"Analysis"
By: Lt(jg) Samantha Ashbury
Lt(jg) Michael Ashbury

Location: Deck 8 Astrometrics
Stardate 57906.23, 02h30

***

Sam glanced at the readouts of the primary sensor array and nodded in approval. It was about what was expected. She was currently running a system wide survey of the Dorvali system. As an astrophysicist, Sam didn't have a lot to do on the planet and, thankfully, she hadn't been assigned to any of the away teams. She wasn't sure she could handle being on another away team so...soon. Realistically, it hadn't been soon at all; it had been almost four years. Sooner or later, Sam knew she would have to face her fears but for now...the astrometics lab was a nice secure place to be.

A beep behind her drew her attention. Her own personal project was a study of the nearby galaxy NGC-121. Nearby was a relative term; the galaxy was some 15 million light-years away but that was practically next door by an astrophysicists' standards.

"Ashbury to Ashbury."

Sam smiled as she looked over sensor scans from the secondary array. She'd be wondering when Michael was going to call. It had become almost a daily ritual. With their odd hours, Michael had taken to staying up through the night and sleeping during the day, the same as Sam. It did get a bit lonely on the graveyard shift but Sam found she could also get a lot of work done.

"Ashbury here. Go ahead."

"Join us for dinner in the Lounge when your shift is over?"

"Love to. How's the munchkin doing?"

"Oh, I think she's getting used to these hours. We're heading off to the holodeck soon. It's amazing how much open time there is in the middle of the night."

Sam laughed softly. "I bet. Nobody else actually wants to work this shift. See you in a few. Love you."

"Bye. Try not work too hard," Michael said as he signed out.

Sam just shook her head. Her first few days on the Sulu had been...interesting. Getting everything settled in hadn't taken long, it had simply been tiring. Sam wasn't exactly in the mainstream of things but she'd heard rumors flying all over the ship about the CSO and well...Sam would reserve her own opinions for later. Knowing the rumor mill things were likely blown all out of proportion. She'd only briefly met the woman at the department meeting two days ago. Oddly enough, Sam had found out later that day that they'd actually been in a couple of classes at the Academy. It was amazing how small the universe really was.

She turned her attention back to the sensor scans. Data was currently coming in about the configuration of the system's star. A typical type G star, it probably wouldn't burn out for another, oh, five billion years or so. The planetary system in itself was fairly typical for a system that supported class-M planets.

Tomorrow she'd be getting more detailed readings on the biosphere of Dorvali itself. That should definitely prove interesting. Sam had seen in the daily reports the number of specimens that had been obtained and the reports were interesting to say the least. The specimens were of every variety that one would expect in such an environment but Sam was eager to see how the biosphere as a whole behaved. The initial reports were very promising.

She glanced at the chronometer. 03h00. Five hours to go. Time for a coffee break...

---

"Arrival"
by Captain Matthew T. Salinger
and Lieutenant Mark Thaine, Engineer

Location: Corridors of the USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.23, 06h30

***

Since the science teams on the planet below, there wasn't much for a captain to do when he wasn't directly involved in gathering samples. They hadn't been in orbit long, but Matt was certain he'd covered each square centimeter of space in the ship as he'd roamed it. Tayla had called it "long pacing" and he could only laugh in agreement with her.

He was expecting a meeting with Lieutenant Thalan soon and still couldn't shake what had happened with Xayella from his mind. How could things have exploded like that? He knew he shouldn't be so concerned, but he was. He was her commanding officer and they'd nearly been...close. Well, physically at least. He had a feeling that Xay never got close to anyone emotionally, including herself.

"Captain," his communicator said in the brogue of the transporter chief. "Chief Riley here, sir. We got a shuttle comin' in wit' a new recruit. Didja want me to alert th' Commander?"

Matt smiled. "It's alright, Chief," he said. "I'll be there myself."

***

A few moments later, Matt stepped into the transporter room just as Patrick Riley was bringing the new officer over. The shimmering haze of the transporter faded away, leaving a tall human with dark hair and features.

The chief stepped back from the transporter console as Matt stepped forward. "I'm Captain Matt Salinger," he said as he moved to the base of the transporter pad.

The man regarded the captain with a wary gaze for a second, as if trying to sum him up. Without appearing to be in any way satisfied with what he'd decided, if anything, he nodded curtly. "Lieutenant Mark Thaine," he introduced himself, stepping down from the pad and onto the deck of the Sulu for the first time. Inwardly, Thaine smiled. It was the first time he'd set foot on a starship in quite a while.

"Welcome aboard the Sulu, Mr. Thaine," the captain said. "Admiral Hayes told me I should be expecting your shuttle. Mr. Riley will take care of having your belongings transported to your quarters. Lieutenant Sam has already assigned you a cabin on deck two."

"Sam?" Thaine tried to recall the name from the personnel manifest he'd been reading on the shuttle journey. "Oh, yes. The android." It was impossible to tell what the engineer was thinking, so closely guarded was his facial expression.

Matt smiled. "I met Lieutenant Commander Data on Betazed about a year ago. It was obvious that he wasn't human just by looking at him. Sam is another matter entirely. He looks completely human, except for his eyes. He's a fine officer and the Sulu's Operations Manager."

"While we're on the subject, I didn't notice a Chief Engineer listed on the manifest. I'm assuming I'll be reporting to the Lieutenant?"

"That's correct," Matt said. "Lieutenant Sevok would have been the Sulu's Chief Engineer, but he was offered a position on Utopia Planitia. So, until someone new is appointed, Sam will be handling both departments."

Thaine nodded, seemingly distracted by his own thoughts, and then looked back up at the Captain. "Unless you have anything further to add, Captain, I'm going to head to my quarters and get some rest before my shift. I'll read up on the mission reports and liase with Lieutenant Sam if anything important comes up."

"Very well," Matt said with a nod. "He's been spending a lot of time on the planet below, but I'm certain he'll have time for a meeting in the morning to get you situated aboard the ship. Goodnight, Lieutenant."

Thaine gave a hand movement that could be either taken as a wave or an extremely sloppy salute, and turned to leave the transporter room.

Matt watched Thaine go, and then glanced over to the transporter console. Chief Riley was watching him with a quizzical look. Matt raised an eyebrow.

"Aye, it's nothin', sir," the Irishman said with a wave. "Just happy to be aboard, sir. I imagine it must have felt this way for my father, my father's father...all the way back. It's great to be out in space again, sir. Starbase transporter operation gives ye a lot of work, but it's never as nice as on a starship."

"What brought this on, Mr. Riley?"

"Oh, just rememberin' some stories, is all, sir."

Matt grinned. "Goodnight, Mr. Riley."

"G'night, Captain."

With that, Matt left the transporter room and resumed his pacing the ship.

---

"Reporting"
by Captain Matthew T. Salinger
and Lieutenant Jorell Thalan, Chief of Security

Location: USS Sulu, Captain's Ready Room
Stardate 57906.23, 7h53

***

Riding the turbolift to the bridge, Jorell looked over the padd and grumbled to himself. Several items had gone missing on the planet. Several sample containers, padds, articles of clothing, and even a few weapons. He had security teams look around the areas of the away teams to see if any trace could be found of who or what might have taken these items.

Arriving on the bridge, he walked out of the turbolift and nodded with a smile to Commander Lyrr who happened to look his way. He shook his head thinking that she must be enjoying herself with Lt. Tagliesh locked up in the Brig.

He crossed in front of tactical, where Ensign Lann was looking every bit the part, and continued on to the Captain's Ready Room. He pressed the chime at the doors and at an 'enter' moved in.

"Captain," Jorell stated with a nod.

Matt Salinger stood from his desk and stepped out around to greet Lt. Thalan. "Good morning, Lieutenant," he said. "I imagine you're wondering about the guest you've got locked up in your brig. I filed my report about an hour ago, but it's not logged into our system yet. I wanted to speak with you first." He picked a padd up from his desk and handed it to the chief of security. "The charges are fairly hefty and I don't know what will ultimately happen to her. I've already spoken with Admiral Kenyon and he warned me that there would be others contacting me on Lieutenant Tagliesh's behalf. First off, go ahead and give that a scan and let me know if you have any questions."

"Alright," he said and took up the padd and started looking it over. His brow raised and he looked over the padd at the man for a moment and then with a shake of his head continued to read. Once finished he set the padd down before the captain. "Interesting," the man then said. "A recommendation, sir, while I agree the assault warrants putting Lt. Tagliesh in the brig, perhaps she could be moved to her quarters and confined there?"

Matt nodded. "I hadn't intended to keep her there," he said. "A night or two was the plan since the brig isn't being used for anything else at the moment. However, I've had encouragement from others this morning to remove her as well. It's a very good suggestion, and I firmly agree. Have your men make the arrangements for that. I don't want anyone getting in there to see her without my authorization. I'd like to be the one to release her though."

"Very well, sir. I will have the arrangements made shortly and you can move the lieutenant when you are able." With a short pause Lt. Thalan then continued, "There is another matter that I need to talk to you about, Captain. There have been several reports from the away teams that many of their items, from tricorders to sample containers to even a couple of phasers, have gone missing. I already have a security detail looking into the matter as we speak, but from the preliminary investigation, there is no sign of who or what might have taken these items."

Matt nodded. "I see," he said. "Keep me informed as to your findings. What's your current plan to track down the culprit?"

"Yes, sir," the chief of security stated, and then continued, "I have the away teams running localized scans for the items in question, as the components of many of the items taken are not native to this planet. I had Ensign Lann already run scans from the ship and nothing has turned up. Which could mean several things, including that wherever the items are, they are now shielded. We do know that there is a cave system that our scans cannot penetrate."

"What are your thoughts on sending security teams into the caves to search? Make sure they're well armed and in teams of at least two. I don't know if we're dealing with a kleptomaniac crew member or someone whose ship may have crash landed here."

"I am a little uneasy about going in there. Not only with my first encounter in mind, but reports before this incident has those tunnels going on for kilometers. None of the teams that I sent in there to check it out found an end to the place. A perfect hiding place, especially if that cave system surfaces again somewhere," Jorell stated his opinion.

"Yes, there will be at least two members and I was thinking of leaving a trail of transponders along the way, sort of like bread crumbs. It will give use communication and act as a transporter relay if something goes wrong in there." He then paused to consider the captain's last comment and then said, "Sir, I do not think it is anyone from the ship." And before the man before him could query why he said, "Just a gut feeling, sir."

"I've always said that the gut feeling of a security officer is usually a surer bet than the hard facts of a science officer. Do what you need to do, Lieutenant. Get to the bottom of these thefts and find out who's responsible. Once we have the culprit, we can deal with the situation. Until then, we've just got phantom thieves."

"Yes, Sir," Lt. Thalan responded and then, standing to attention, he asked, "If there is nothing else, Captain?"

"There's nothing else, Mr. Thalan," Matt said. "Go ahead and get started. Good luck, Lieutenant."

---

"Inventory Trouble"
by Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir
and Ensign Kelzira Rax

Location: Quadrant 2, Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.23, 09h47

***

Tchalla Mel'Chir had tried very hard to forget about what the captain had said to her the previous evening. She tried very hard to forget about the way her body seemed to tremble with anxiety as he had talked to her. He was a very nice man. He was a good captain. He had made her as nervous as anything, but what was she to do? How she would have loved to talk to Chodar, to have her brother ease the fears that always crept in.

"Ensign," Captain Salinger had said, "because of recent events, Lieutenant Tagliesh has been temporarily removed from duty. For the time being, I would like for you to act as the temporary head of sciences. You have a good head on your shoulders and you are a good scientist."

She'd sat there stunned for over two minutes with him just watching her. She knew her body was trembling. She knew she was about ready to faint. "Thank you, sir," she'd finally managed to squeak.

"If you need any assistance, feel free to talk to either myself or Commander Lyrr."

Tchalla looked up at him fearfully. "Thank you, sir," she said. "Th-this is only a temporary change...right?"

Matt smiled. It was a comforting smile, but even then it wasn't enough to put Tchalla at ease. "It's only temporary, Ensign. But, I'm sure you'll do fine. Now, you'll be heading back first thing in the morning with a fresh team. Get some sleep, Tchalla. I'd like a report at the end of the shift tomorrow. If you need any help with that, talk to Commander Lyrr. She's the report expert on the ship."

"Thank you, Captain," she said. She got up from the chair she'd been sitting in, the one facing his desk. "The cataloging is going well so far. We'll be moving into the second area tomorrow."

"Good to hear," Matt said with a warm smile. "I have faith in you, Ensign."

Tchalla smiled and felt herself blushing. "Thank you, sir. Good night, sir. I'll report to you again tomorrow."

"Good night, Tchalla."

She'd gotten out of the office as fast as she could. It'd taken two hours to get her nerves settled again. It was finally a suggestion from the bartender, Stencil, that got her to sleep. Milk. She'd never imagined it would, but...Stencil was right again. Still, the temporary promotion still haunted her dreams.

Even now as she scanned the foliage in the second quadrant of their search, she could feel the heat on her cheeks. Her partner for this search was Ensign Rax. She was still baffled at why Lieutenant Tagliesh didn't like the young Trill woman. She just shrugged it off and figured it was just a strange human idiosyncrasy. Whatever the case, she liked Kelzira.

She moved on with her search, and figured that they'd move into the third quadrant by mid-afternoon. The scans were going much better than initially planned. She crouched down next to a small flowering plant to examine its reddish leaves. She set her sample case and tricorder aside so she could use her hands for balance.

The leaves were vaguely heart-shaped, and appeared to be dusted with a fine reddish-brown powder. Below the powder, the leaves themselves were a bright red. The flowers appeared to come in two colours, orange and purple. She cut a small sample from the plant. If it had no other merits, it would at least be nice to look at. She smiled and realized it was nice to smell too. She reached from the sample case and frowned when her hand found only the ground.

Tchalla turned and her frown deepened. The sample kit was gone. More shocking, however, was that the tricorder was also missing. She looked around, and for a moment tried to tell herself that she'd placed it somewhere else. Of course, she knew that wasn't true. "Kelzira," she called. The young Trill poked her head out from where she'd been working. "You didn't grab my tricorder and sample kit by accident, did you?"

Kelzira frowned. "No," she said. "I've just been over here..."

"They're gone. I set them down here to look more closely at this plant, and then when I turned back, they were gone."

Kelzira switched the scanning modes on her tricorder and did a quick perimeter scan. "The only people in the area are our own. And, I'm not detecting the tracer signal from the tricorder either."

The two science officers shared a perplexed look. What was going on?

It wasn't long before they found out that Tchalla's tricorder and sample kit weren't the only things missing. Two other tricorders, a phaser, three sample kits, six padds, and one of the imaging systems from the camp were all missing. Something was going on, and Tchalla Mel'Chir didn't like it at all.

---

"Confinement"
by Captain Matthew T. Salinger
and Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh

Location: Brig, USS Sulu
Stardate 50206.23, 10h32

***

Matt Salinger stepped into the bank of brig cells and strode down the corridor until he came to the only one currently in use. The hum of the field holding its single occupant inside was like a mosquito buzzing in the distance. He moved until he was standing directly in front of the cell opening and sighed as he looked in at the woman seated on the cot. She was staring at the floor, deep in thought.

Standing there watching her, without her awareness that he was even there, was pleasant. He wondered just how bad things would go once she realized he was there. How do I get through this part?

