I meant 'caring'.  Google isn't really caring about your problem.   

M.

But, I'm not sure that Google is really listening... 

M.

@C2P - enjoyed that.  I'm pulling all of this crap out of my @$$ too...  

M. 

Stardate: 2365.05.15

USS Peregrine, Engineering - 1418

=^=Bridge to Engineering=^=

Sa’eidron paused on her way out of engineering when she heard the Captain’s voice again.  She made a motion to the rest of her crew to go ahead and move along toward the shuttlebay without her.  

“Engineering, Sa’eridon here.” she spoke into her comm badge. 

=^=Lieutenant, it seems that we may need to consider repositioning the beacon once repairs are completed.  If that does prove to be the case, we may need to look at updating the programming on it - be advised that this task may also await you.=^=

“Understood, sir.” She made a small wince and then stepped out into the corridor and let engineering close up behind her.  Programming the beacon might require her to call on Adler, which she didn’t want to do, but in the end it was going to have to happen eventually.  Today, after the night's rest, might not be the worst day to do it.  She’d rather call on Adler then have to call Kennedy up.  

=^=Thank you, Drake out.=^=

Contemplating what might need to be done to get the programming done she quickened her step so she could catch up with her team on the way to the shuttlebay.  

USS Peregrine, Shuttlebay 1 - 1420

“Alright crew.  We might need to reprogram the beacon too to change its position.  So let’s not sit around on our thumbs while we wait for it to show up.  Toporov, if you could check with the helm, see what the ETA is.  Peers go ahead and man the transporter station, be ready to go when we get the coordinates.”  Sa’eirdon commanded and then found a place to stand and go over the specs on her PADD a final time before the beacon showed up.  

“Yes sir…”  Toporov spoke up and then proceeded to follow her orders. 

((OOC:  I assume helm reports the the time frame that has already been mentioned in previous posts))

“Come, Cay,” she cooed, “If I know Nyx, he won’t be long in making those arrangements and you and I, I think, have much to do and much to discuss in that short while, don’t we?” 

Cay let the other woman take her hand and guide her into the other room.  Her head was spinning.  The stars embroidered on his jacket, elen en cormamin, the tree etching its way up his spine, the old elven woman so familiar and at once comfortable around Cay, then the shop itself.  For a moment she closed her eyes and took a long deep breath, the shocking scent of mothballs in corners, of fabric and textiles piled high, a small bit of feces from the mice dwelling in the piles, the dust and the dyes all mingling together to bring back an overwhelming shock of memories.  The scent of her childhood, and everything she had run from, only to find herself here with a woman Nyx was calling his aunt.  

Taellyn gave her hand a slight squeeze, and she popped her eyes back open and tried to push all of her unease into the back of her mind.  They had things to do.  Instead of getting directly to them, however, the crone settled onto a small couch that was nestled between the racks of clothing and indicated to Cay that she should sit next to her.  

“So nwalma, my Wharf Witch…” Taellyn tsked shaking her head.  “Just like Nyx… I would have thought some of that would have quelled.  No?”  

Cay glanced at the doorway they had walked through, making sure that they were alone now, then shook her head.  “No.  It’s all… I don’t know how to feel, it’s all happened so quickly.” she said softly, a little surprised at her candor.  

“Ehh… winya tie sina naa ten’lle.”  Taellyn nodded in agreement and settled her bones back into the cushions, dust puffing up around her as she did.  “I suppose some hesitation is warranted.  But… this is more than that.”  

Licking her lips Cay nodded.  “I’m not hesitating; I’m terrified.”  

“Why?”  

Her hands went to her heart, “It’s too much!”  

“N’uma!”  Taellyn cried out with a laugh.  “The Wharf Witch, Morier en Arwenho?  Terrified, of this being too much?”  

Cayrimsa frowned deeply and felt a familiar tug of anger as the woman began to laugh at her.  Instead of lashing out she turned her burning eyes toward the woman and simply glared.  

“Tell me… is it Nyx?  Does he scare you?  Do you not trust everything he has promised you?”  

The anger was immediately stopped at the mention of Nyx and his promises.  The answer fell from her lips before she could even think about it.  “No.  No.  After everything… I have no reservations about Nyx.”  Then she smiled just a tiny bit, “And I certainly am not afraid of him…”  

Seemingly pleased with the answer Taellyn nodded and continued.  “Then it is you.  You doubt your own ability to live up to the promises you have made him, n’uma?”  

This time Cay hesitated a second, but only one, before answering.  “N’uma.  No.  I meant it all, I am his, with all of my soul I meant it.”  She whispered softly, her voice trembling a little as she said it.  

Again Taellyn nodded, content with this answer.  “Then it is, what?  Outside forces you fear?”  

The witch took a breath and nodded.  “The world is going to tear us apart… there are Gods -” but before she could finish the sentence it was cut short as Taellyn leaned over and slapped the girl across the face.  She squeaked and jumped at the sensation, it wasn’t painful, the intent had been simply to stun, not cause injury.  Cay raised her hand to the slightly pink cheek and stared at Taellyn. 

