure in future. Well then, if you won't deign to answer me, at least show some civility toward the good doctor and answer him." Stretcher-Fetcher...she remembered that comment and she was glad that she had said it. She wasn't going to take it back no matter how much she moaned or complained, and for the fact she brought it back up in this conversation made Ang want to throttle Marto with all she had in her, but the catty smile she had learned over the years when she was backed into a corner came out, and she focused twenty-eight years of pent up rage towards Marto. "Yes...Vren...you are nothing but a glorified stretcher fetcher. I worked my behind off to get where I'm at today, and just because you run around some planet playing medic doesn't make you a doctor. I've learned more medical knowledge than you'll ever be able to retain...which is a good thing seeing as if you have more than enough room up in that thick skull of yours to learn something from me if you ever take the moment to pay attention...I paid my dues, I worked all of the crappy schedules...I would be on duty for 36 or 48 hours or more without sleep and I busted my butt to make sure that when I was finally done doing what I was doing...I would be able to sit back and actually be proud of myself..." Angeni slowly stood up, addressing everyone at the table at this point, trying to keep her voice low so that no one else could hear her but the three of them. "But you know what...it doesn't matter in the end because each and every time I go above and beyond what I should do...it doesn't matter...someone else gets the credit for what I did...the projects and what not are better suited for someone else. As for your statement, Dr. Mias...I'll start trusting people when I'm dead." She raised an eyebrow to him as she turned to Saleke. "Therefore...I will be as nice and as courteous to her as humanly possible, but my animosity towards her never came before a patient. So therefore, I apologize. I wish that I was a better person that I'd be able to trust someone and let them in and show them that yes, I really do like them..which I do for Vren. Great person, wonderful to work with, and everything like that, but I'll never be able to trust her or anyone else...I'm sorry...that's just not how I was made..." ~I was made to trust people...but when you come home to find everyone you ever loved dead...it's kind of hard to trust people openly and willingly...~ She extended her hand to Marto, a genuine smile on her face. She ment it this time...no holds barred... "Truce?" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - ACMO, Dr. Vren Marto - 1454) "Yes...Vren...you are nothing but a glorified stretcher fetcher. I worked my behind off to get where I'm at today, and just because you run around some planet playing medic doesn't make you a doctor. I've learned more medical knowledge than you'll ever be able to retain...which is a good thing seeing as if you have more than enough room up in that thick skull of yours to learn something from me if you ever take the moment to pay attention...I paid my dues, I worked all of the crappy schedules...I would be on duty for 36 or 48 hours or more without sleep and I busted my butt to make sure that when I was finally done doing what I was doing...I would be able to sit back and actually be proud of myself..." Marto simply matched Angeni smile for smile. "I apologise Angeni, I guess I was just too busy getting my butt shot at by the Cardassians to actually play doctor. Never mind I'm sure I'll get there eventually." "But that I guess is the difference between us. I am proud of what I have achieved, you, I don't think are and probably never will be. There is a flaw in your makeup that will never allow you to be satisfied. Regardless of what you achieve I don't think you will ever be happy, and honestly I feel sorry for you because of that. It will ride you like a monkey on your back and chase you for all time. And yes, had you ever bother to read my background, you might have found that you and i aren't all that different. We both lost people close to us in bad circumstances. I guess the difference between us is that I learned to live with it and move on. You however are still living in the past. "As for learning from you, yes, indeed I could have. If you had been the slightest bit civil to me when I arrived them we could have been friends. You chose the other way and today is the culmination of your attitude not mine. I don't expect you to be nice to me Angeni. All I ask is that you are civil." "Therefore...I will be as nice and as courteous to her as humanly possible, but my animosity towards her never came before a patient. So therefore, I apologize. I wish that I was a better person that I'd be able to trust someone and let them in and show them that yes, I really do like them..which I do for Vren. Great person, wonderful to work with, and everything like that, but I'll never be able to trust her or anyone else...I'm sorry...that's just not how I was made..." Marto stood up the same time Ange did and laughed. "You know something, Ange you really are a piece of work. Everything has to be about you. I'ts all about your feelings and how badly you have suffered. No-one else ever gets a look in do they?" "Truce?" Marto regarded her coolly, stared down at the hand and sighed. "Honestly Ange a handshake in my culture means that you trust that person. You have already said that you can't trust me so I am sure you will excuse me if I don't shake your hand, but truce, yes. I will agree to that." Turning towards the Commander she looked at him. "If we are finished here perhaps I might be excused." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique - Deck Ten Forward - Commander Saleke - 1455) It was unfortunate that the meeting had had to take place at all but there appeared to be hope for an eventual agreement, after the two women had departed with the beginnings of some civil conversation Saleke turned to Riven. "Thank you Doctor for your aid." "No thanks needed Commander," Riven said as he looked at his empty glass then pushed his chair back and rose to his feet. "I believe I will say good night then unless there is anything else you would like to discuss?" Saleke shook his head. "No. That will be all." "Good night then." Riven dipped his head in an impromptu bow then walked off toward the bar whistling a tune under his breath, Saleke's gaze returned to the Horta that had apparently goten tired of the view and had turned to observe the goings on in the lounge instead. A black pip had become visible along with a small metallic instrument atop its carapace. The Vulcan stood and spoke loud enough for the creature to hear him. "Ensign come to my table please." (Reply: Naraht) He sat down as the Horta approached. "What is your name Ensign and your department?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stardate: 2407.02.04 (USS Mystique- Deck Ten Forward- Asst CSO Ensign Narhat (jg)- 1456) The Vulcan stood and spoke loud enough for the creature to hear him. "Ensign, come to my table please." “Yes sir, right away sir,” said Naraht. Naraht rumbled up to the tall stalk that was the commanding officer for the Mystique, making sure that his speaker grill was facing the commander’s direction. Saleke sat down as the Naraht approached. "What is your name, Ensign and your department?" asked the Commander. Naraht’s slightly tinny voice answered, “My name is Naraht sir, Ensign Naraht (jg), to be specific. Admiral Green has assigned me to this ship’s science department and I just came onboard less than an hour ago.” Nervously, Naraht uncoiled his longer phalange from underneath himself to pick up and open his cloth bag that was laying on top of his carapace to present his orders on the PADD from Admiral Green to the Vulcan officer. He deftly opened the velcro enclosure on his small bag and pulling out the appropriate PADD, he handed it the Commander. He left the third PADD with his poetry in his cloth bag. “I am under the impression, sir, that you and your crew were unaware of the existence of my species or that I was to be assigned here. For medical and scientific purposes, I have always tried to be prepared for that eventuality, as I still seem to surprise and startle so many graceful stalks, and so have another PADD prepared with several articles about my species.” Naraht handed another PADD to the Commander, and stood very still on his many hair-like phalanges to give the Commander his full attention. He could not help but notice and was studying the Commanders' features. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------