"Xayella," he said softly.

Not appreciating the intrusion, yet far too exhausted to spout a caustic remark, Xayella glanced up at her visitor, sighed, then returned her gaze to her bare feet. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" she muttered.

Matt smiled and shook his head. "No," he said. "If I were still on duty, I'd be considered a lazy captain. I talked to Jorrel a little bit ago. We're going to be moving you to your quarters. But, before that, I wanted to come and talk to you."

Xayella chuckled wearily. "What about? The situation seems all too clear, Captain. I'm a prisoner and the moment we get to a starbase, I'll no longer be a member of this crew. No discussion needed."

He took a step closer to the force field and sighed. "You're an explorer, Xay. You belong out here doing what you love. I want you out here. You're one of the best scientists in the entire Federation." He sighed again. "I guess what I really want to know is why? Why the insubordination? Why the difficulty? Why do you have to push in areas you already know bring trouble?"

"Once again, Captain, you're touching on an area I don't feel confident confiding to you about." She looked up at him and smiled wanly. "Sorry, but that's all you're getting from me. Besides, it won't change my situation, so what does it matter what my motivations are?"

"I'd think you'd know the answer to that one already," he said. "I'm an explorer. I like to know the unknown, and you're a mystery. There's a part of me that wants to understand why you've done what you've done. I want to know why someone would just toss away the chance to be out here."

"I didn't toss it away," she snapped. "You took it from me. You seemed fine with my antics the other night when you had your hand up my skirt, but when it was someone else, you seemed to have a bit of a problem." Xayella rose slowly and smiled at Matt. "I'd say you're jealous, Captain. That's it, isn't it? That's why I'm in here."

"I was fine with my hand up your skirt in my own quarters. I would have been fine if it were your quarters. You were in the middle of a turbolift, Xayella. You looked at me, saw that it was me, and went right back to kissing him. If I hadn't done anything, I'm sure you would have given me quite a show. I don't care if you're sleeping with half the ship...as long as you do it on your own time and privately. You knew you were walking a thin line, and you pressed the situation. You were the one to stop me the other night. The look in yours and Steele's eyes showed no signs of stopping. He was just a one-night fling. You hadn't expected me to give in to your wiles so easily." He shook his head and expelled a breath he'd just taken. "You pushed your situation too far. If you'd just stopped what you were doing in there, it would have been fine. But, you had to push it."

"I didn't get to be the best in Starfleet by holding back, Captain. Of course I pushed it! Did you expect anything less from me?" She laughed as she moved to the wall of the brig and propped her back against it. "This is getting us nowhere. Why can't you just let it go? You don't have to understand me, Matt. You'll never see me again so what does it matter?"

"It shouldn't, but it does," Matt said. "You were a member of my crew. You're a scientist and an explorer." Finally he sighed and threw up his hands. "But you don't seem to care, so I have no idea why I should. You don't care about your future or what happens next. Why should I?"

"I have no idea," she sighed. "Look, I have no future, Matt, not now. What happens next is I go home and my parents convince me to run one of their mining colonies. In fact, they might be glad this happened. They can finally get what they've wanted since they spawned an heir."

He took a step closer to the cell. "What do you want, Xay?" he asked. "If you could forget about your parents, your problems, and all the baggage you've had shackled to your ankle, what would you want to do with your life? If you could do anything you wanted, what would it be?"

Xayella didn't need long to think about her answer, for her goals were the one aspect of her life she wasn't confused about. "I want to be a scientist," she answered quietly. "It's all I've ever wanted."

Matt reached out and tapped a code into the door. The shimmering force field vanished. "Then why everything else?" he asked in an equally quiet voice. He was concerned and wanted to help, but he knew the chances of her allowing that were slim. But he had to try.

Xayella turned her head sideways to look upon Matt, and to make certain he didn't get too close, in more ways than one. "I don't know," she replied. "I'm not a psychologist; I don't know about the workings of the mind. I just...am the way that I am. I mean, do you know why you're so concerned with figuring me out?"

"Because you're a member of my crew. Because you're someone I almost got close to. And, because you're an explorer. There are similarities between us, and you have chances out there...far more chances than you'd have running a mining operation."

"I never said I wanted to run a mine, but I'm being left with little choice now." Xayella smiled tightly. "You made certain of that."

"You blame me," Matt said and then chuckled. "Beautiful."

"What? Did you really expect me to take all the responsibility? You threw me in the brig, and although I had a hand in it, you've ended my career." Xayella shrugged and returned her gaze to her bare feet. "So I'm a little bitter. It's my right."

"You really do believe you have every right to treat every other being in this universe as if they're your personal lackey, don't you? That everything in life should revolve around how you want it. That you don't have to follow other people's rules, that you're above them."

Xayella chuckled. "No, I don't believe that for a moment. Just another piece of misinformation you have chosen to believe about me. I believe I have the right to be happy, and if it's ended up with my being thrown out of Starfleet, at least I'll know that I tried."

"You have the right to be happy, Xay," he said, "but not at the expense of others' happiness or the rules that we have to live by in Starfleet."

"Look, I know no other way to achieve it, and frankly, I'm convinced I never will." She pushed off the wall and stalked towards her shoes resting beneath her cot. "It doesn't matter anymore anyway," she muttered as slipped one shoe upon her foot. "I've no chance now. It's over."

Matt sighed and then stepped through the entry of her cell. "I wish it could have been different," he said. "I can escort you to your quarters, unless you want to stay here."

With both shoes on her feet, Xayella diverted her attention to Matt and grinned. "You actually want to be seen walking with a disgrace such as myself?"

"There's no shame in walking with you, Xay," Matt said. "You're still a human being and you still deserve that respect, even if you're no longer a Starfleet officer. I would have liked to have been your friend; I imagine we could have had some enlightening conversations about science, exploration, and the future."

Xayella smiled ruefully. "I would have liked that too," she said softly. She sighed and walked leisurely towards the entryway. "Maybe we can try again in another existence."

Matt offered a smile and nodded. "I think it's alright for a Starfleet officer and a former Starfleet officer to be friends. If you'd like to try for that."

"I'm afraid I'll most likely be sent to the farthest mining colony my parents own. It makes it more difficult for news of my insolent behaviour to get to the ears of their important business clients." Xayella stopped outside of the cell and turned back to face Matt. "Besides, everytime I hear your voice or see your face, I'll be reminded of what I lost. I don't think I could handle that for long."

Matt nodded slowly. "You weren't here long, but I know I'll feel the same whenever I look back at the science station and see someone else there."

Xayella clenched her jaw at the thought of someone else doing her job. She hated leaving that duty in another's hands, especially when she knew they could never perform the role as successfully as she would have. But there was nothing to be done about it. "I think I'll find my own way back to my quarters. It's probably better that way."

"I can't allow that," Matt said. "As captain of this ship and as an almost friend. Come on, Xay. Besides, I have some questions for you."

She cocked an eyebrow at Matt. "Really? Still trying to gain some insight into how my mind works?"

Matt chuckled. "Well, one that's really intriguing me. Ensign Steele? Junior officers just don't seem to be your style. And, you turned, saw me...why go back to him then?"

Xayella started forward with Matt by her side and thought about his questions with a tiny grin on her face. "Well, his personality seemed appealing to me. And, a woman's got to have a warm body next to hers at one time or another. But why did I go back?" She gazed into Matt's eyes and a slight blush touched her cheeks. "I wanted to see if I could make you jealous."

He laughed. "Not the best way to do that," he said. "You are a very attractive woman and I would have really liked to be with you. But, there's not enough between us yet for me to be jealous. I was more concerned about you nearly having sex in a turbolift, going against everything I'd said earlier in the day, than about getting upset that you were with someone other than me."

"Well, you asked what my motivations were, and that was the main one. And another reason was because I couldn't help myself." She grinned slyly and slipped her arm around Matt's. "I like trouble."

"Well," Matt said with a chuckle, "you definitely found trouble. Probably more than you bargained for."

"It's alright," she said with a sigh. "At least now I can pay back my parents for such an unhappy childhood by sullying their reputation. Knowing that, I think it was well worth it."

Matt nodded slowly. "Do you want to tell me about any of it?"

Xayella shook her head without a moment's deliberation. "It won't change anything, and I'm too tired to go into it. And it puts me in a bad mood. I don't think we should ruin this rare moment of civility we've found."

"Okay," Matt said. "I don't want to see you go, Xay. But...but I don't know if I have any other options. As Matt Salinger the man, I don't want to lose the discoveries we can make together. As Matt Salinger the captain, I can't allow the disruption to the operation of this starship." He gave a wry chuckle and shook his head. "It's one of the worst dilemma's a starship captain ever has to face."

"Then I'll make it easy for you," Xayella said cheerfully. "I'll continue to be the bitter, unpleasant woman I've always been and I promise, you won't scruple for an instant to ship me away. How's that sound?"

With a shake of his head, Matt laughed. "Oh, but then I'll know you're doing it deliberately to spare my conscience," he said. "Of course, it won't be easy and I'll want to toss you out of an airlock. What would you do to be able to stay here?"

"I'm not begging," she said curtly. "And I won't pretend to be docile and submissive to gain your favour either. I won't."

Matt shook his head. "I'd never ask that of anyone. What I would like is to have a Starfleet officer. Someone who respects her fellow crew and follows the regulations of the ship. I want someone who wants to experience the joy of exploration with others, not to horde it for herself."

"I was hording nothing, Matt," Xayella said. "I merely prefer to work alone most of the time. It's just...easier that way."

"Why is it easier?" Matt asked gently. "Do you not trust them to do their jobs? They wouldn't be here if they didn't know what they were doing. And, if they don't know, you can help them learn."

Xayella disentangled her arm from Matt's and stopped in the corridor with a sharp sigh. "Look, you offered me a way to stay on board and now all these questions.... I don't understand what any of this has to do with that. You're just trying to manipulate your way into my head, throwing me off-guard with your profound questions so I'll give up something about myself. I won't do it, Matt. I won't."

"I'm just...I don't know if you even want to be a Starfleet officer," Matt said. "I know you want to be a scientist, but I'm not so sure about the rest. It probably wouldn't work out anyway."

"Why do you care, Matt?" Xayella growled in agitation and looked away from him. "You present the possibility of my staying aboard, yet now you tell me it's hopeless. Just forget it, alright? I'll leave to save you from the stress of having to decide what you really want."

He sighed. "I know what I want," he said. "I just don't know if it's possible for that to even exist. But, if you want me to, I'll forget it. Besides, we're almost at your quarters anyway."

Xayella jammed her fists into her hips and turned her gaze upon Matt again. "You're a very aggravating man, you know that? Look, I'll go the rest of the way on my own. And don't worry, you can trust that I'll go straight there." She took a step closer to Matt and searched his eyes. "You know, I don't think you do know what you want," she said quietly. "I think you have all these ideals and hopes and dreams, but if you falter on one step along the way, you lose sight of the goal. You really could learn a thing or two from me about succeeding. It's too bad I won't be around to teach you."

Matt chuckled softly. "Oh, I've seen your success," he said. "I don't know if I could look myself in the mirror. I know I want you to stay here. I know that I can't allow you to stay here if things aren't going to change. And, you aren't willing to tell me that you can or will change. You've basically refused and you give me no choice. But, I'll recover. I can see my hopes and dreams dashed to the ground and still go on. I don't like it, but I can do it."

Xayella nodded stiffly and chewed on the inside of her cheek to conceal the insult to her pride Matt had just dealt. He cared less about what happened to her than she had so arrogantly thought he did. Once again, she'd misjudged Matt Salinger. "Well," she said tightly, "I guess that's very good for you then. Have a wonderful afternoon, Captain. I won't waste another moment of your time. After all, there are more important things I'm sure you have to attend to." With a brief smile, Xayella started alone down the corridor again.

Matt's longer stride easily caught up with her before she could get too far away. "It's no waste of my time," he retorted, "I assure you. And, there's not much else for me to do at the time." He clenched and unclenched his jaw. "I don't want it this way."

"You can't always have what you want, Captain," she said sententiously. "And since you've yet to state what you do want, I'm afraid I can't help you."

It was Matt Salinger's turn to growl. How could he be torn like this? How could he want her to stay when she was like this? It made him think he needed to talk to Galil...either that or the bartender. "I don't want you to be shipped off like this, but you're not helping the situation in the least."

"I'm not helping you achieve whatever it is you're looking for," she countered. "That's it, isn't it? You were hoping to make an example of me, but I'm refusing to play along so now the mindgames come in to make me more responsive to the idea. But I'm not weak-minded, Matt, so it won't work."

"I am not making an example of you," Matt snapped, his voice more harsh than he'd intended. "I'm trying to figure out why you want to throw your career away and refuse to do anything to try to reverse the process. But, maybe it's much easier to sulk, pout, and blame everyone else for your problems rather than stepping forward and accepting that you're the one responsible for screwing up your career and life!"

Xayella whirled around to face Matt and refrained from smacking him again. "My life? You know nothing about my life! You see, your problem is that you presume too damned much. You're just full of answers to the universe's problems, to my problems! But you don't know anything, and you never will."

"Fine," Matt said with an angry shake of his head. "Then, I'm sure you'll love going back to your parents. I'm sure you'll love running some mining colony at the edge of known space. I'm sure a dishonourable discharge from Starfleet is the best thing that'll ever happen to you in life. Everything's peachy. I'm certain this won't affect you at all."

"Save the sarcasm, Salinger," she spat. "I'm well aware of how miserable my life is going to be from now on, so there's no need for you to remind me. I'll figure something out on my own. I always do."

"Send me a postcard," Matt grumbled as they turned the corner that would lead to her quarters. "I was only pointing out that I'm not as obtuse as you seem to think I am. Your life, Xayella Tagliesh. I don't know everything, but I know enough. You seem the type who lashes out when she feels cornered. When someone tries to figure you out, you're really quick to tell them they know nothing about you, no matter how close they come to the truth."

"So now you feel you know me?" Xayella snorted wryly and shook her head. "Why don't you tell me why I am the way that I am then? You've got it all figured out, so enlighten me, Matt Salinger. You tell me why my parents neglected me, disinherited me, and tried everything in their power to make me invisible to the greater public. Go on. Tell me why my parents hated me! You're so brilliant, so tell me."

"I can't tell you that," Matt said. "That's how they are. That's how they treated you. Their treatment of you influenced your behaviour. And if they did neglect you. If they did push you out, then that explains why you are the way you are. Is it revenge? Is it a means to get their attention, to get them to acknowledge you? Do you want their acknowledgement?"

Xayella laughed derisively, but within, she was grateful they had finally come to her door. She needed an escape route and quickly. "I don't want anything from them, okay? And I certainly don't want anything from you! Go find someone else to analyze. I'm tired of this game."

"Of course," Matt said with a knowing smile. "I guess I shall talk to you later, probably before the shuttle returns to Starbase 1. Unless you don't want to talk to me again. In any event, good luck with whatever comes next for you, Xay. It could have been good."

"For you maybe. You're thinking you could have had the best screw of your life with me, and now you'll never get your chance." She chuckled dryly. "I should've known that's why you're trying so hard with me. How very cunning of you."

Matt took a step back and looked her over, appraising her. "Hmmm, definitely not best of my life," he said. "Though, I imagine it would have been a nice evening's diversion. Though, you go on flattering yourself if it makes you feel better."