“Amada edainme!”  Taellyn spat out.  “Seldarine hera um’il vanwa atta’llie!  Atta’llie tengwe elen!”  

Beside her the witch’s eyes grew wide, she swallowed hard and shrank back a little from the soothsayer.  Atta’llie tengwe elen… The words burned across her brain.  The stars.  Then the woman was reaching over and grabbing at Cay’s skirts, trying to reveal her upper right thigh.  

“What!?”  Shocked Cay tried to wriggle free of the woman but she was surprisingly strong and after a moment the pale skin of her thigh was revealed and there, raised in a dark bluish ink ran the silhouette of a small horse, it’s mane and tail caught in the wind behind it.  It ran on her hip right where Nyx had been resting his delicate hand so much recently.  “Pach!”  

With another gravely laugh the woman sat back down, satisfied.  “Atta’llie tengwe elen.  He is yours, you are his… there is a hera here, that is stronger than anything I have come across.  Do not fear it, istalindar, use it.”  

Cay had not looked up from the dark blue horse running across her hip, but every word that the seamstress spoke sunk into her.  She traced the horse with the tip of her finger.  “Hera…” she whispered to herself, then “use it… use it…” The horse disappeared as she pressed her scarred hand over it and closed her eyes, her mouth opened as if she were about to speak, but nothing came out at first.  The witch sat there a few minutes, allowing herself to actually feel what had been going on between her and Nyx for the past few hours, days, weeks, months… years.  “Hera…” she finally growled the word deeply as a smile crept over her face and slowly opened her eyes to look at the woman across the couch.  

Her hand rose up slowly from her thigh and she held it in front of her face.  The gash on her palm was still there, although it appeared to be healing after Nyx’s recent attention, but now it had a bluish gleam in the deepest recesses.  She gently blew her breath across it and a blue flame rose up from her palm, it flickered and then shifted until it took the form of a horse galloping in place.  A dark gleam filled her amber eyes and the grin that stretched across her face would have caused Tselika to reconsider crossing her.  

She closed her hand and the flame extinguished itself.  Glancing over her closed fist at the soothsayer she smiled a bit more warmly.  “So… what did you have in mind for me to wear?”  

Taellyn nodded and returned the smile, without another word needing to be said.  She rose and began to rummage through the racks.  

-----

When Nyx finally returned a figure was leaning comfortably against the front wall of Taellyn’s shop.  Her head was down, her back against the faded wood, one foot on the ground, the other propped up against the wall with her knee bent at a severe angle.  In her hand she lazily twirled a small flat stone between her fingers.  The sunlight had finally broken free of the clouds and she stood like a dark pillar in its rays.  

The old hat had been replaced by a black felt hat with a smaller brim.  The boots had likewise been switched out for a practical low heeled black pair that rose to mid calf and were fit to her legs with buckles.  Otherwise, the ensemble was a new look for the witch.  She donned a pair of tight black pants, and a loose fit dark grey blouse with a high collar.  The blouse was cinched into her curves by a black leather bodice and a thick black belt at her waist.  Flowing out from under the bodice a ‘skirt’ had been fashioned out of strips of dark grey silk in various lengths and widths, the skirt was open in the front and grew longer toward the back, but not long enough to drag in the mud.  From her shoulders a heavy wool cloak hung, blood red so deep it was nearly black.  Wrapped around her thigh a holster held his dagger.  Of course likely, the first thing he might have noticed, especially with the sun hitting her as it was just then, was the silver embroidery running down the front of the bodice.  Starting at the midpoint between her two breasts a single dot had been stitched, representing the new moon, from there the waxing of the moon moved in progression down her chest until a full moon appeared on the middle of her stomach, the waning then dripped down to a single dot that sat just above the buckle of her belt.  

As he approached she raised her head, her eyes again peeking out at him from under the shadow of her hat.  She smiled warmly at him, a playfulness dancing in those eyes as she watched him try to gather some words. 

“Let’s go do this Morieramin…” she said in a sultry voice. 

Well it's yet to be seen if the lass actually passes her exams.  It might not be that adorable if she fails.  Callie really wasn't known for academics at the Academy.    

They needed a break and idle hands and all of that.  But yeah, it seems the two have hit it off.  

M. 

Stardate: 2365.05.15

USS Peregrine, Engineering - 1417

=^=Bridge to Engineering=^=

Sa’eridon tapped her comm badge and responded quickly to the Captain’s voice when it came over the computer.  She was in the process of returning her tools to the cabinet in Engineering after returning from turbolift one, another attempt to get the computer to correctly respond to voice commands.

“Engineering, Lieutenant Sa’eridon here.” 

=^=Lieutenant, we have reached the Calican system.  We will transmit the ETA to you as soon as we have it; have your team ready for the repair operation.=^=

“Aye, Captain.  We are ready when you are.” She nodded as she spoke, then stood up and closed the cabinet.  Go time.