Xayella narrowed her eyes at him and was momentarily surprised by the knot in her throat. She hadn't expected his words to hurt her as much as they did, but she wasn't going to let it show. "Go to hell, Matt Salinger." Without another word for fear that her voice would crack from the emotion, Xayella punched at her door console and fled into her quarters.

Matt stepped back until he was against the wall opposite Xayella's quarters. He sighed and shook his head. How could he have said that to her? How could he have been so very cruel? He knew he couldn't go to her now, the pain was too fresh. But, maybe he could come back and talk to her later. Swallowing back the anger, pain, and guilt of his own actions, he turned away and headed back toward the bridge, leaving Xayella in peace.

---

"Mommy Dearest"
by Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh
Captain Matthew Salinger
and Nora Tagliesh [NPC]

Location: Lieutenant Tagliesh's quarters, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.23, 11h43

***

"Well, maybe if you stopped expecting me to screw up, I wouldn't!"

"Xayella, my dear, we have always supported--"

"No," she interrupted. "No, you have never supported me in anything I've done. When I told you I was joining Starfleet, what's the first thing you said?"

Nora Tagliesh sighed for the second time during their heated conversation. It seemed to be the only reaction she ever made to Xayella's ravings, especially since she rarely listened to the substance of Xayella's words and so she left any response she made ambiguous to maintain the illusion of attentiveness.

Xayella chuckled dryly and continued. "Close, mother, but you sighed before you said: 'Don't be stupid, Xayella. You won't last a year there.' "

"You have to understand where your father and I were coming from, dear. We had such high hopes that you'd follow in our footsteps."

"Well, that's not the life I wanted for myself," she explained. "Why can't you just understand that!"

Her mother frowned. "Now, now, there's no need to shout."

"Mother!" Xayella sighed in exasperation. "I'm not a child anymore. Don't tell me how to behave! And stop contacting me every odd week to make sure I haven't done anything to tarnish your reputation."

"Xayella, that is not true. Can't a mother take an interest in her daughter's life?"

"No," Xayella rasped. "No, you can't. You didn't do it when I was a child and you've no right to do it now."

Once again, her mother sighed and looked away. "Xay--"

"Don't you dare, mother. You didn't participate in my life as a mother should. Neither of you did." Xayella let out a quelling breath, then spoke again with renewed calm. "Did either of you ever think that maybe I am the way that I am because neither of you ever took an interest in raising me, in being a part of my life? For example, if you'd praised me that time I won first place in my school's science fair, or if you'd watched when I won the state swimming competition; don't you think I would be a different person today if you had?"

"So, now your father and I are to blame for your unruly behaviour? Xayella, we've always been busy people. I know we could have spent a little more time with you as a child, but we always made certain you knew we loved you."

Xayella laughed derisively. "You never once showed me love. You and father only ever showed me disdain and contempt."

"Xayella," her mother chided. "You never wanted for anything. You were always well-provided for. Was that not a sign of our love for you?"

"No! That was not love. That was ingratiation! I had everything any child could ever wish for, but I was missing the most important thing: the knowledge that my parents loved me and that I was not a burden to them. Even now I feel that way. Even now I get the impression that you'd much rather be in a business meeting than speak with me."

"That is not true, Xayella."

"Oh, isn't it? That's how it's always been, so why should now be different?"

Her mother detached herself from the rather one-sided argument and instead focused on the green bottle of liqour resting on the desktop. Xayella couldn't remember a time when her mother was without her best bottle of brandy, and had memories of her with a snifter full always in her hand. And, living up to Xayella's low expectations of her, in but a moment she had a goblet filled to the brim with brandy, and in another instant, she was sipping at the sweet libation. Infused with strength, Xayella's mother retrned her attention to the display. "Darling, I really have to go, but we will speak again soon. Now, we've been in contact with an associate in Starfleet and you should be reinstated in due time. And, don't you concern yourself with that Captain Salinger fellow. Once all this is handled, he won't be bothering you again, not if he values his title and rank."

"Mother, no." Xayella leaned forward and stared with a stern gaze at her mother. "You won't do anything, and most of all, you will leave Matt Salinger out of whatever it is your conniving mind has planned for him."

Her mother gestured dismissively. "Oh, don't be silly, dear." She set her glass down and took up a datapad listing her daily appointments. Xayella suspected she was looking for space to fit in another call to her, and of course, she was right. "I'll contact you next week," she said. She inputted the memo into her datapad and set it down. "I'll tell your father you're doing well. And, dear, please try and behave. Your father and I are in the process of closing a very important business deal and we can't afford any negative publicity. We were fortunate that this incident hasn't already leaked to the newsnet."

"Don't worry, mother, the Tagliesh name is safe with me." Xayella shook her head incredulously. "Goodbye, mother." Without awaiting acknowledgement, Xayella terminated the transmission and slowly exhaled.

Right on cue, her head began to ache as it always did when her mother made her routine, yet impromptu, calls, but their purpose was always to check up on her impudent daughter to ensure that their cherished corporation wasn't at risk from their undisciplined child's disobedience. She wasn't a source of joy or pride for them, she was simply a loose end that needed tying every now and then. Xayella had always tried to dismiss her parents' indifference and apathy towards her, but to this day, it still hurt.

With a stifled groan, Xayella sat back against her chair and buried her face in her hands, but no tears would come. Even with as depressed as she felt, she couldn't afford them.

"So that's your mother," a voice said from near the door. "I guess that explains more than I suspected."

Not at all startled by the intrusion, especially with the gentleness of Matt's voice, Xayella let her hands fall to her lap and remained with her back to him. "Get out," she whispered.

"I heard you yelling, and...and I was concerned. I want to talk, Xay. Please. I said some very harsh, awful things before...and...and that's not what I really felt. Not even close."

"I'll be gone soon, so it doesn't matter." She paused to collect herself, but still kept her face away from Matt's view. How ashamed she would feel if he saw the tears glistening in her eyes. "There's no need to explain anything. I bring out the worst in people. That's what happened. It's not your fault."

"It does matter," Matt said softly. "I don't want to see you thrown out like this, Xayella. I don't want to see your dreams destroyed. I don't know if anything can change, but I want to help if I can."

"You can't help!" she shot back. "You probably heard the entire conversation, so you know you're as screwed as I am. How the hell can you help me?"

"I don't know," Matt said. "Do you even want out of this? Do you even want to be a Starfleet officer?"

Xayella shifted around in her chair and finally faced Matt, even at the risk of revealing to him how emotionally vulnerable she was. "You think I want to be in this position? Is that what you really think?"

"I don't know what you want because you won't say anything to me."

"Why should I say anything to you?" she asked. "What was it you said? I was a dashed hope? A convenient diversion?" Xayella shook her head. "I'm nothing to you, so don't even pretend to care, Matt Salinger. No one else does, so neither should you."

"The problem is that I do care," Matt said. "And, I didn't mean those things... I was only trying to get a reaction, to get you to stand up and fight rather than crawl into a corner. I didn't mean what I said."

Xayella smiled wryly. "Oh, of course you did, Matt. You were manipulating me just as I was trying to manipulate you. Just because you're a captain doesn't mean you're a decent, moral person. You're not above deceit and cruelty, and you've shown that to me. It's almost...admirable."

"Only you could believe that," Matt said. "Along with maybe the Romulans and the Cardassians. What I did was wrong, but it was only a tactic to try to get you to stop giving up, to stop pushing me away when I'm only offering a hand. And, then still not answering any of my questions. You want me to give up trying to help because there's no point, yet you don't want to give up being a scientist." He shook his head and turned away. "If you want to throw everything away, then so be it. I can't force you."

Xayella was glad Matt had decided to look away at that moment, for a single rebellious tear escaped, as hard as she'd tried to push it away. She couldn't afford for him to see that; he would know the answer to all his questions if he did. As quickly as it came, Xayella even more quickly wiped it away, eliminating any trace of its existence. "You should probably contact Starfleet command and make certain my mother hasn't said anything to jeopardize your career. She can be very convincing and vicious when her reputation is at stake."

"If she does, maybe I'll have to find a mining colony somewhere to be the administrator of," he said. "I don't know what will come of this, but...but thanks for the warning."

"Good. I just want you to know that, whatever happens to you in this, I had nothing to do with it." Xayella looked down at her hands folded together upon her lap. "I wouldn't do anything hurtful to you, not like that. You're just doing your duty to Starfleet. You shouldn't be punished for that."

Matt nodded slowly and leaned against the wall. "I just want you to know that you are one of the most brilliant scientists I've ever met, Xay. I read some of the papers you wrote when you were on the Osiris. Some of it was a little more advanced than I'm used to, but the theories were as solid as titanium and...and it was very well done." He shook his head as if trying to shake away a bad memory. "I wish there were a way..."

"My mother will find a way," Xayella said bitterly. "Don't worry. I'll most likely be allowed to remain in Starfleet if she can persuade some powerful people to overlook this incident, though I doubt I'd be allowed to remain on the Sulu. She thinks by doing this for me, she's showing how much they both love me...." She sighed then murmured, "I don't even know what that feels like. I've never known. I guess that explains a lot."

Matt took a couple steps toward her. He took a deep breath and let it out. "Do you want to be a Starfleet officer, Xay? I mean, really a Starfleet officer?"

She studied her fingers picking at the hem of her shirt while she contemplated her reply. "I want to be a scientist, and Starfleet is the best place to be that."

"Would you be willing to follow the rules of being a Starfleet officer?"

"I don't know," she replied forthrightly. "Matt, I just don't know."

Matt sighed, unable to hide his disappointment. "I understand," he said.

"No," she said as she looked up at him, "you don't understand. You don't know how much I want to stay here, and you don't know how frustrating it is that I can't change the way that I am. I wish I could be a model officer, but I don't know how to be without being unfaithful to who Xayella Tagliesh is. She's strong and opinionated, and never let's anyone take advantage of her. I don't want to give that up."

"Who on this ship has taken advantage of you since you arrived here?" Matt asked gently. "When have I ever refused to hear one of your opinions? You can be a Starfleet officer and still have strong opinions. People don't walk all over each other here, and you shouldn't have to fight for dominance. You're a lieutenant and the head of a department. You don't need to assert yourself anymore than pointing to your collar."

"I know that," she said irritably. "It's just difficult to change one's mindset. You seem so insightful; you should know that."

Matt looked down at the top of his boots and sighed. "Are you even willing to try?"

Xayella followed Matt's gaze and rested her own upon the same sight he was staring at. "Will you help me?"

"I'll do everything I can," Matt said with a nod. "I'll help you as much as I can, Xay. But, please don't let me down in this. I'm going way out on a limb for you...and if it doesn't work this time it could be my career as well."

With a curious frown, Xayella found Matt's eyes with her own and held his gaze. "You're willing to risk that for me? Why, Matt?"

"Because you're an amazing scientist," he said. "And, you deserve this chance. I've seen it in your eyes, and you'd wither away on some mining station. You need to be out here. I'm in a position to give you what you want. And, in return I get a science officer and potentially a friend."

"I knew there was something in it for you," she teased.

"There always is, isn't there," he said with a grin. "I want you to go through the command training seminars on the holodeck too. No one else needs to know you're doing them, but I think it will give you some additional command training. And, once a week, you and I will be using the holodeck together. I have a program I want us to go through. I'm hoping it'll help you break some of those bad habits." He smiled warmly and held out a hand to her.

Xayella couldn't keep herself from smiling back, especially at the sight of Matt's charming, crooked grin. She hesitantly slipped her hand lightly into his and rose. "Is this your way of asking me out on a date, Matt?"

Matt laughed. "Well, that wasn't the intention," he said, "but I have to say that I'd like that. The holoprograms I was thinking of, it's sort of a history of Starfleet. Did you ever see any of those old serial adventures where each week would have a new episode that picks up where the last left off? I thought it might be interesting to experience life in the Federation from the beginning. To be able to stand with men like Archer and April and Kirk." He looked at her and grinned again. "But, that may not be all that fitting of a date. If you'd like, we can have dinner together. Something nice and elegant?"

Xayella's smile grew and a warm blush suffused her cheeks. "And private?"

"Very private," Matt said. "Just you, me, and the holoemitters."

"Then I accept," she replied readily. "Though, until then, I'm assuming I'm still confined to quarters."

"We'll have to see about that," he said. "I think we might be able to get you back down on the planet and helping out. If you'd like that."

"If you think I'm ready for it, of course I would. They could use me down there."

"They could," Matt said. "I think Tchalla's a little over her head with running the department, but she is doing a very good job so far. She's holding up though. There've been some thefts too, and I'm not sure what's going on. Lieutenant Thalan is looking into it, but he hasn't turned anything up yet."

"Well, sounds like Xayella Tagliesh is needed. Once you clear up everything with Starfleet Command, I'll beam right down." Xayella's smile waned. "I'll have to speak with my mother again. She's very stubborn and won't back off until I deal out some threats. I don't want you in trouble, Matt."

"That makes two of us," he said. "Will you be alright working under Ensign Mel'Chir for the rest of this mission?"

"I hadn't realized I would be," Xayella replied. "Matt...I don't know if I can take orders from a mere child, no matter how competent she is. Do you know how degrading that will be?"

Matt smiled and reached out to take her other hand. "I know you don't like it, but she does know what she's doing. I've had to take orders from admirals who didn't know what life on the other side of their desk was like. You'll be fine, and I assure you that Tchalla won't be out there trying to degrade you or bully you. She wants this mission to succeed, and I assure you that you'll be doing quite a bit to help her. Please, Xay, as soon as this is over, you'll be back in charge of the department, but for now... It'll be alright. I promise. And, if not, you can take out your frustrations on me tonight."

Xayella smiled impishly and stepped closer to Matt. "Be careful what you say around me, Matt Salinger, for that almost sounds like a sexual proposition."

"Oh," Matt said with a laugh, "I would never suggest something like that...no matter how nice it may sound. Are you willing to do this, Xay? It'll give you the chance to just be a scientist for a bit. Do you ever wish for that? To just be able to do your work without having to worry about the department or reports or any of that?"

Xayella sighed whimsically and nodded. "Of course I do. To be able to just work in the field, without all the bureaucracy and deadlines.... I know I could go out and be a field scientist if I wanted to be, but in Starfleet, I can go places I would otherwise be unable to explore."

Matt grinned. "Exactly," he said. "Will you be alright with this arrangement on the away mission? You can be a field scientist using Starfleet's resources."

Xayella chuckled. "You're crafty, Matt Salinger. You know just what to say to convince me. So, consider me convinced. I'll join the away team, and I'll even work under Ensign Mel'Chir...this time."

"Well, just this time," he said. "It's good to have you back, Xay. You and I have a similar passion for what we're doing out here. It would have really hurt to lose that. I'm glad you're going to be staying on the Sulu. And, if you left, how would I spend time on the holodeck with you?"

"You wouldn't. And what a loss that would be." Xayella exhaled slowly as she slipped her arms around Matt's waist and embraced him. "And another thing," she said quietly. "Don't hurt me again like you did last night. It felt horrible."

Matt's arms easily twined around Xayella and he held her close. "I hated doing it," he said. "I think I only got two hours sleep the whole night, and that was spent tossing and turning before I had to be on the bridge. I will do everything I can to keep from hurting you again, Xay; I never want to feel that way again."