Turning back to the engineering department she looked around at the others on duty, then she gave two claps of her hands, her tail already beginning to swish in anticipation of the mission. 

“Alright, Toporov, McGivern and Peers.  Gather up your tools, we’re heading to Shuttle Bay 1.  We should be within range to beam the beacon on board soon.  Kennedy put me in charge of this repair, so let’s do our best, I’d rather not have to call her in for help if we don’t have to.  Those of you left, keep her running smoothly please.”  

Sa’eridon went about gathering up the bag of supplies she had already prepped for this repair, a bit of a pep in her step.  She was glad, she reflected, that she had gone to Sick Bay last night.  As soon as her head had hit the pillow she had fallen asleep just as the nurse had promised and the deep sleep that followed it had been a much needed relief.  Today the headache was gone and she was ready for whatever came her way.  Karri hoped that she would run into Cook in the Aerie soon, so she could thank her for the care and maybe get to know her a little better. 

Stardate: 2365.05.14

USS Peregrine, Deck 5: Shuttle Bay 2 - Section M-13 - 1420

Commander Kennedy sat cross legged on one of the large storage containers in the Shuttlebay.  Behind her the Angel sat lit up, from her belly a sorrowful tune of drawn out lyrics and a fiddle sang out softly.  After a few of the heavier ballads that Kennedy had put on the speaker system for them to listen to while they worked Megan had finally convinced Kennedy to put on a group that hadn’t been dead for 300 years.  

They were now on a break, Megan was sprawled out comfortably on the storage container next to Kennedy’s, her PADD in one hand, a glass of tea in the other.  In front of Kennedy was Megan’s copy of Advanced Navigation, open to a page with several graphs regarding tri-axial spatial orientation, which she had been using to quiz the lass.

Kennedy took a large bite of the roast beef sandwich she had gotten for herself and was attempting to speak while chewing it.   “No deary… it’s not the Y axis that you need to get the telemetry aligned, well… sometimes… but not in this situation.  Not for what this book is asking about, or what they are going to ask you about on the test.”  

Megan groaned, dropped the PADD and rolled dramatically onto her back, her red hair spilling over the edge of the container.  “Bloody Hell!  I’ma ne’er gonna pass!”  

The older woman smirked a bit at the theatrics.  “You’ll pass.  I got a B.”  She shrugged.  

Megan raised an eyebrow and dropped her jaw.  “Ah B!?  An’ yer tryin’ te tutor me?”  

“I passed.  And look…” Kennedy gestured with the remaining half of her sandwich to where her rank was normally affixed to her collar, crumbs fell off the sandwich and littered the grey cardigan and the plain olive green t-shirt under it, she paid the crumbs no mind.  “Commander… trust me deary, you don’t have to be perfect at everything, you need to know enough to pass, enough to get in trouble… but you only have to be perfect at what you do.  I kicked the crap out of engineering classes, I can probably build you a navigation system from tin foil and whatever I find under the seats in a Antarian freighter.  But I’ll leave the flying up to you, and the helm up to someone else.

“Now… as for the Y-axis.  I came up with this little rhyme that I used to help me remember the order of precedence for telemetry…” 

@ C2P - Thanks  I'm glad you enjoy reading her.  I enjoy writing her.  (I've got a note on my desk that says 'Entertain your reader' which is always my goal, and it's nice to hear that I manage it every now and then)  We can definately work on some kind of collab coming up.   

@ Eol - 'Other endeavors' I'm swooning over here...   

So... yeah I'm working up a quick post (I hope, I'll try to keep the word count from getting out of control), getting engineering set up for whatever is about to be beamed in.  Maybe a quick glance at how Megan and Kennedy are doing too, because I just can't help myself (I had a cute little vingette in my mind while getting my tea this morning and I just want to throw it out there for everyone).  

M. 

"Where were we?  Is it time?  Will the screams in the night begin anew?' 

M. 

I'll figure out something.    Just wanted to make sure before I posted something and everyone looked over at me like 'what the hell is she talking about'  

M.

Okay, just want to verify that we are all on the same page when it comes to this navigation beacon.  

This thing is what... maybe the size of a large trash can?  Bigger?  Dining table?  Shuttle?  

Is it something they can beam aboard and fix, then re-beam back out?  That's what I am assuming... but maybe I'm wrong.  

Just trying to figure out what the more logisitical side of the repair will entail.  

Thanks!!  M. 

12. Hobbies beside playing at the Inn: crochet, cross stitch, writing and painting D&D minis (just finished a Dire Bear today)

13.Favorite character you have played to date (either on the Inn or elsewhere): Cayrimsa  (Originally she was a succubi in a table top game I played that was awesome, and then I reused the name for Fates, and she's amazing there too).  I have a few others I enjoy especially Ellegwen & Camille Baker.

14. Favorite music: Alternative.  Cake is my favorite band. 

15. Grossest thing you've ever touched: A mole that I thought my dog had killed and I was removing from the yard, which then moved on me probably elicted the worst scream I've done in a long time.  I'm a mom though, my tolerance is pretty high.

16. Favorite place to visit or favorite place you've lived? Visited - Greece Lived - Japan (military brat I lived there for a few years)

17. Strangest thing you've eaten: Probably something in Japan, we couldn't always read the menu, so who knows what we ate...

18.  Favorite fictional dragon:  Toothless

19. Current favorite book: 

M.

Because I'm a M'Fing Disney Princess... 

*Edit - C2P posted as I was... I'll answer her question too:  Because oranges hate poetry and have been successfully boycotting it for generations. 

If a Dire Bear is eaten by a Gelatenous Cube in the middle of the forest and no one else is there, can we still call it a gummy bear? 

M.

Because salt is a natural preservative... it keeps the bodies fresh.

Cake or death?

M.

Two weeks... or ten years... who knows.  But either way one should bathe more... 

Why is there so much snow? 

M.

With Megan.  She's delightful.  We had a good time.    

I kind of rounded a few of Callie's edges off from my original concept of her, the ship didn't need someone too rough I felt.  

She just really needs a good project and then she's right as rain, the Angel's bringing out the best in her.  She gets into dark places when she's bored or feels like the situation is out of her control.  

Glad you enjoyed it.  Looking forward to the bump! 

M.

Sorry guys... those (there are two posts from me) were a little long, but Eol and I were enjoying ourselves.  Hope you enjoy reading it.  

Now we just need to get to the navigation beacon.  Sa'eridon is itching to get to work I think after getting a good night's rest.  

M. 

Stardate: 2365.05.15

USS Peregrine, Deck 5: Shuttle Bay 2 - Aurora Angel 13:00

The Commander (he had continued to call her Eugene a few times this morning, and so she had thus far refused to call him Tochi in response), had left a while ago to head up the flight controls on the bridge as they pulled into the Calican system.  Kennedy had already checked in with Lt. Sa’eidron and made sure the woman, who sounded a little perkier than she had for a few days, was good to go with engineering and to once again establish that she should call with any questions.  Which left Callie alone with the Aurora.  

In her headphones a heavy base beat was drumming out a familiar tune and she bobbed her head along with it.  Last night they had worked on reinstalling the blast shields that she had noted.  They had also sat down with that bottle, Tochi drinking more than she had, and hammered out plans for what else needed to be worked on.  Now she double checked her PADD to make sure she had the calibrations correct for the asymmetrical E-M coupling she was staring at.  She then nodded to herself. 

“Alright then, let’s get to it…”  She tapped the side of her headphones and the volume cranked up a notch.  Callie flipped a wrench out of her tool belt and into her palm, then crawled down onto the floor and scooted herself down into the slender Jefferies Tube that held the coupling.  

Her foot tapped on the floor as she lay on her back half way in the tube.  

“We will rock you… alright, just a hair to the left Callie.  Not too far, if you screw this up you’re going to have to pull out the whole rig and refit it.  That spotted bastard won’t be pleased if you screw up his ship on the first day… that’s it… just a hair more… stop… are the champions… good, now to the next one…”  She muttered to herself as she worked.  

Stardate: 2365.05.15

USS Peregrine, Deck 5: Shuttle Bay 2 - Section M-13 - 13:16

“Bloody hell,” Megan mumbled around the last bit of the cranberry-oat muffin she had just poked into her mouth, “an’ I thought th’ bridge certification exams’d put me off me head.” Weaving her way through the maze of crates, spare parts, and maintenance equipment, she sucked the remaining crumbs off her fingers and scowled at the course listings displayed on the PADD in her other hand; “These fookin’ Acad’my courses, though’re like ta set me right barmy! Advanced subspace geometry, Advanced Navigation, Command an’ Control, Fractal friggin’ Calculus…” a heavy sigh heaved from her tiny chest as the curriculum scrolled on and on, “...reckon there’s worse way ta lose yer nut.”

She flopped down amongst the crates of her usual study spot in the shadow of the Aurora Angel, her thoughts letting go of how taxing the courses Commander Zai had told her were contingent to keeping her commission were and, instead, slipping back to the horrors of those who had gone mad in the face of Chimera for a moment. “Aye,” she scarcely whispered, shoving a hand through the mass of copper curls that sprouted from her head and rubbing at where her neck met the base of her skull, “plenty o’ worse…”

Like most of the Peregrine’s other crew who had survived the Chimera incident, Megan didn’t like to dwell on those thoughts overlong but, also, like the others, she knew it would be a long time before she’d come anywhere close to being free of them. She pinched her eyes shut before the tears could come, again, and continued kneading at her neck until the shuddering of her breath found its way to a more even rhythm. “Right then,” she breathed, determined not to let those thoughts clutter her head before she managed to get through, at least one more assignment, “let’s be to it.”