Xayella smiled. "You're not getting sentimental on me, are you, Salinger?"

"Not sentimental," he said with a chuckle. "Just not wanting to hurt you anymore than I've already done."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think I deserved it." She looked up at Matt and felt her cheeks warm again at the sight of his smile. "So, feeling better?"

"Much better," he said. "And, I want you to know that I don't do this with every unruly officer under my command. I know we shouldn't be in here holding each other like this, but I won't tell if you don't."

"Me? Tell? There's nothing much to brag about yet, Matt. No point in saying anything." Xayella shot him an alluring smile. "Do I have something to brag about?"

"Nothing that I'm aware of," he said. "After you get finished on the planet tonight, how would you like to have dinner together? If you want, we can share a replicator in here."

"I happen to like replicated meals," Xayella quipped. "So I guess it's a date. And I promise, Ensign Steele won't be anywhere in sight."

Matt laughed. "Well that's good," he said. "I wouldn't want to have to compete for your attention with an ensign, especially one who was glaring at me like I'd just demoted him back down to crewman third class."

"That's only because you deprived him of a night of the most pleasure he would have ever experienced." Xayella pulled back to look up at Matt, then freed herself from his embrace with a sheepish smile. "I think if you come over tonight, you won't be leaving until morning, Matt. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"I'm pretty sure," he said. "But, we'll have to take it one step at a time. Dinner, and then who knows what... But, I think I would like to spend the night here with you if that's what the fates have in store for us. Or if not the fates, then us..."

"Don't decide anything yet," Xayella said. "This could just be a phase, and tomorrow I could be back to my old self again. Though, one call from my mother will fix that."

"Well, I think we can safely say that we'll figure this out together," Matt said. "Going slowly and not trying to do too much too soon is probably the best way to go. And, who knows where it will all lead us."

"If things go well tonight, it'll lead us straight to my bed." Xayella chuckled and rolled her eyes at the banality of her statement. "I think you'd better go before I say something else extremely dull," she joked.

Matt laughed. "Well, it wasn't that dull," he said. "I mean, I have heard duller. I guess I'll see you tonight then, Xay. They're moving into the third quadrant soon, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you how to integrate into the science teams. That's kind of like a doctor trying to tell an engineer how to fix the ship's engines."

"Or a science officer telling a captain how to run a ship," she offered. Xayella gazed at Matt in pensive silence, then laughed softly. "It's a good thing you came when you did or I could've been on the first transport off this ship."

"I'm very glad I came when I did then," Matt said. Instead of moving away toward the door, he took a step closer and took her hands. "If the rest of this mission goes well, maybe I won't have to fight Lyrr so hard to keep you onboard as science chief."

"Considering the animosity between us, I'm sure you'll still need to do that. Don't worry, though. I can handle her." She'd never taken the time to study Matt's eyes, but as she searched them now, she decided that they were very much to her liking. "I can handle you too, you know," she said more softly as her body drifted closer to his. "And I've already seen that you can handle me. It seems everyone's doing a lot of...handling."

"That's not such a bad thing," he said with a smile. "I think as long as you're not causing any trouble, it'll be much easier to deal with Lyrr. And, the trouble that you don't make out there, I'm sure we can make up for in here."

"You can count on that," she whispered huskily. She felt his warm breath upon her lips, and as much as she desired to touch them with her own, even she knew they were moving too fast. "You should go," she muttered. "You've got...duty...I think."

"And...you've got...on the planet. Uh...if you get a chance...to...to call off the dogs. Your mother. Though, if you want to hold off, that's fine too. I'll get by for now..."

"I'll call," she assured him quickly. Her damned body refused to pull away, but at least she was no longer moving forward. "The dog won't bite you...or something. Now, I can't promise the same about me...." She smiled silkily.

"Oh temptation," Matt murmured. "I can see this is going to be difficult to manage between the two of us, not that I'm really complaining. I think I kind of like the idea of you, me, and...biting. But, I should really go before we do something we shouldn't yet."

"Then go," Xayella said simply. With a gentle laugh she added, "If you can."

"I'm giving the order to my legs, but they're being insubordinate," he said with a smile. After a moment, he nodded. "Fine. But, tonight, I can't make any promises." He quickly leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers and quickly retreated toward the door before the kiss could become more. "I'll see you tonight, Xayella."

She nodded her head clumsily. "I'll definitely be waiting," she breathed.

He pressed the button near the door and gave her one more smile before quickly vanishing out into the corridor.

Xayella reached out her hand toward the door as it closed behind Matt, then pulled it back and laughed softly. Everything had been so wrong only less than an hour ago, yet now she was happier than she'd ever been. Of course, she'd have to work under Ensign Mel'Chir and would have her every move scrutinized from thereon in, but she had regained her position on board and would again have a chance to be a scientist and investigate a new world, as she had always dreamed of doing. It also seemed she had found the potential for something beyond a professional relationship with Matt, whether she wanted one or not, but she couldn't deny that it was something she would enjoy exploring. For once, things were looking up for her; she only hoped that she wouldn't do something to jeopardize it all.

---

"Division"
by Captain Matthew T. Salinger
and Commander Lyrr Tayla

Location: Bridge, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.23 12h07

***

The turbolift door closed behind Matt Salinger as he stepped out onto the bridge of his ship. There was a gentle buzz of conversation as his people went about their work. Commander Lyrr Tayla sat in the center of the bridge, in charge of everything. He stepped down the single step into the sunken area where the command module of the bridge was situated. He approached and dropped into the seat beside her.

"Report, Number One," he said with a grin.

"Science Team Three has just reported in from the planet," Tayla replied. "They say they have not encountered anything else out of the ordinary. Things on board are going smoothly as well, so it looks like it's going to be a quiet afternoon, Captain."

"I like quiet afternoons," he said. "Quiet means nothing's going wrong."

"That could be because certain troublemakers are no longer roaming free aboard the ship," Lyrr said with a smile. "You were right to do what you did, Captain. Someone should have had the courage to do it a long time ago."

"She's going down to the surface to help out with the science team," Matt said.

Lyrr said nothing in response while she regained control of her gaping jaw and awaited the return of her speech function. When she was finally capable of speaking, she did so, but in a barely controlled whisper. "She what? Captain, I think you and I need a moment in private to speak."

"My ready room," Matt said. He then got up and strode off toward the door to the side of the bridge. He was glad of the soundproofing on the walls, because he knew this wasn't going to be a quiet meeting.

As Matt stepped aside to allow her entry into the ready room, Lyrr marched through the open doorway, already displaying signs of her displeasure. She didn't bother taking a seat, for she knew she wouldn't be able to sit in it for long during her inevitable argument with Matt. And as he too stepped into the ready room, and once the doors closed, she began her tirade. "She is no longer a member of this crew, Captain. You are in violation of Federation code by allowing her to leave her quarters. If I had my way, she'd still be on the brig! Are you trying to sabotage your career? I mean, I knew you were daring and adventurous, but that's a little extreme, don't you think?"

Matt moved to the corner of his desk and took a seat there. "Have you ever heard of the Linnaean Galactic Mining Corp?"

Lyrr suppressed a sigh of frustration at what seemed to be a pointless question. "Yes. They supply Starfleet with dilithium, along with numerous other members of the Federation. Why is this at all important?"

"Take a wild guess at who the highly influential heads of this corporation might happen to be."

This time, Lyrr threw up her hands in defeat and did sigh. "You've got me at a loss, Captain. So, are you going to tell me who they are or will I have to guess?"

"Nora and Charles Tagliesh. Most of my early morning was spent talking to various admirals around the fleet. There is a lot of pressure being put on me to reinstate her. Hell, they'd demand I give her her own command if I could." He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "That's not why, in the end, I did it though. I talked to her, and I'm giving her another chance. She's going to try. She wants to be a scientist and she wants to be out here exploring. I want to give her one last time before it's all taken away."

Lyrr shook her head slowly and sank down into the vacant chair across from Matt's desk, with her anger all but deflated. "So, it was a combination of coercion and your conscience getting in the way. Oh, this is just great. You know this will only happen again, don't you? She says she'll try, but she won't. She just wants you off her back for a while, and when she feels she's no longer being watched, we'll have the same problems as before."

"If she burns me this time," Matt said, "I don't care what they do to my career, I'm taking her down with me. But, I want to give her this one last chance."

"Matt, you're treading dangerous ground here," Lyrr warned him gently. "Do you truly believe she cares about anyone but herself? Do you think it matters to her that this compassion you are showing her could end up destroying your career if she steps over the boundaries again? I know you're a captain and your tendency is to think of your ship and crew first, but for once, Matt, I'm telling you to think of yourself and what this could do to you."

"Thank you," Matt said with a smile. "And, I am watching out for myself, but I also want to help her. She's not a bitch to be a bitch. Her parents don't care about her anymore than what damage she can do to their name. I want to help her get past that, to be a decent Starfleet officer and person. It's partly what we're all about out here."

"But that's not your duty, Captain. Order her to attend weekly counselling sessions; separate yourself from her as much as you can. If she falls, you'll go down with her no matter what now, but if you limit your associations with her are as much as possible, at least you'll fall a little more softly."

"Thank you for your concern," he said softly. "I think I got through to her today. I think I made progress with her. She actually agreed to work under Ensign Mel'Chir for this mission."

Lyrr slowly crossed her legs and worried her lower lip. "It could be a ploy on her part, you know, to make you complacent. She's conniving and vindictive, and I don't trust her. I don't think she's being entirely sincere with you. Be careful, Matt."

"I'll be careful, and I'll be cautious. I won't let her manipulate me into anything. I know she wants this. I know she wants to be a scientist and an explorer. If she wants it bad enough, then maybe being a Starfleet officer won't be so bad."

Lyrr nodded her head pensively. "And you're sure she hasn't already manipulated you into believing all that?"

Matt chuckled softly. "Yes, I'm quite certain she is sincere in that. I knew that the first time I met her. It's in her eyes and I can tell just by the way she reacts. I know she loves science. She doesn't want to cause problems, and she wants to break from that."

"Well, the fact of the matter is she has caused problems in the past, and forgive me for sounding pessimistic, but I know she will be a further nuisance in the future." Lyrr smiled fondly. "You're far too caring, Matt. I admire you for it, but I think it's also one of your failings. That's why, from now on, I wish you would consult with me on such matters before you make a decision. You need someone who doesn't always lead with her heart to help you make the right ones."

"And, if I came to you and said I was looking to reinstate Lieutenant Tagliesh, what would you have told me?"

"I would have told you you were insane," she replied forthrightly. "Of course you wouldn't have listened to me, but at least I would have had some warning about what you were planning."

"Well, you're only getting the news about ten minutes after it happened," Matt said. "I don't know if talking about matters that deal with Xayella over with you would really get us anywhere. You don't like her, and I can't see her doing anything short of saving the Federation from destruction that would even cause you to think of her differently...and even that's a long-shot scenario. I don't believe either of us are going to have any objectivity when it comes to her."

"But at least if I know I had an opportunity to attempt and stop you, I wouldn't feel so betrayed. Not that I'm feeling that way completely, but it still would have been nice to have been kept informed of the situation before you did something this drastic."

Matt laughed. "Oh, it's not all that drastic," he said. "How much do you know about Andorians?"

Lyrr regarded Matt quizzically, once again uncertain as to where his question was leading. "They're a belligerent race who revel in violence-- Are you likening me to an Andorian, Captain?"

With a chuckle, Matt shook his head. "No, you're not like an Andorian. However, Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir is an Andorian, and she's in charge of the Away Team on the surface right now. If Xayella causes any problems, Tchalla will be the first one to deal with it."

Lyrr laughed at that. "Captain, have you met Ensign Mel'Chir? Sometimes, I think she's afraid of her own shadow, and you expect her to keep Lt. Tagliesh in line?"

"If you think that then you have to ask her about the rate of decay on the Dorvali coastlines sometimes. The girl knows science, that's for certain. Ask her how she's feeling and you might get a shrug or a single word answer, in Standard if you're lucky. Ask her about something science, and you'll see just how shy she is."

"Alright, Captain," she said with a smile, "I'll take your word for it. Though, it might be prudent to have a security team member escorting her at all times. That would quell any rebellious tendency that might arise in her while she's down on the planet."

"Let us suppose you are a rebellious science officer," Matt said with a sigh. "Now, I assign a team of security officers to watch your every move, reporting back to the captain and executive officer whenever they can. How do you feel?"

"Obviously I would be angry, but I'm asking for one officer, Captain. You've already placed too much trust in her; all I'm asking is for you to show some discretion. Your career is on the line. You can never be too careful when it comes to that."

"In her position, how far to do you think Lieutenant Tagliesh will be pushed? If you were her, do you think even one security officer shadowing her while she's trying to do her work would be one shadow too many?"

Lyrr let out a deep, calming breath as she brushed a hand through her short brown hair. "You're not even willing to take any precautions whatsoever? Well, so be it, Captain, but I must remind you that you will be held responsible if she does something to injure or jeopardize any member of the away team while she's down there. Are you prepared to accept that?"

"I am responsible for every single member of this crew," Matt said, his voice growing an edge. "If I start clamping down on what she is allowed to do, I will jeopardize the mission far more than I ever would by letting her do her job. She has been pushed and prodded for her entire life, Commander, and doing so again right now could have disastrous results. I will be monitoring her progress on the planet to make sure things go smoothly, but I will not subscribe to this plan of yours to do everything I can to edge her out of Starfleet altogether."

Tayla narrowed her eyes slightly at Matt, but a hasty reminder of what she was, and who she was ready to snap at, and her features neutralized quickly. "I'm sorry you feel that is my sole motivation with regards to Lt. Tagliesh, Captain," she replied tightly. "I'm sorry you can't see that I am looking out for the interests of this crew, including you. If keeping her on board is so important to you, I won't make another protest about it. I merely thought you'd value the opinion of your first officer and friend, but it's obvious that when Lt. Tagliesh is concerned, none of that matters. So, if this discussion has ended, may I please return to the bridge?"

"Commander, your judgement of Lieutenant Tagliesh is skewed because you don't like the woman," Matt said calmly. "I am giving her another chance, and that does not include treating her like a criminal. I am fully prepared to discipline her to the fullest extent of the Starfleet code, but until she screws up again, I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt. I believe in giving people chances, commander, including someone like Tagliesh. No one will die from her actions, and if they do, then I'll give up my command and retire back to earth." He bit back comments that would compare her behaviour to the Obsidian Order, knowing full well where that would lead. "There will be no Thought Police on my ship."

"And your ship it is, Captain, and you can run it from now on without any intereference from me. If you won't listen to any insights I may have, then my position on this ship is superfluous." Lyrr rose smoothly and passed her hands over the tunic of her uniform to straighten it out. "Permission to return to the bridge where I shall remain absolutely quiet and unanimated until my input is required, sir."

"Permission denied," Matt said. "Do you truly believe that you are being fair to Lieutenant Tagliesh?"

"I truly believe you are being far too lenient," she replied evasively. "What is fair is her being court-martialled for her insubordination. She may be a brilliant scientist, Captain, but that does not exempt her from abiding by the code of conduct she agreed to follow when she joined Starfleet. What kind of precedent do you think you're setting by allowing an obviously unruly officer from escaping deserved punishment? I just...can't understand how you can be so lenient, Matt!"