A determined grimace etched itself into her elfin features and she cued open her Astrogation coursework. She had been head down over the PADD for only moments before a question regarding tri-axial spatial orientation skewed her expression from determination to frustration. She was sure she knew the answer but, for some reason, it was being evasive, and, as her eyes lifted from the PADD and into the netherspace of the shuttle bay in hopes of finding it, she finally realized that the tarps in which the Angel had been draped for so many months were missing… “Iesu mawr,” Megan swore, leaping to her feet quickly enough to spill the PADD from her lap and send it clattering to the deck, “I dinnae think Tochi’d touched th’ thing since…”

A faint clatter and clang resonated from within the Angel’s interior, then, drawing the Ensign’s wide-eyed gaze to the little ship’s aft loading ramp where a wash of light spilled onto the deck. Megan knew that Tochi was on the bridge, at the moment, and she strongly doubted that Linc would have been doing any work on the craft without having told her about it. “Wha’ th’ bloody HELL?!” A fire kindled in her chest and quickly spread to her cheeks as she stomped from her study spot toward the base of the ramp. “Swear ta Jesus, if et’s one o’ them newbies pokin’ ‘round where they don’ b’long…” She snatched a heavy spanner from the rack of tools huddled near the Angel’s gangplank. “...I’ll dent their blinkin’ dome!”

“Oi!” Megan called, storming up the ramp with purposeful determination, her ire rising with each step. “Who inna name o’ Mother Mary’s muckin’ about in here?!”

No reply.

She made a quick search of the cargo bay and, having found no one, moved deeper into the Angel’s belly. “Ye’d best answer,” she hollered, clutching the spanner with both hands as her gaze frantically scanned each module in search of the intruder, “er I swear ta Jesus, I’ll put a divot in yer head tha’ll no come out, aye?!”

It wasn’t until Megan had nearly reached the hatchway to the bridge that she spied a pair of legs poking out of the access port of a Jeffries Tube, one foot tapping rhythmically. She sucked in a deep breath, assured her grip on the spanner, and crossed the distance between her and the disembodied legs. “Whoever ya are, yer gonna wanna come oota there afore I take this spanner tae yer ankles!”

Still no reply; and the one foot continued tapping to a phantom beat that Megan couldn’t hear.

“OI!!!” the waifish ensign veritably shouted, then, drawing her own foot back and lofting a swift kick at the sole of the other’s boot, “I said ta haul yer apple-polishin’ arse outta tha’ tube!!!”

“Wha… in tarnations!?”  Callie felt someone kick at her foot, her reflexes overcame the logic of her being in the confines of the Jefferies Tube and she tried to sit up, again bashing her head into the metal frame of the ship.  

“Dammit!  This stupid ship is going to be the death of me!”  She cried out and laid back down, pulling off her headphones as she tried to wiggle out of the tube, just in time to hear the end of the Welsh lass’s tongue lashing.  Callie pulled her head out of the tube and stared up at the woman with a quizzical look on her face.  

“Yes?  I’m out now… what exactly are you going to do to my arse?”  

The blood drained from Megan’s cheeks as quickly as it had boiled there to begin with when she recognized Commander Kennedy’s face emerging from the Jeffries. “Ohmuhjeezus,” she squeaked, dropping the massive spanner and bouncing back a foot or two, “I’msosorryCommanderIthunkyemightbesomeoneelsean’shouldn’beherean…” She threw her hands up in surrender, blinked her giant, pale blue eyes in sustained shock, her mouth falling open. “Puhleeze don’ report me, sir,” she pleaded, abashed that she’d not only threatened but, also, technically, assaulted a superior officer. Then, it dawned on her that, as far as she knew, Commander Kennedy didn’t even know about the Angel and, as such, probably shouldn’t be poking around… especially in her nether regions.

“Uhhhhhhmmmmm,” she droned, her hands slowly falling to her sides and a bit of tension draining from her features, “I...if’n I might ask, Commander… does Tochi know yer… here… doin’ whatever it es yer doin’?”

Kennedy put down her wrench and got to her feet while the girl rattled on.  She dusted herself off a little and looked at her squarely in her eyes.  Then snapped her fingers a few times.  “It’s… O’Malley… O’Neil… O…”  Kennedy shook her head and sighed.  “Nope… not coming to me.  O something from that little island across the pond though.  I’m not going to report you, although… I am intrigued to learn that my arse can polish apples.  And do you go around kicking everyone whom you think is out of place?  Your career is going to be entertaining…”  

She laughed a little and turned away from the girl, grabbing a rag she had left on a nearby counter and wiped at her hands.  “Does Commander Zai know I am here?”  She posed the question without answering it and gave a slight shrug, smiling while she still had her back to the girl. 

“It’s Owen, sir,” Megan swallowed, “Ensign Megan Owen… yemayhavemeconfusedwi’PettyOfficerO’ConnerfromOPSbutthat’sunnerstandableaccentsbein’similaran’sechbutshe’sheran’I’mmean’...Well,I’msorrahaboutyerarse,sir,Idunnotha’itpolishesapplesan…”

Commander Kennedy pulled the smile off her face and put back on her most stoic expression before turning back around to face Owen.  “Ahh… Owen.  I was close.” 