"Compassion, Commander. And, I am being lenient this time. If she continues her previous behaviour, I can assure you that I won't be lenient again. Do you trust me, Lyrr?"

Tayla chuckled and shook her head in disbelief. He certainly knew how to aggravate her, but it only led her to respect him more. "Of course I trust you, Matt. You don't even need to ask that."

"Then please trust me on this," he said gently. "I've had one-on-one dealings with Xayella since she came on board, and I think I have a very good idea on how to read her. I know that pushing too many restrictions or conditions on her right now is just going to drive her back. She's had a very rough life. Her parents are very wealthy and they don't care about her. I'm going to try to get her in to see a counsellor, or Stencil if nothing else. She needs friends and people who are not going to try to hurt her. There's a saying on earth: you can get more flies with honey than vinegar. A little kindness to her may turn her into a real Starfleet officer. If it doesn't work, then we'll have to find another way to deal with her...most likely a court martial."

"But--" Lyrr held her tongue, grudgingly, and nodded slowly. "If that's how you want to deal with the situation, Captain...then I will support your decision. I don't agree with it, but I won't turn my back on you."

"Do you believe in second chances, Commander?"

"Not in this life, Captain. You get one chance at everything, and if you fail or pass it up, you never get another." She shrugged dismissively as she crossed her arms over her chest. "It's how life goes."

The look on Matt's face clearly showed disappointment. "I see," he said. "Well, I guess that's that then." He moved around his desk and sat in his chair. "You're dismissed, Commander."

Lyrr bowed her head and started for the doors. She stopped before she reached them, but didn't turn back. "Not everyone shares your idealism, Matt. Don't let that get you down, though. You do what you have to do; don't worry about me." Wasting not another moment, Lyrr slipped out of the ready room.

Matt looked up as the doors were closing and shook his head. "No," he said, "not everyone shares my idealism. But, it sure as hell makes me wonder why you're out here." He couldn't fathom how someone could come out here and nothing amazed, enchanted or enthralled them. How could anyone join Starfleet and have their sense of adventure and joy dead inside? How could someone openly admit, despite everything else in life, that one shot is all a person gets at anything? He didn't even want to imagine what got Lyrr Tayla through the day with such a closed, pessimistic outlook on life.

What a depressing day it had become.

---

"Recommissioned"
By: Lt. Xayella Tagliesh
Ensign Tchalla Mel'Chir

Location: Surface of Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.23, 14h16

***

Beaming down to the planet after all she had gone through was one of the most apprehensive experiences Xayella had ever experienced. She knew she was walking a very thin line and if she didn't behave herself, Matt would retract his offer of help and she would be on a transport to one of her parents' mining colonies in no time. Still, she couldn't overcome the blow to her pride she felt in having to follow the orders of a subordinate, especially one she was far more qualified than. It was demeaning, but it had to be done.

Once she'd materialized upon the planet's surface, she was hit with an overwhelming wall of heat. She had adopted the alternative uniform Tchalla had chosen to wear her first day on the planet, though doing so had forced Xayella to wear a lotion for skin protection, since both her arms and legs were fully exposed to the intense sunlight. Although she might end up with a burn, at least she wouldn't succumb to heat stroke.

Xayella smoothed out her skirt and marched forward to Tchalla, who was conversing with another science officer Xayella couldn't remember seeing before. She held her head high, even though she felt like hiding, but she had to at least seem to others as if she wasn't bothered a bit by this demotion of authority; truth was, it irked her to near madness. "Ensign," she greeted the young Andorian as she stopped before her. "Lt. Tagliesh reporting for duty."

As Tchalla turned to see Lieutenant Tagliesh standing there, her eyes widened, and then a grin spread across her face. "Oh, Lieutenant," she said. "I am so glad to have you here. We're just moving to the middle of zone three now. It's so good to have you back on the team now, ma'am. If you don't mind, I'll put you with me. But, make sure you don't set any of your equipment down. It seems like anything that touches the ground anymore disappears for good."

Xayella nodded. At least the girl was still calling her "ma'am," which instilled her with a small sense of authority. "I haven't completely gone through the inventory, so I'm not certain what kind of samples we still require. But...if you lead, Ensign, I shall follow."

Tchalla smiled. "Well, I can transfer the data to your tricorder if you'd like. That will have a catalog of everything we've got so far. The tricorder should be able to tell you if you come across anything that doesn't match. If you have any questions about anything that's happened down here while you were gone, I'm happy to help." The young woman grinned. "It's a comfortable style," she added indicating the skirt Xayella was wearing.

"A little revealing, but that never did bother me." Xayella smiled tightly at the girl. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to begin working. We do have a deadline, after all."

Tchalla smiled and glanced toward the line of trees a few meters away. "Our area is right over this way," she said as she started toward it. "Be careful though. The security teams are pretty agitated since they can't figure out where all the equipment is going. One of them snapped at Ensign Rax when she set down a tricorder to get a sample. I don't know what happened, but suddenly it was like she was channeling someone from beyond the graves. She definitely gave him the sharp side of her tongue."

"Really?" Xayella raised her eyebrows at Tchalla and chuckled in disbelief. "That's a new side of Rax I'd enjoy seeing."

Tchalla grinned. "I was stunned. She usually seems so calm, but...wow. He didn't talk to her after that. Oh, that plant right over there, I haven't seen that one before. Those flowers are beautiful."

Xayella shifted her attention to the plant mentioned and habitually pulled out her tricorder to begin gathering data. "So, Ensign, how do you like being the temporary Chief of Science?" she asked candidly. "You think you'd enjoy being my replacement permanently?"

"Oh no, sir," Tchalla said quickly. "I like being a scientist, but doing this full time...oh, the stress. I haven't been sick yet, but I was lightheaded earlier. I think I'm okay now, but that's only because I get to be focused on gathering and studying data. I think I can put up a brave front in front of anyone else in the department, but when it comes down to it, it's really frightening."

"Then you understand why I'm so harsh and stern most of the time, don't you?" Xayella tapped in modifications to her tricorder's scanners and continued surveying the plant which really was truly beautiful. "Well, I too prefer simply doing science and could do without the title, but with it comes certain advantages I just couldn't pass up, like having free rein of any experiment I desire to perform, and access to the state of the art equipment. So, in the end, it's worth it."

Tchalla nodded. "It does make sense, but I couldn't be harsh or stern with people. It just feels...wrong to be that way to them. And, besides, I like having people like working with me. Like Ensign Calhoun, even though I couldn't say more than three words at a time to him. But, he managed to help me set up one of the sample collectors out in zone two."

Xayella smiled just for the sake of smiling. Conversation with anyone who wasn't Matthew Salinger seemed to be too bland for her tastes, but literally telling Tchalla to be quiet would only get her in trouble. She hated holding her tongue. "Pass me a sample container, Ensign...please."

Tchalla reached into her field kit and handed it to Xayella. "There you go, Lieutenant."

Xayella nodded her thanks, which in itself was an uncharacteristic gesture. Gratitude was not something she gave others; Tchalla was probably the first in a long while to receive it. She retrieved the sample container from Tchalla's hand and proceeded to collect pollen from the flowers of the plant. She sealed the container once she'd gathered enough of a sample and handed it back to Tchalla for storage. "We certainly are collecting a lot of floral specimens. It seems there isn't much more to this planet than that."

"There's an overabundance of plant life," Tchalla said as she moved over to examine another specimen. "We do have some atmospheric collectors set out, and Crewman Davis is doing some examinations on some of the local fauna. But, yes, this planet almost seems like one big plant."

Xayella chuckled dryly. "I'd be interested to find out what properties these plants bear that have allowed so much to thrive in such a hot climate. It seems the only thing worth exploring on this planet."

"There is something about the caves to the west that makes them nearly impervious to sensor scans," Tchalla said. "So far, no one's been able to figure out if that's natural or if something else is going on. I think that's worthy of exploration too."

"Well, I doubt we'll be getting in there anytime soon. So far, the security teams have been the only ones allowed within." Xayella sighed sharply. "There's something in those caves. I know it. I just wish we could get in there."

Tchalla nodded. "I'm sure we'll eventually get to explore them," she said. "But, security has to make sure they're safe first. One of the security people nearly got mauled."

"I nearly got mauled. By a little, furry thing too. If I had a phaser..." Xayella returned her tricorder to her belt and turned to Tchalla. "Let's move on. We'll see if we can find something interesting," she said with just as much authority as she used to express when she was still the CSO.

Tchalla nodded and then quickly pulled out a tablet and popped it into her mouth. She pointed along the path running between two large trees. "No one's been up there yet," she said. "We could go up there. I can't imagine there are any more plants in this area we haven't seen already." She scratched at an itch that was plaguing her left antenna. "It'd be nice if there was some shade up there that wasn't so hot."

"Well, let's go there and we'll find out, now won't we?" Xayella smiled briefly at the girl before leading them up the path. It banked slightly and once at the top of the rise, they saw laying below them yet more forest. "Shady enough for you, Ensign?"

"It's shady," Tchalla said with a grin, "but it's still hot and humid. Better than down there though. At least I'm not fainting from the heat anymore. That would really help my image of being in charge of this mission."

"Don't worry," Xayella assured her. "You seem to be doing alright. You're new at this. You'll get the hang of it." She stopped the girl before they descended the hill and visually surveyed the area. There were no members of the team around, and they were already far from the established base of operations. Still, if they got in trouble for venturing too far out, she'd just blame it on her temporary CSO. "So, shall we?"

"There's an area right down there," Tchalla said, pointing. "It's still within our zone, and no one's been there yet."

Xayella gave a self-satisfed grin and sauntered down the hill. "Well, then, we'll be the first," she called back to Tchalla.

"Yes, sir," Tchalla answered as she started down after Xayella. Once they were down, she started running a preliminary scan. She moved under a large tree, watching the data as it scrolled through on her tricorder. Suddenly she stopped. It felt like a buzz or a hum. Just under the large tree to her left. She looked but there was nothing there. She glanced at Xayella and was about to say something when the feeling vanished.

"All this vegetation appear to be ones we've already gathered data on. My tricorder isn't detecting anything unique. Ensign, have you--" Xayella frowned at the perplexed look upon on Tchalla's face. She really was a strange creature. "Ensign? Something wrong?"

Tchi blinked and looked at Xayella. "I'm sorry," she said. "I was just...I had a strange feeling. I think it's just the heat. I'm feeling fine now. I'm sure it was nothing. Should we set up an atmospheric collector here?"

Xayella watched the girl queerly for another moment, then gestured for her to proceed. As Tchalla began doing just that, Xayella moved to the nearest tree and hunkered down beneath its sheltering branches. She closed her eyes and savoured the rare cool breeze that blew by her. It was peaceful and tranquil, sitting there in the shade and simply doing nothing; quite a change from the tumultuous two days she'd had. Matt would be proud of her for behaving, but she didn't want to get ahead of herself. The day wasn't over yet and there was still time to do something that would destroy her last chance at redemption.

If she did get expelled from Starfleet, she could hideaway on the planet and live out her days there. She certainly would have plenty to occupy her time considering the many different species of plants and insects that needed to be classified. Xayella laughed softly to herself, or rather at the image of Matt Salinger helping her collect samples, and the two of them walking hand in hand under the Dorvali sunshine. What surprised her most about the image was that she looked utterly content.

With a sigh, Xayella rested her head against the smooth trunk of the tree and let herself focus on the pleasant scene playing out in her mind. If things went well during her dinner with Matt that night, she might just get the chance to live out her fantasy...with a salacious addition or two.

---

"In Transition"
By Doctor Sean O'Shea

Location: Federation Re-supply Station A119
Stardate 57906.23, 14h30

***

Sean had taken worse rides before, of that he was certain. But at the moment, he was having a hard time remembering when.

Starfleet, in their infinite wisdom, had decided to place him aboard a broken down Devena class freighter doing a tour of the fringe stations on the hinterlands of Federation space. The re-supply station was the last stop on the tour. Sean had the pleasure of five days of poorly tuned inertial dampers, inconsistent gravimetric stabilizers, and moody environmental controls. Added to that was a crew of unwashed malcontents who found it amusing to go out of their way making the "fleet" officer uncomfortable. When they finally arrived at his destination, Sean was waiting by the airlock before they even attached the magnetic clamps.

With no offers of assistance from either the freighter or the crew of the station, Sean found himself lugging his belongings around by himself, the straps from the three heavy bags biting into his shoulder. He was tempted to simply ditch all the non-essentials, but instead, he found a convenient out of the way corner of the cargo bay and stashed it all, covering the bags with a greasy tarp to hide them from prying eyes.

After asking three different disinterested crewmen, Sean finally found his way to the station's ops center, where he made a bee-line for the first lieutenant he could find.

"Excuse me," he said, putting on a smile. "I just came in on the freighter and I need to arrange transport to the USS Sulu."

The woman looked up from her console and regarded Sean with mild interest. "The Sulu, eh?" She tapped a few buttons on her console and frowned at the results. "Just find someplace to park yourself. The USS Belmont will be arriving soon and can take you to the Sulu. Might as well just wait."

Sean breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that's good," he said. "I was worried I was going to be later for my new assignment than I already am."

"You will be," the ops officer responded.

Sean paused and took a deep breath. "Ok, lass. When you said the Belmont would be arriving soon, what exactly did you mean by soon?"

"Two weeks," she replied. "Assuming they are not delayed or suffer engine failure, either one of which is a distinct possibility with that ship. She can barely make Warp 5 as it is."

"Two weeks simply isn't acceptable," Sean said. "I need to report immediately. I'm the CMO!"

"You could be the President of the UFP for all I care," the officer replied, not trying to hide her annoyance. "According to this, the Sulu is surveying Dorvali 449, right? Well that's a long way away from any business this station has!"

"You don't have a runabout?" he asked. "Or even a work shuttle?" Sean scanned the console panel in front of him. He reached past the lieutenant and tapped a few buttons.

"Don't play with those!" she demanded.

"Look, there!" Sean said, pointing. "You have a type 6 in your main docking bay! And this here.." he said, running his index finger along the panel. "This indicates she is untasked, am I correct?"

"What of it?" the woman replied.

Sean gritted his teeth and tried to hold back his temper. Useless as a chocolate teapot, the whole bleeding lot of em! he thought to himself. "So why not let me borrow one of your crew and we'll do a little trip out to Dorvali 449. As the crow flies, it would take less than a day each way in a type 6. You'd have your shuttle back before you knew she was missing!"

"Can't do it," she replied, folding her arms across her chest. "Against regulations."

"What bloody regulation is that?" Sean said, exasperated.

The lieutenant thought about if for a moment. "I can't remember off the top of my head," she said. "I could look it up for you, but it would be low priority. Check back in two weeks and I'll have an answer for you."

"Look, what is it going to take?" Sean said, putting his hand on her shoulder and whispering into her ear. "Is it latinum? If that is what you are looking for."

"And what would I spend it on?" she responded in a low voice. "Nothing to do here except drink, and they keep us supplied with enough synth to keep everyone happy."

The edges of Sean's mouth curled into a smile. "Ya don't say? All of you poor people out here, stuck drinking synthahol. And here I am, wondering what to do with all the extra whiskey in my carry bags. Guess with two weeks to kill, I can go through a fair lot of it though, eh?"

"What kind of whiskey?" asked the lieutenant.

"Oh, let's see now," said Sean. "We have some Bushmill's black label Irish, a bottle or two of Lagavulin, some Alderbaran red and even some alpha currant nectar." He left out some of the more choice items in his inventory, like the bottles of Saurian brandy and Romulan ale, but it was enough to peak her interest.

"You brought all of that with you to the station?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Aye, I did," said Sean. "But that was before I knew about the regulation governing the transport of alcohol to and from Federation stations. As I recall, I'm required to leave a portion of my inventory in the safe care of qualified station officer before departing." His smile widened into a broad grin. "Now then, might you be knowing where I could find such an officer?"

Sean watched with satisfaction as the lieutenant's deadpan expression melted away into a knowing smile.

***Eighteen Hours Later***

"There's your ship," the petty officer said to Sean as he piloted the shuttle within transporter range of the USS Sulu. "You can signal them any time you like."

Sean looked up from his data padd. He had spent the last few hours going over the reports from the previous survey mission to Dorvali 449. In a strange twist of Starfleet bureaucracy Sean had managed to track down the obscure survey report but was still waiting on his request for the Sulu crew roster and medical files. All he knew for certain was the name of his Captain. The rest would have to wait until he was on board and had access to the ship's data files. "Ready any time," Sean said.

"You got it, doc," the pilot replied. He tapped his comm badge. "Shuttle USS Rockport to USS Sulu. One to beam up."

"Standby," came the reply. Sean looked at his pilot, who merely shrugged.

A few moments later, the ready signal flashed across the shuttle's console. Sean stood and made his way back to the cramped cargo compartment. He picked up his bags and slung them over his shoulder. "Here we go." He sighed. "Care to do the honors, crewman?"

"Sure thing, doc," the pilot replied. "I'll get you onto their pad."

"Thanks," Sean said. "And enjoy the booze."

"You know I will, sir. Energizing!"

The world around Sean faded, replaced by the shimmering light of transportation. When everything returned to focus, he was standing on the deck of his new home. His first sight once his eyes adjusted, was the bored looking crewman manning the transporter station, but then his green eyes drifted to the right and widened in surprise.

Jaysus! Is it really her? His mind raced as he looked at the dark haried Bajoran wearing the three pips of a Commander. Then his lips curled into a warm smile.

"Tayla," he said, his voice a low whisper.

---

"Wager: Day One"
by Ensign Dwayne Sanchez

Location: Bridge; USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.23, 14h30

***

It'd been about forty-eight hours since Steele had stormed into their quarters and they both and come to an agreement on the way their bet was supposed to go. No, he wasn't happy about using Jenara in that way, or that Steele would love it, but he had to give up the name or forfeit the bet.

His mind wandered, and that wasn't to hard since they were in orbit about the planet below. He kept his hands on the panel, but till someone gave him an order, he wasn't about to do a whole lot more than that.

He was beginning to think he was in love with Ensign Jenara Redman, but that couldn't be right. He had not even been aboard the ship that long. Besides, she was a shy thing, one who seemed to not want to get too close to anyone, that's why he hedged the bet like he had; he could see that in Ms. Redman, and Steele was a fool to not see it.

He had to keep Steele froom hurting Jenara, he had to. Or face the consequences of his own actions when he did knock the daylights out of Steele's smirking face. Besides, if she was going to do any screaming during a love making session, he wanted it to be himself she was screaming for...not Steele.

Tension ran up his arm as he tried to keep control of himself thinking of Steele's hands all over Jenara. The tension around him was thick enough that someone may have said his body sang with it. An almost audible sound seemed to come from over his form.

He suddenly couldn't keep still. He suddenly couldn't control himself as his hand, his right hand, thumped the panel in front of him in an almost blind rage...

---

"Green Monster"
Ensign Dwayne Sanchez
Captain Matt Salinger

Location: USS Sulu: Bridge
Stardate 57906.23, 14h45

***

Tension ran up his arm as he tried to keep control of himself thinking of Steele's hands all over Jenara. The tension around him was thick enough that someone may have said his body sang with it. An almost audible sound seemed to come from over his form.

He suddenly couldn't keep still. He suddenly couldn't control himself as his hand, his right hand, thumped the panel in front of him in an almost blind rage...

"Ensign, is there something wrong?" The voice of the captain came to Dwayne's ears...

Dwayne glanced back to see the captain and his anger died a little. "Uh...no, sir."

"That's good, Mr. Sanchez," the captain said with a smile. "The operations console is quite durable, but I'm not sure how much more of a banging it can take."

Dwayne blushed, the anger not gone, but not very evident any longer. "Aye, sir."

"It's alright, Ensign," Matt said, suppressing a chuckle. "Though, do make sure to apologize to your console. When I got out of the Academy, a friend of mine did almost the exact same thing on the Hood. Bad luck followed him around for a year."

Dwayne looked stunned. "He what?" Not believing it, then he said, "He probably didn't have the same...thoughts going through his head then either."

Matt chuckled softly. "Oh, I don't know if what's going through your head really matters. Sulu knows you're taking out your frustrations on her. You know, it does feel strange to refer to a ship that's named after a man using a feminine pronoun."

The shade of red in Dwayne's cheeks darkened, as his mind went directly to Jenara again...and the word 'feminine' seemed to have done it to him. "Yes, sir."

"Did you need to step off the bridge for a moment, Ensign? It's alright if you do."

"I just came on duty, sir."

"Very well, Mr. Sanchez. Carry on."

He nodded, but again his mind raced. Images of naked bodies flashing through his head. Jenara's and Steele's. And again, his hand flattened on the console, totally forgetting what the captain said.

"Ensign Sanchez," the captain said. "I think you should take a walk, have a glass of water, and take care of this inner demon."

Dwayne grumbled. It's nothing that a walk will take care of. Then he glanced back to the captain. "Yes, sir." He stood to leave the bridge. The moment he did, another ensign moved in to take his place at the ops station.

"Ensign," Matt said, "if it's something you need to talk about, Stencil in the lounge has a great ear."

"Yeah, and along with a great ear goes a great mouth. Thanks but no thanks, captain." He knew he was being a smart ass, and maybe even a little insubordinate, but at that time, he didn't care.

"Ensign, I think you've got the wrong idea about Mr. Stencil. You don't have to talk to him, but it's just a suggestion. Either way, take that walk."

That wasn't what he thought the captain would have him do. He thought for sure the captain was going to order him into the ready room and give him a dressing down. The picture he'd gotten about the captain from Steele...well, let's just say he hadn't lived up to it...or was that lived down to it? Whatever way, it just wasn't what he expected. He just shrugged, and again headed for the doors

The doors closed behind him once he stepped aboard the lift. His deep brown eyes took in every level of the lift. He hadn't thought this would work, but, hey, the captain had a thought. Maybe the walk would do him some good, however, he very much doubted it.

The doors to the lift opened and he stepped out. He glanced around to find out what deck he was on and realized he was on deck ten. He took his walk around the deck, but everywhere he looked, he kept seeing the 'targets' of Steele's little wager. No, not just Steele's. Yours too. He frowned at that thought.

***

The lift doors opened up and out came Sanchez. He seemed calmer, however inside he was still boiling. More from the wager between him and Steele than the incident on the bridge from before.

"Welcome back, Mr. Sanchez," Matt said with a smile.

"Thank you, captain." He retook his station once the other ensign left it. He sat down a bit stiffly, but he kept his gaze on the main viewscreen.

Matt watched the young man at the operations console. He couldn't imagine what was bothering Sanchez, but it was obvious he was still bothered.

His mind again was on Steele's claims and the last 'target' of this wager. His anger began to boil again, but this time he seemed able to control himself...

With a sigh, Salinger returned his attention to the console next to his chair. The mission on the planet below was progressing nicely, and would be even more so if they could just figure out where the stolen equipment was ending up.

The imagined screams Sanchez heard in his head came to him again...and he slammed his hand on the panel again. He couldn't help himself for some reason. Then the console beeped at him. That made him jump a little.

"Okay, Mr. Sanchez," Matt finally said. "My Ready Room."

He glanced up at the voice and scowled. He'd never reacted this badly before, but maybe that had to do with the fact that he may be in love, and the direction of that love was in danger, but he couldn't tell her. What a quandary he happened to be in. He stood up again and said, "Yes, sir," and headed for the ready room

Matt followed the ensign through the door and indicated a chair across from his desk. He sat down on the other side and regarded the young man for a moment. "So, care to talk about it?"

Dwayne didn't sit, even when motioned to do so. "Talk about what, sir?"

"Why you've been trying to go fifteen rounds with my operations console."

He shook his hand. "And losing, if I may add, sir." Dwayne sighed. "It's kind of personal."

"Your personal problems are affecting your performance. I imagine we could have gone to Red Alert out there and you wouldn't have noticed." Matt sighed. "If you don't talk to me, I may have to require you to talk to someone. I can't have you beating up my bridge because of your personal demons."

"Do you know who you have me rooming with?" He sounded angry...

Matt let his mind flip through the various quarters assignments on the ship and then nodded. "Ensign Steele," he said after a couple moments.

Dwayne nodded. "And you're aware of his...somewhat personal issues?"

"All I know is he wasn't very pleased with me last night because I wouldn't let him have sex in a turbolift with another officer while I was present."

His eyes widened, but he doesn't ask. "He didn't go into details. I guess I kind of urged him on to his next plan of action."

"His next plan of action?"

A blush stained Dwayne's cheeks. "Uh, yeah." But he didn't go into details.

"So, this plan of action has something to do with your behavior on the bridge?"

He nodded, again going into no details.

Matt frowned. "So," he said, "Do you feel that you can control yourself on the bridge from now on, or is this plan going to continue to interfere?"

He thought about that a moment. "I can't help it, sir. I...it seems so...ridiculous. Is there any way any male on this ship could..." He clamped his mouth shut almost instantly as he realized he was about to spill it.

"It'd help if I knew what you were referring to," Matt said. "If you're unable to get a control on your emotions, I will probably be left with no choice but to relieve you from duty until this is resolved."

"Sir?" He sounded somewhat worried. "That may take months."

"I can't allow you on my bridge if you can't control your actions, Ensign," Matt said. "You've slammed your fist into your console four times so far. What happens when the ship is under attack and you're too busy hitting your duty station? Or if your fist comes down on the wrong part of your station? Do you believe I should keep you at your station in this condition?"

"N...no sir."

"Is there anything I can help you to get through this? Or what do you need to be able to get through it?"

He was beginning to feel like he was between a rock and a hard place. He couldn't tell about the wager without getting himself into possible trouble, but he couldn't keep his mouth shut with the possibility that something bad may happen to Jenara. He sighed and finally sat down.

"What can I do with you, Ensign? What will get you back into shape the quickest?"

He stood up again and began to pace the room. He'd hit the bulkhead if he thought he wouldn't get into trouble. "It's difficult to explain, sir."

"I imagine if you don't let me help you, you'll have a lot of time to consider your options in your quarters."

And that was the last place he wanted to be...day in and day out. "Are you confining me, sir?"

"That's all going to depend on if you can get through this," Matt said. "You probably wouldn't be confined to quarters, but we would have to find something for you to do outside of your scheduled counseling appointments."

Scheduled counseling appointments? God he hated these kinds of things. "Counseling?" He was acting confused, but he was hearing the captain correctly, he just didn't want to admit to hearing him rightly.

"Overly aggressive behavior complete with violent assaults of your duty station," Matt said. "Yes, counseling. If you're unable to perform your duty, my first choice is counseling. If that doesn't help, there will be no other option than a discharge. It all depends on you, Dwayne. If you can't do your job on Sulu, then I'm left with few options."

"My parents died while on duty, I can't disappoint their memory like this."

Matt nodded slowly and straightened in his chair. "What do you propose?"

He thought about that long and hard. He didn't want to disgrace his parents' memory. He didn't want to give Steele up, and in the long run lose out on four-hundred credits in the meantime. But he couldn't just not do anything and lose his commission. "I...it's a...about a w...wager."

Matt steepled his fingers and regarded the man sitting across from him. "And, what about this wager has you so distressed?"

"Mostly the nature...and the targets...."

"I see. How much can you tell me? And, is this wager going to harm anyone else on the ship?"

"I...it could." He frowned thinking about the betrayal he felt like he was handing down. "It could."

"If this wager could hurt members of this crew, then I think you're going to need to be much more open with me. In the long run, it'll be much better to open up to me than to a Starfleet Board of Inquiry."

Dwayne blushed thinking about that. Yes, he was quite innocent in a lot of things. "The wager was this. Steele has bet me that he could bed every female ensign on board this ship. If he does that, minus one, then I pay him 200 credits. If he gets that one as well, then he'll get an additional 200 credits." Then he sat back on his chair to await the captain's response.

Matt leaned back in his chair and frowned. He could feel his jaw working. "I don't like to interfere in the personal lives of my crew as long as they do not interfere with the running of this ship. This goes well beyond that. I'll have to deal with Mr. Steele, but I assure you that the women of this ship will be warned against him, and if he continues this pursuit, he runs the risk of being bounced out of Starfleet on sexual assault charges."

Dwayne nodded. "I...I would have hit him if he had hurt her." Not indicating who her was.

Matt smiled. "I know the feeling, Ensign," he said. "And, I think you might be able to rest easier now, yes?"

He nodded. "Except...the one he called my 'trump card' is Ensign Jenara Redman." He lowered his gaze. "She's the one I would hit him over if he hurt her." Then he wondered if he even made sense.

"I don't think you have to worry anymore, Dwayne," he said. "I will do what I can to make certain Ensign Steele minds his manners. And, if he continues with this wager, I assure you he'll be far too busy to spend time in anyone's bed while he's planning his defense before the board of inquiry."

"I've betrayed a confidence." He felt as bad about that as he had about the wager. Of course the bad feelings didn't hit him till just this morning.

"There are some confidences that aren't worth keeping."

"I still feel badly about it."

"I understand," Matt said. "But, you still did the right thing. People would have gotten hurt. Young woman would have been led on, used, and then betrayed if Steele had gone through with this wager. That sort of behavior won't be tolerated on this ship. None of this crew will make anyone else a victim."

Dwayne nodded. "Thanks, I think. I don't know if I'll ever get over the fact that I'd betrayed this." His mind flickered on Jenara and the realization hit him, Jenara was going to be safe, the wager need not go further...

"Next time you see a female ensign in the corridors, think about what she won't have to go through and see how betrayed you feel."

"I'm already seeing that, and I do feel better." Dwayne sighed, "I guess I shouldn't have encouraged him on about it."

"Probably not," Matt said. "But, that's the past now. Hopefully there won't be anything more to worry about. You did well, Ensign."

"Yeah, I did well. I almost beat the console till I was bloody."

Matt smiled. "Perhaps it was just your way of reaching out for help. The situation is nearly resolved, and now your console will be safe."

Dwayne smiled. The smile broadened, then he laughed, the sound deep...somewhat erotic to the feminine half of the species. "I think you're right."

"Are you ready to return to duty, Ensign Sanchez?"

He nodded. "Yes, sir." Then he said, "What do I do if Steele comes at me for reporting this?

"If he comes after you, I would first recommend trying to solve the situation calmly and rationally. If that doesn't work, call Security and they will solve the problem."

"I think I'll need to knock him on his ass first, then I'll call security."

Matt chuckled and nodded. "Well, if you can resolve it between the two of you, do so. Though, I would recommend a peaceful resolution rather than one that could start some sort of feud."