The little Ensign’s head fell forward, then, and she lofted a resigned sigh. “Ensign Owen, at yer service, sir,” she reiterated, “My sincere apologies fer th’ kick an’ th’ threatenin’ an’ wha’no’...”

She shrugged and then really took a look at the forlorn look on Megan’s face and couldn’t help it any longer, she burst out into laughter.  

“Do you ever take a breath when you speak Ensign?”  She was laughing so hard that tears had started gathering at the corner of her eyes.  “Calm down… deary.  Nothing to report.  And of course Zai knows I am here, I ran into him last night in the Aerie and we spent several hours in here afterward going over the beaut.  I wasn’t expecting company today, he didn’t mention sending help.”  

She dabbed a little at her eyes with the rag, still chuckling a little.  “I wouldn’t dare work on this lady without his permission.”  Kennedy held out her hand, “Good to meet you Owen.”  

Megan had continued blinking abashedly at the deck until the CEO’s extended hand breached the edge of her vision and, when it did, the waifish ensign’s shoulders slumped in relief and a breath to punctuate that feeling escaped her at the same time. “Ya c’n just call me Megan, sir… er Meg,” she offered, accepting the proffered hand and giving it a light shake as her eyes finally came up to meet Kennedy’s. She offered a shrug at those last words and rolled on; “Depends on who ya might be an’ yer preference, I s’pose. Either’s fine, sir.

Good ta meet ya, too, Commander Kennedy, innit?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I dinnae know, Toch...er… Commander Zai’d slipped ‘er from ‘er linens, agin. S’pose I was jus’ surprised ta see ‘er undressed an’ lit up an’... an’ yessir, I do take a breath ever’ now an again… an’... an’...”

In a moment that rarely happened for her, Megan realized that she was rambling and still pumping Kennedy’s hand. “Feck me,” the girl sighed, letting go of the Commander’s hand, casting her eyes down once more, and flushing a little, her pale cheeks going pink as she sucked in a long swallow of air.

Callie took her hand back and laughed again.  “I’m out of uniform, you can drop the Commander… you can stick with Kennedy though, Megan.  And I’m not sure I believe you about taking a breath, but I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

“I s’pose no’,” Megan tittered, still somewhat nervously, “Mos’ other folk dinnae believe tha’, neither. An’, yessir, Kennedy it is, if ye insist, sir.”

Kennedy smirked and then looked around the ship and Megan’s gaze followed.  “Truth be told it was I who unveiled the sexy bitch.  Curiosity, cats and all of that… but I swear I never touched her without permission.  Zai was on board with working on her again, I think he’s wanted to… just needed a nudge…”  She gave Megan a warm smile.  “So are you familiar with her?” 

Megan smiled back just as warmly but there was a tinge of sadness lacing the expression, as well. “Aye,” the elfin girl nodded faintly, “I was th’ first ta fly ‘er, truth be told. Pro’lly weren’t th’ test flight Toch was truly hopin’ fer but…” She let the thought fall with that. 

Owen!  I knew that name… Kennedy cursed herself for a moment for not connecting the name with the ‘maiden flight’ of the Angel.  She winced a little bit.  “Sorry… it was a good flight from what I heard…” she said softly and gave the girl a sympathetic look.

It was all Megan could do to keep her face from screwing up into the ‘ugly cry’ thing when Kennedy said the words ‘good flight.’ It was, of course, and, at the same time, it wasn’t. The Angel had flown and staved off evil just like her namesake, of course, but that maiden flight had also seen Asovil sacrifice herself for the sake of the crew and, had Megan been able to have done anything to keep that from being so… well… 

She choked that thought down, too, and, trying to keep her smile bright and cheery, tilted her head toward the bridge. “Oh, she flew like she were a dream,” Megan swooned, “Whodathunk tha’ manual controls’d be sooo smooth. C’mon,” she turned her little feet in the direction of the bridge, “Did he show ye th’ analog FCS? JesusJosephan’Mary! Tha’s a thing ta b’hold… an’ fly! I’ll show ya.”

 When Megan moved on Kennedy went with it and let the smile pull back onto her face.  “I spied it, but honestly I haven’t really gotten up to my elbows in it yet.  You going to give me the grand tour of the FCS then?”  

The hatch whispered open in response to Megan entering her access code and, despite the sigh that whispered over her lips as she crossed the threshold, the tiny woman veritably skipped toward the Angel’s CONN.  Kennedy followed, smiling, glad to see that there were others on board the Peregrine who felt the same about the Angel as she was coming to feel, it gave the ship the potential for a brighter future.  When they got into the bridge Kennedy leaned up against one of the other station desks as Megan made her way to the command chair.