Dwayne sighed, "Just my telling you about the wager may have done that."

"Well, I'll talk to Steele, and I'll make it clear that if he plans on coming after you he should pack his belongings first."

"Is it too soon to request a change in quarter assignments?"

Matt shook his head. "Not at all. Go ahead and set up the move, and just have Lieutenant Sam give approval on it."

Dwayne nodded. "Yes, sir." He stood up, figuring this meeting was over.

Matt stood as well. "If you need to talk again, my door's open."

"Yes, sir." He headed for the doors. "Sir?"

"Yes, Ensign?"

"What sort of chance do I have of having a change in shift?"

"I imagine you have a fairly good one," Matt said. "I would recommend discussing the change with Lieutenant Sam. I'm certain he'll approve it."

He nodded again. "Thank you, sir. If I remember rightly, Lieutenant Sam is planetside?"

"That's correct. Though, I imagine he's scheduled to be back on the ship in a couple more hours."

"I'll inquire about shift changes when he returns."

"Very good," Matt said. "I'll see you on the bridge, Ensign. And, thank you for opening up. I think it was the right thing to do."

Dwayne exited the ready room moments later and moved over to the operations console.

With a satisfied smile that hid the simmering anger inside, Matt Salinger returned to the bridge. He would discuss matters with Ensign Steele once the shift was over and then he would make sure that the counseling department got a hold of all the female junior officers.

---

"The Search...Continues"
by Lt. Jorell Thalan, Chief of Security, USS Sulu

Location: Surface of Dorvali 449
Stardate 57906.23, 15h03

***

The man moved over to a rock and sat under the shade of a large tree. Wiping the sweat from his brow he removed a water packet from a small backpack and drank from it. The man then looked about the current site and shook his head.

Lt. Thalan and his security teams had done everything that he could think of to locate the missing items. The caves were searched to no avail. The relay he had proposed to the Captain had failed miserably. Whatever was in the rock interfered with the signals, unless he wanted to place a series of relays every meter on the meter.

Only an hour ago had a team that had been missing in those caves been found. They had wandered about for several hours, and found another exit some ten kilometres from the entrance they entered. Jorell was relieved. It was one thing for items to go missing, but another if people started going missing.

Jorell took another drink of his water and then took up his tricorder. Scanning the area he could see that all the items he had placed tracers on were still where he had left them or at least within the security perimeter.

The man growled lowly to himself, this search had frustrated him. There was something wrong with the situation, but he could not place what that was. There was no sign of anyone having taken the items. And going over the shift schedule, no one person, was about when all or even half of the items were taken. Not to mention no one had seen or heard anything when any of their items went missing.

The Security Chief took yet another drink before tapping his commbadge. "Security teams, please report."

"This is Ensign Corrigan, nothing here Lieutenant."

"LeClair here. No sign of the missing items here, Sir."

"Ensign Hansen, Lieutenant Thalan. Nothing to report."

The betaziod shook his head before responding to his teams, "Teams Two and Three return to your security duties. Team One continue your investigation. I will meet up with you shortly. Thalan out."

Jorell finished off his water and returned the empty packet to his pack and than contacted the ship. "Sulu, this is Lt. Thalan. Our search--" He paused for several moments and with frustration in his voice he continued. "--has gone nowhere. We have not turned up anything yet."

---

"Bad Behaviour"
by Captain Matthew T. Salinger
and Ensign J.R. Steele

Location: Bridge, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.23 15h12

***

Captain Matthew Salinger sat on the bridge watching the display as he waited for Ensign Steele to arrive. He'd decided to wait until the young man came on duty, rather than summoning him to the bridge. As the turbolift doors opened, Matt glanced back and saw the ensign swaggering toward the flight control station. "Ensign Steele, my Ready Room, please."

Steele appeared puzzled but followed the captain into his ready room. Standing at attention he waited for the Captain to speak.

"Sit down, Mr. Steele," Matt said, and took a seat behind his desk. "I'll make this quick. It's come to my attention that you have some sort of wager going where you intend to bed all of the female junior officers aboard my ship. Consider the wager finished, and consider this a warning against your behaviour. I don't mind my crew getting involved in relationships, but I do mind this sort of conquest behaviour. You do realize the psychological implications of what your actions could cause for these women, don't you?"

Steele stood in stunned silence, a slight anger building inside of him before dissipating. Shaking his head he looked at the captain and straightly replied, "Sir, I made the bet with Sanchez more or less to get my mind off of the events from last night. I honestly had no intentions of going through with it. Sanchez is rather intrusive, and wanted to know every little detail about my life. It's like living with my mother. Heck, he can't even keep secrets. That makes him even more like my mother. However, sir, if I had intended to go through with it, it would have been on my own time and in private. So, I really don't think there would have been anything you could do to reprimand me. You said yourself you don't care what happens between your officers as long as it is in private."

"Whatever two consenting members of this crew wish to do on their own time, that's fine by me as long as it doesn't break any regulations or Federation laws. However, if you had planned on carrying through with this predatory behaviour, I would have had problems with it. You'd be taking advantage of the female members of this crew and you'd be deceiving the people you work and live with. I don't care what you do on your own time, Ensign. But if it involves hurting members of my crew, then I do mind and I will get involved. I commend Mr. Sanchez for coming forward with this; and before you go plotting any revenge against him, think again. You will not try to get back at Dwayne Sanchez for this, and you will not try to pursue this bet. If any counselling reports that cross my desk have your name on them, we're going to be having another long talk. Do I make myself clear?"

Steele already had a plan of revenge in motion for Sanchez, albeit a non physical attack, but he wouldn't let the captain know that. Instead he simply nodded his head and replied, "Clear, sir. Anything else you wanted to discuss with me?"

"That was all, Mr. Steele," Salinger said. "Get back to your station, and make sure we don't have to talk about this matter again. Dismissed."

---

"Dinner for Two"
by Captain Matthew Salinger
and Lieutenant Xayella Tagliesh

Location: Captain Salinger's Quarters, USS Sulu
Stardate 57906.23, 19h30

***

Everything was much as it had been the other night. This time, however, he had a meal selection programmed into the replicator. He'd dressed casual, and set some music playing on the internal audio system. It was a selection of older pieces from earth's past. It was good to set a mood, and the mood was a calm, relaxed one. Or, at least he hoped it was.

He hoped tonight went well. He didn't want to force Xayella off the ship. He didn't want to push her into a life she didn't want. He knew if she continued rushing that direction, he couldn't stop her, but he wanted to do everything he could to make life in Starfleet as appealing as possible.

He was pulled out of his thoughts as the chime sounded on his door. He smiled as he met her there. "You look very happy," he said as he motioned her inside. "I think that's a good sign. I've got food ready to go, just need to give the replicator the command. But, before that, would you like a drink first?"

"Certainly." Xayella ran her fingers through the wave of auburn curls she'd painstakingly styled and set into place. The humidity on the planet had had a rather unwanted affect on her hair, and it had taken almost an hour to get it tamed again. At least Matt wouldn't notice, especially with the dress she'd worn for him. Modesty wasn't a quality Xayella bore, as was apparent by the form fitting black dress she wore that barely came to her knees, and dipped extremely low in the neckline. Her red glossed lips curled into a grin and with surprising trepidation, she kissed Matt upon the cheek. "Hope you don't mind. It's sort of a standard greeting for me."

Matt laughed softly as he and Xay entered the main living area of his cabin. "I don't mind at all," he said. "Do you have a drink preference? Or shall I just get us a couple glasses of wine?"

"How about the bottle?" She grinned impishly at Matt and settled down upon the couch. "Wine is perfect."

"Computer," Matt said approaching the replicator, "one bottle of wine." He glanced to Xayella with an upraised eyebrow. "Red or white?"

Xayella chuckled throatily. "What do you think?"

"Computer, one bottle of white wine from the Plaines region of New France." He glanced at Xayella with a smile. "Plaines has some of the best white wines I've ever had."

"Have you visited there?" Xayella asked with genuine interest. "I've never been to France. Maybe one day I should visit and pick up a bottle of wine for you." She grinned at Matt. "We can even share it if you like."

Matt smiled. "I've heard France is supposed to be one of the more romantic places on earth," he said. "I've never been there. I spent a few days of shore leave on New France. It rained the whole time I was there. And, I think I would like to share that bottle of wine with you."

"But I imagine you weren't thinking that way yesterday," she said. "I forgot to apologize for slapping you, but you sort of deserved it."

"And, I want to apologize for throwing you in the brig," Matt said with a smile, "but you sort of deserved it. I'm glad you're out now. I hated myself for locking you away in there. Though, I imagine Mr. Steele went back to his quarters very frustrated. Of course, now I have to warn every female junior officer about his intentions to get them into bed for a bet."

Xayella raised her eyebrows and smiled slowly. "Really? An intriguing game he's playing. Well, if he's going to do that, I'm afraid he'll never get within a hundred meters of my bed. I hate being anything other than first choice."

Matt sighed. "Well, if he's going to do that, he's very likely to wind up booted out of Starfleet with a string of sexual harassment charges longer than the whole Starfleet code of conduct. I will fully support two people wanting to get together because they want to be together, but what he's planning on borders on predatory."

Xayella pensively watched the wine bottle materialize on the replicator. "If you'd like, I can talk to him. Maybe I can dissuade him from carrying out his foolish scheme."

"It'll at least prolong his career a little longer," Matt said. "Thank you. I don't know how he'll react to that, but I think he needs to be urged back onto the path of least destruction. And, I really don't like the thought of people like Ensign Mel'Chir or Ensign Redman having to go to counselors to deal with what he's done to them."

"I may have loose morals myself, but even I know what he's attempting is despicable." Xayella sighed as she rose from the couch and began casually strolling about the room, surveying the decor and also showing off her figure in the process. She was an expert at seduction, but it was different this time. She wasn't interested in seducing Matt; she wanted him to want her for who she was, not the allure of her body. "So, why dinner, Matt?" She looked back at him and smiled. "Why did you want to have dinner with me?"

"We both have to eat," Matt said as he followed her with his eyes. "And, it gave us time to spend together, to get to know each other, and to hopefully become friends. If you'd like that, of course."

"Is that important to you?" Xayella asked. "I mean, I don't see you inviting any of the other crew members to dinner. You don't want to be their friends?"

"I don't mind being their friends," Matt said. "But, I don't feel as connected to them as I do to you. We have our differences, but we also share similar hopes and dreams. We're both explorers and adventurers. And, you've got a great smile."

Xayella laughed softly and turned fully to face Matt. "Yours isn't so bad either. It's...cute." She moved forward slowly, still smiling at Matt. "You're cute...for a captain."

Unable to stop himself, Matt laughed. "Well, I try," he said. "Sometimes it's not easy with having to look captainy and everything." He poured out two glasses of the wine and handed one to her. He then held up his glass and grinned. "To the future, and whatever it may bring."

Xayella tapped the brim of her glass against Matt's. "If I'm still around, you can bet it'll at least be exciting." She gave him a sultry wink and brought the goblet to her lips.

Matt took a sip of the wine and nodded with approval. "Well, from what I see and hear, you're doing very well so far in your efforts to still be around."

"For now," she sighed. "But who knows? I could make a mistake tomorrow and then I'd be gone. I doubt I'd be missed much, so it won't be that bad." Xayella leaned sideways against the wall and took another sip of her wine. "I imagine Lyrr would be pleased to no end. She still scowls at me when I pass her in the corridors. I...just smile in return."

"She wasn't happy when I told her I'd put you back on duty," Matt said. "I don't know what it is that has her so adamant to get you off the ship, but it's definitely putting a strain on things between us. I can't get her to see that you're willing to work with us. I think she spends all of her time just waiting for you to falter."

"There's a good chance I might," she admitted. "I mean, insubordination is almost habitual for me now."

"Actually, it's lack of self restraint," Matt said with a grin.

Xayella traced the rim of the glass with her finger as she gazed up at Matt from beneath her lashes. "I would have thought a man like yourself would appreciate that in a woman."

Matt laughed softly. "Well, a time and place for everything," he said. "I appreciate it at times, but as a Starfleet officer it can be a hindrance in the chain of command. When we're in here alone, I don't mind at all."

Xayella chuckled and held her glass out to Matt for a refill. "So, tell me, Matt Salinger; that first night I was in here alone with you, had you really planned on going farther than slipping your hand up my skirt?"

"If you'd wanted to, I would have," Matt said. "I can't deny that I'm attracted to you. I would have been happy to spend that night with you. But, I know we were both playing a game then too. I think it feels less like a game now though."

"Does it?" Xayella pulled her glass back once Matt had filled it to the brim with the golden liquid. "How do you know this isn't a scheme to gain your cooperation in keeping me aboard?"

"I don't," Matt said. "But, it feels differently, not so much like a game. I hope it's not a scheme...but, I guess we'll have to see."

Xayella edged forward closer to Matt with a still lustful smile upon her face. "Willing to take the risk then?"

"One thing they drilled into my head in command school is that risk is part of the job, and risk is my business. So...I'm willing to take the risk, Xay." He reached out for her hand. "Please don't burn me," he whispered.

Xayella sighed softly at the tingle that ran up her arm from the simple, yet tender caress of Matt's fingers brushing her hand. She wouldn't intentionally hurt him if she could help it, but the frightening truth was, she was incapable of controlling herself, and Matt would no doubt suffer because of it. "I should go," she whispered. She set her glass down upon the replicator and stepped away from Matt. "You trust me far too much, Matt, and I'm afraid I may someday betray that. Which means we should stop before things go too far."

Matt sighed softly and nodded. "Okay," he said. "I hate the thought, but okay."

"I hope you didn't go too much trouble planning dinner," Xayella said with a wan smile. "I hadn't intended to walk out on you again, and certainly not this soon."

"Not too much trouble," he said. "Just the time to select from the replicator. Do you think you could stay for the meal, at least? We're going to be here together on the ship. We can't completely avoid each other, and I do want to be your friend. One dinner?"

One look at Matt's innocent, wide-eyed gaze and the slight pout of his lips, and Xayella was helpless. "You promise to keep your hands to yourself?"

"I promise," Matt said. "We can even sit far enough apart that we don't have to worry about accidentally brushing against each other. I hope you like it; I wasn't quite sure what your favourite foods were, so I had to guess."

"Then let's go sit down and find out how well you did." Xayella retrieved her glass from the replicator, along with the still full wine bottle, and strode toward the table Matt had prepared for them. "It does look like you went to a lot of trouble, judging by these place settings," she commented.

Matt grinned. "Yeah, you can't really have the computer set the table," he said. "So, I took a little time to make things look nice." He moved to the replicator and tapped out a sequence that would replicate the meal he'd programmed earlier. It took a couple trips, but in the end, he'd laid out two plates of chicken prepared with a creamy sauce, vegetables from earth, and a small basket of what appeared to be freshly baked bread, regardless of the fact it'd just emerged from a replicator. "I hope it's to your liking."

"I'm sure it will be," Xayella said as she passed her eyes over the food spread out before her. "What is it?"

"The main dish is chicken with a sauce that's made with lots of garlic, Andorian pav'rek spices, a little curry, and some Orion black spice."

Xayella lifted her eyebrows and nodded in approval. "Impressive." She pulled out her chair and seated herself, eager to sample the gourmet meal already whetting her appetite with its pleasant aroma alone. "You really wanted this evening to go well, apparently."