Megan grinned brightly at the CEO as she plopped herself into the seat and, as it spun her to the CONN, adjusted itself to her frame. A little hand reached forward, then, and cued in a command sequence that set the consoles to shifting about and the throttle and joystick emerged from their hiding places. “This,” the copper-tressed girl almost moaned as her hands settled on the analog controls, “is what flying is all about.”

Kennedy crossed her arms and grinned at her.  “I wouldn’t know.  Flying was never my thing.  But I get you.  I feel the same way about a well oiled warp drive.  Now that whole configuration and way it almost organically blooms around you… that’s very nice.  I said she’s a sexy bitch… and I meant it.  Starfleet could learn a thing or two about ship design from the Trill I think.”  

“Aye an’ fer shure, lass,” Megan concurred with a broad grin, “Jus’ like slippin’ between Risian silk sheets wi’out yer knickers on, innit?” She glanced back over her shoulder at the engineer then, an almost embarrassed expression on her face, Kennedy simply gave her a smile and small wink in return; “I mean… uh… I get yer analogy, Kennedy, but ya gotta give flyin’ a try a’least once. Especially in th’ Angel! Were we no’ at warp, I’d almost be tempted ta ask if ye wanted ta take ‘er out.”

Kennedy shook her head and gave off another small laugh.  “I’d really have to get Zai’s permission for that, and he’d need to take a good long look over my flight history before he did it.  I took some flight courses at the academy, let's just say I didn’t make a good impression.  Last time I tried piloting a shuttle I nearly took off the tail during landing.  I’m a grease monkey and I’m okay with it.  Maybe someday though… we’ll see.”  

The elfish ensign, first, visibly cringed and, then, giggled at Kennedy’s anecdote. “Well, luv,” she said, keying in the sequence to return the analog controls to their bays and turning back to face her, “Should ye e’er care fer a lesson, I’m yer lass, aye?”

Megan lounged, almost contentedly, in the CONN seat for a moment, seeming to relish in the way it cradled her. Then, as the brilliant grin spread back across her face, she leaned forward and pushed herself to her feet. “If ye don’ mind m’sayin, Kennedy,” she sighed, “I’m glad ya go’ Tochi ta open ‘er up, agin, poor memories aside. This bird deserves ta fly an’, sadness bein’ wha’ it is, it should’nae stop ‘er from spreadin’ ‘er wings.” 

Kennedy nodded and let her fingers trail over the console she leaned against, feeling the subtle way that the displays were set into the counter, then the perfect curve of the counter edge itself.  “Yes I agree with that whole heartedly.  I’ve only known her a day and I can tell she’s something special.  I might not be the one sitting in the pilots chair, probably safer, but I want to see her spread those wings out there amongst the stars…”  

Megan practically beamed at those words… Oh but this is gonna be a good’n fer Tochi, she thought, strolling back in Kennedy’s direction, an’ fer th’ Angel… “Seems ta me,”she observed, “ye;ve got ‘er a step closer to tha; vera thing, sir.” She clasped her hands behind her back then, and rocked back and forth between her heels and toes as her eyes darted about the ship for which she obviously shared an affection with the CEO. “Anythin’ I can help ya with? I’m a wee bent on studyin’ this evenin’, after all.”

“Well… before you kicked me.  I was working on the asymmetrical E-M couplings, seems they are all a bit cockeyed.  I’ll take a hand getting them wrangled…”  She pushed off the console, grinned and started back with Megan to where she had been working.  

“Aye,” Megan snickered, following in Kennedy’s footsteps, “ Asymmetrical’d lead ya ta tha’ assumption wouldn’ it?” She cowed a bit when the engineer flicked a glance back but her smile didn’t diminish. “Sorry… could’nae help m’self, there…”

Stardate: 2365.05.15

Starbase 118, Lt. Collin’s Personal Quarters 08:15

John Collins finished tidying up in the bathroom, stepped into the living area of his quarters and up to the replicator built into the wall.  

“One cup, raktajino, hot.  Add a teaspoon of cream.”  He commanded the machine.  Like the music raktajino was one of the things he had learned to appreciate about Klingon culture during his studies.  The teaspoon of cream made it more palatable to his tastes, even if a true Klingon would have snubbed him for it.  

The machine made a few beeps and then a cup of steaming raktajino in a glass mug sat on the tray.  He took it into his hands and let his fingers warm a little as he settled into the couch in front of his viewscreen. 

“Computer, pull up the specs for the Class 6 Mining Shuttle.”  

=^=On Screen.=^= She chimed back in her soft gentle voice. 

He relaxed back into his couch and began reviewing the data.  A Mining Shuttle had been dropped off a few days ago by a freighter for repairs.  The conduits had a mineral build up he needed to remove. Just as he was digging deeply into how the conduits in question were associated with the life support system the computer interrupted him. 

=^=Incoming Transmission:  USS Peregine - Commander Kennedy.=^=

John couldn’t help himself, her name came out of the computer and he found himself smiling.  “Yes.  Put her through.”  