Matt smiled and met her gaze. "I did," he said. He quickly looked down at his plate knowing the look he'd just been giving her would have been much more intense than most touches could be. "I wanted it to go well. I like having you here, and I want to do everything I can to keep you around."

"For your sake or mine?" Xayella asked. "It seems as if you'd take it harder than I would if you'd been forced to have me kicked out of Starfleet."

"I care," Matt said. "And that may be my biggest failing. I care what happens to my crew, even the unruly ones. And, I know you want to be out here."

"So, your reasons are completely selfless then?" she asked skeptically. "You truly must be a great human being, Matt Salinger."

"I wouldn't say they're completely selfless," Matt said with a smile. "You're one of the best science officers in all of Starfleet. I like you. We have the chance of becoming friends. Those are all reasons for me, but I still think they're good enough reasons."

"They are," Xayella admitted pensively, "but you're risking your career by keeping me here. Doesn't that give you pause for even a moment?"

"A moment," Matt said. "Do you think you're worth it, Xay? I mean, is this where you want to be? As a Starfleet officer? If you don't want to be in Starfleet, I might be able to pull a few strings and see about getting you a good science post as a civilian. You wouldn't have to go work on a mine."

"As a civilian, my authority would be severely diminished," she said with a sigh. "And if that did happen, who says they'd even post me to your ship?" She smiled somewhat demurely at Matt and looked down at her meal. "You're different. You almost understand me. And besides, you're actually the first person to take an interest in what I'm really about, instead of being immediately offended by the way I portray myself to the outside world. I guess that's what makes me hesitant to leave."

Matt smiled. "Most people aren't interested in going beyond the initial front," he said. "I take an interest in you because I like you. I take an interest in you because I want to see what everyone else is willing to overlook and cast aside. There are no worthless people in life. Everyone has something valuable to contribute, as long as you're willing to take the time to see what that is."

Xayella laughed in amusement as her knife worked its way through the tender breast of smothered chicken. "You enjoy being profound and philosophical, don't you? I've never met anyone like you. You're far too caring and optimistic. It's a little confusing. Starfleet captains are supposed to be caring to a point, but they're never supposed to let it show. Hasn't anyone told you caring too much is not always a good thing?"

"That's what Lyrr tells me," Matt said with a chuckle. "I know I care quite a bit. I'm idealistic, passionate, and try to look for the good in things. But I do know that there are times when I'll have to make hard decisions, decisions I won't like, and stand by them. I hate the thought, but I know I can't escape it."

"Well, don't you worry about me," Xayella told him. "You just do what you have to do. I won't hate you...for too long."

Matt laughed softly. "Well, I would prefer to keep you around," he said. "I think we're working pretty well together so far. And, I think the beginning bonds of friendship are being forged. Or, at least I hope so."

Xayella raised the morsel of chicken to her lips and grinned at Matt. "So needy," she teased. She pulled the chicken smoothly off the fork and chewed it slowly. "Oh...very good choice. You have good taste in all things apparently, Matt Salinger."

"I can make that replicator roll over and beg when I want to," he said with a laugh. "Actually, I did spend about an hour programming it into the replicator. Maybe sometime I can put my rusty kitchen skills to work and make it for real for you. You think this is good, wait until you taste it with real chicken."

"I think that might be foreseeable in the future," Xayella said with a knowing smile. "You're good company. A little sententious and pompous at times, but still pleasant to be around."

Matt couldn't help laughing. "Well, I have to say the same for you. You're good company even though you've got the arrogance of Kirk and the sex drive to take on this entire ship and still be ready for more." He paused for a moment and then chuckled. "Not that that's a bad thing."

Xayella chuckled humourously and instinctually reached across the table to touch Matt's hand. Aware of the intended destination of her hand, Xayella cleared her throat and instead dipped it into the bread basket. "I'm a slut," she said more seriously. "You can say it; it's alright. I know I am and I don't mind."

Matt smirked and concentrated on his food for a few minutes before glancing up again. "I think there's more to it than just being a slut," he finally said. "I think you enjoy pleasure, and there's nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of hedonistic worlds in the Federation. Hell, one of them is a primary shore leave location for many Starfleet officers. I think another part of it is using what you've got to get what you want."

Xayella pulled her hand away from the bread basket, leaving the bread behind as she focused with intrigue on Matt. "So I use sex to get what I want? An accurate observation, Matt. I was going to use it with you to gain your leniency. I doubt it would have worked, though, that's why I stopped it that night. There was no point in spreading my legs for you if it was going to get me nowhere. Yes, it's disgusting, but it's how I work."

"It would have hopefully gotten you a good time," Matt said. "I knew that's what you were doing. It was a gamble to respond so willingly, but I think it was for the best in the end. And, we were both playing games, I know, but my interest was genuine. I want you to know that. I'm by no means a prude when it comes to sex, and I would never willingly have sex with someone I didn't want to be with."

Xayella laughed, clearly doubting the true sincerity of Matt's words. "You knew me for a matter of a day and you wanted to have sex with me? A one night fling? Oh, I'm flattered, Matt."

"How long did you know me before you wanted to have sex?" Matt asked with a grin. "And, I wouldn't say a one night fling. I like to keep my options open. I don't like having sex with someone just once. Once you get to the second, third, or more times, you start finding a rhythm. You know what each other wants and likes, and it gets much better. One nights are usually just stressful and...unfulfilling; compared to being with someone more than once that is."

"But you yourself said it was a game," Xayella stated. "If it was just a game, what would it matter whether we had sex again? And just to clarify, I didn't want to have sex with you. I needed something, and I figured that was the way to get it."

"I was playing your game," Matt said. "And, if we were good enough together, it would have mattered quite a bit." He shook his head and laughed. "And, if you didn't want to have sex with me...damn you're good."

Xayella sighed and closed her eyes for a moment to gather in her mind what she truly meant to say, and hopefully find something to correct the insult she'd dealt Matt. "It's not that," she said softly. She regarded Matt again and this time did reach out for his hand. "It's just that I wanted your cooperation more at the time. I wouldn't be here now if I didn't want you, Matt. You believe me, don't you?"

"I believe you," Matt said. "So, when I proved so willing before, what was your first thought? I imagine with someone who wasn't resisting, some of the challenge was gone...and whatever edge you may get through sex wasn't there. Still, it would have been a fun evening."

"It would have been," she agreed readily, "but you're right, it would have detracted from my ability to manipulate you. That's why I left." Xayella laughed softly and shook her head. "I was a fool to even think I could outsmart you."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Matt said. "Though, sex isn't the best way to manipulate me. But, I think we've definitely gotten past that and we're headed somewhere much better for both of us."

"And where would that be, Matt Salinger?" She caressed his hand lightly. "What do you foresee for us?"

"I see a potentially long lasting friendship," Matt said with a smile. "I see us getting to understand each other, and being there for each other whenever we need someone to talk candidly with, vent to, or whatever we need. How does that sound?"

"In theory, it sounds like it could work. Though, you are the captain and certain things I admit to you could get me into trouble if you're forced, by your ethical code, to divulge the information to Starfleet." She shrugged. "There are some things you might not like to hear about me, things that could preclude friendship from developing between us."

Matt chuckled. "So, we cut all ties and never talk to each other because I may find out something about you I won't like. Sounds like a good plan."

Xayella playfully slapped Matt's hand. "That's not what I meant!" She laughed and added, "I'm just saying that blackmail isn't something that will go down very well with Starfleet Command."

"Oh, I agree," Matt said. "I doubt much goes down well with Starfleet Command, other than the next debate. If you tell me something, and it's off the record, I can overlook it as long as it doesn't threaten the security of this ship or the Federation."

Xayella frowned. "I'm not a terrorist or traitor working for the Romulans. Although...." She grinned at Matt. "Nothing that horrible. I just haven't acted with much conscientiousness in my life and have done some immoral things. I imagine I still might eventually. But for now, I've no reason to."

"That's good," Matt said with a shake of his head. "I think it'll be easier for us to be friends that way. No awkwardness having to deal with my white hat."

"Aren't you afraid I could corrupt you?" She brushed her fingers over his hand and felt a twinge of excitement within her from just touching Matt. "I could, you know."

Matt smiled. "Oh, I think I would like to go through that. Though, if I were thoroughly corrupted, I think I'd be out of a job."

"Lyrr could always take over for you. I imagine that would redeem me in her eyes." She patted Matt's hand and smiled. "We should try it sometime."

"Maybe the next time you and I have shore leave together we should take a trip to Risa," Matt said. "It's been a few years since I've been there."

Xayella laughed cheerfully. "That certainly would cause a contraversy. The virtuous, moral captain vacationing with his unruly, rebellious science officer... That should raise some eyebrows."

"Just having you in my quarters has probably raised a few already," Matt said. "That and the hair on the back of certain executive officer's neck."

"Maybe she's jealous," Xayella suggested with an amused smile. "Who wouldn't be attracted to a man like you?"

With a slightly embarrassed chuckle, Matt quickly stuffed another bite of food into his mouth. After a few moments he said, "I think she's dedicated her life to Starfleet and has no interest in anyone else, at least as long as she's wearing that uniform. And, I don't think she's jealous. I don't think that she thinks I'd ever really be interested in you."

Xayella looked truly affronted. "And why is that, I'd like to know?"

"Perhaps she believes, due to my idealism, that I would never be interested in a woman who has such a checkered past. She doesn't know me as well as she thinks she does."

"And do you think you know me as well as you seem to think you do?" she riposted.

"I know you less than most people think they do, but better than most people really do," Matt countered. "Because I'm willing to get to know you, to be your friend, and to not discount you because of your past."

"But didn't you do that the first night in these same quarters? You anticipated that I'd attempt something devious, so you in turn played your own game." Xayella smugly grinned at Matt. "Doesn't that make you just like the rest of them?"

"Do you think I'm just like the rest of them?" Matt asked. "And, I played my game because you were playing yours. If you hadn't been playing, I wouldn't have either. You're trying to outsmart me again, aren't you?"

Xayella pulled her hand away from his and folded her arms over her chest. "I am not trying anything," she said defensively. "I'm just having a conversation. That you're suspicious of my true intentions leads me to believe you really are like the rest of them, but you can't admit it."

Matt sighed, then reached out and brushed it against her hand. "You know I'm not," he said. "And, I was just teasing you. I am allowed to tease, aren't I?"

Xayella chuckled. "I thought that was my job?"

"Oh, well, yes it is, but it doesn't mean that I can't indulge from time to time. Right?"

"You can try," she said with a shrug. "But I doubt you could succeed."

Matt gave her a mock bow. "Why, thank you very much," he said with a laugh. "So gracious of you."

Xayella laughed and brushed her fingers along Matt's hand again. "I was being truthful. Isn't that what you wanted from me?"

"Yes," Matt said with a smile. "I was doing a different kind of teasing, of course. And, I don't really have any experience teasing in a more seductive manner. I don't know...should I try?"

"Would you like to?" Xayella replied. "I could teach you a few things." She leaned forward, giving Matt a peek down the top of her dress, and grinned alluringly at him. "I really think you should try, Matt."

Matt laughed and shook his head. "Oh, I think it might be good practice," he said. "But, not out there, not with the rest of the crew. I have to be their commanding officer, and I won't let them think I'm anything less than that. But, if you want, I will work at teasing you, as much as I don't want to."

"We're not out there now," she said huskily. "We're in here, just you and I. Are you sure you still don't want to?"

"Well, we're in here," Matt said with a smile. "So, since we're in here...yes. Yes I want to."

Xayella sat back against her chair and motioned languidly to the couch at the opposite end of the cabin. "Shall we move over there? It's much easier to tease without a table separating us."

"Oh, but the table makes it a challenge," Matt said with a smirk. He slid his chair out and started slowly toward the couch Xay had indicated. "But, I think it will be easier over here."

Xayella looked across the room at Matt from where she still sat at the table. She knew they decided not to let anything happen between them yet, but the opportunity was thrusting itself upon them, and she wasn't sure she wanted to pass it up. Xayella shifted sideways in her chair and slid her legs out from beneath the table. She trailed her finger along her bare thigh enticingly as she shot Matt a silky smile. "Gentlemen usually help ladies out of their chair, Mr. Salinger."

"That's what I've heard," Matt said with a sly grin. He slowly moved back toward where she waited for him. "For you, I will be a gentleman." He moved to stand directly before her and held out a hand. "But, I know I can be so much more."

"And what exactly is more?" Xayella slipped her hand lightly into his and gracefully stood up. She laughed softly as she stepped out of first one, then both of her pumps. In bare feet, she was even shorter than Matt, but now wasn't the time for her to exert her authoritative influence, and looking up at Matt as he loomed over her helped to quash that tendency. "This is comfortable," she said softly. "Almost...a relief."

"Relief is good every once in awhile," Matt said softly, as he led the way over to the couch. "And, more...I guess we'll have to find out what more is. I'm not entirely sure..."

"I think you've got some idea," she told him with a knowing sidelong glance. "I think you knew even before I arrived this evening."

"I know I want this," Matt said, "but I didn't know what would be happening. Besides, we're both involved in this, so I can't make the decisions for both of us. That is, unless you want me to."

Xayella pulled Matt back before they reached the couch and gazed up at him again. "Of course I want you to," she whispered. "But what about after? What will we do?"

"I don't know yet," Matt said softly. "What do you want after? I think this is something we both need to talk about, and we both need to be honest with each other."

"Then let's talk now," she told him, though her body obviously wanted to do something entirely different. Her hand slowly slid up his arm and came down again along his chest. "Do you want something more than friendship, Matt? We barely know each other and have yet to discover if there is anything other than a simple physical attraction between us. Do you want more than that?"

"If that's something that can work with us," Matt said, sliding an arm around her waist. "We have to see if it can work between us, if there is something more than the lust that seems to be heating up this room even now. If it can be more than that, if that's what we both want, then I would like that."

Xayella sighed quietly and shifted closer to Matt. "But if we...you know, how will we ever know if it's more than just sex?"

Matt grinned and laughed. "Maybe we should show some restraint tonight," he said. "And, perhaps tomorrow night, duty permitting, we can enjoy a date on the holodeck. How does that sound?"

Xayella groaned miserably and pulled away from Matt. "You're a cruel man, Matt Salinger. You...can't just hint at sex and then retract the offer. Do you know what that does to a girl? What am I supposed to do now...especially after you touch me like you just did. Wicked, wicked man!"

"I thought that was the teasing part," he said with an impish grin. He followed her and once again slipped her into his embrace. "Maybe we can find some sort of compromise."

Xayella chuckled throatily and looped her arms loosely around Matt's neck. "I've never been one for compromise. I usually like to have things my way."

"Well, how do you want things now?" Matt asked, closing the distance between them even more.

"I don't know," she sighed. "I've never actually had a man sweep me off my feet and carry me away. I think I'd enjoy that."

"That sounds nice," Matt said with a grin. "Though, my big question would be where's he going to carry you away to?" Without wasting a moment, he quickly lifted her into his arms. His eyes flashed with mischief as he started across the room. "I guess we'll have to find out."

Xayella smiled sensually at Matt as she brought one hand down to his cheek. "Maybe we can find out twice...if you're up for it."

"Ask and you shall receive," Matt said, and then they disappeared into his bedroom.

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