It had been days since they had spoken and he was pleased to hear from her.  The viewscreen switched from the internal blueprints of a mining vessel to a view of Kennedy’s personal quarters.  She was sitting on her couch cross legged in a pair of grey sweatpants and sweatshirt, each with a faded MIT logo on them.  Her hair looked slightly damp.  Next to her a little tan colored fur ball was curled up.  

“Good morning John!”  She beamed, and he was taken aback for a moment, it was the first full smile he had seen on her in weeks.  “Look!”  

Before he could answer her greeting she had leaned forward and picked up the potted plant off the coffee table.  Proudly she held it up to the view screen so he could see the bright blue flower.  “It isn’t dead yet!  And actually…” she pulled it closer to herself and poked her fingers amongst the petals.  “Actually… I think it might have a new bloom growing down in there.”  

He laughed lightly, and remembered haggling with the Frengi over the price of that flower, which of course went up the moment he tried to take the pot with it.  Apparently their initial negotiations had only included the flower.  “Good morning, Cal.  I’m glad you haven’t managed to kill it… or Pudding yet.”  

“No.”  She smiled back to him and put the pot down.  “And you haven’t accidentally blown up the Starbase.  We’re both doing great.” 

Yes, you are… finally.  What’s changed for you, I wonder?

“You have such faith in my capabilities as an engineer.”  He desperately wanted to ask what had been happening on board the Peregrine, but at the same time he was a little fearful of the answer.

“Just going by what I saw.”  She shrugged.  “Anyways… how are things going John?”  When she spoke his name it sounded soft and affectionate to him still, which eased his mind a little, but only a little. 

“Nothing much to tell here.  Ships come, they go… I get yelled at by their captains for not working fast enough… the usual.”  He took a sip of his drink, which by now was cooling. 

“Sounds about right.  Well guess what!?”  The excitement on her face told him that he was about to find out what had caused her sudden change in mood.  He simply shrugged.  

“You remember the XO of this ship right?  The Trill?”  

John nodded and found that unease creeping back.  Sure he remembered the XO.  A bit informal sometimes, likes to be called Tochi, handsome devil. 

“Yeah, seemed like a good guy from what I recall.”  He said out loud.

“That remains to be seen… however, he isn’t as important as what he’s working on.  John… it’s amazing.  He’s got this side project that he had been working on, I think for years, with the old CEO.  It’s this ship… and… we spent all of last night going over her.  I found the plans buried in some computer files.  The Aurora Angel he calls it.  It’s spaceworthy, kind of… it still needs a ton of work.  But… Lord is it beautiful already.  I’ve never seen anything quite like it.  I haven’t felt this excited about working on an engine since I was an Ensign...”  

She’s in love alright… at least it’s not with the Trill… yet… I’m happy for her, I am.  He listened to her babble, sipping his Klingon coffee as she tried to describe it, going into details about it’s systems and set up.  It was great to see her so vibrant again.  Although, he had to admit that somewhere deep down he was a little disappointed, if she was finding her stride on the Peregrine she wouldn’t consider a transfer if a position ever opened up on the SB.

“... so I should have the whole day to work on her.”  She finished off finally.  

“She sounds amazing Cal.  I wish I could have seen her.  I’ll definitely want the tour when you swing back my way.”  

“Hopefully by then I can take you out on a cruise!”  She waggled her eyebrows playfully at him.  

‘By then’, how long will that be?  I miss you…  “It’s a date.  It’s been good to hear from you.  I’ve got to get going, I’m supposed to meet Berg in the holodeck soon.  I think we’re playing squash.”  

“Of course!  I didn’t mean to hold you up.  I just… I had to share with someone.”  

“Keep me updated.”  He smiled warmly, he was at least glad that she had thought of him when it came to sharing her good news.  

“I will… good luck on the courts.”  She gave him a wave and then was gone.  That was how she almost always closed off their communications, just gone, never gave him a chance to say goodbye.  Never gives you the opportunity to say ‘I miss you… I love you… please call back soon…’  

He finished his coffee and decided that hitting a ball around a court was just what he needed this morning.  

I missed that too.  That's fun.  The litter box idea is great.  Maybe we can add a 'red light' laser game to the options available in the Aerie too.  Get all three of them going.  

M.

I guess I am glad that I didn't kill off Sa'eridon... She's quite the busy little NPC.

LoL

M.

12. Hobbies beside playing at the Inn: crochet, cross stitch, writing and painting D&D minis (just finished a Dire Bear today)

13.Favorite character you have played to date (either on the Inn or elsewhere): Cayrimsa  (Originally she was a succubi in a table top game I played that was awesome, and then I reused the name for Fates, and she's amazing there too).  I have a few others I enjoy especially Ellegwen & Camille Baker.

14. Favorite music: Alternative.  Cake is my favorite band. 

15. Grossest thing you've ever touched: A mole that I thought my dog had killed and I was removing from the yard, which then moved on me probably elicted the worst scream I've done in a long time.  I'm a mom though, my tolerance is pretty high.

16. Favorite place to visit or favorite place you've lived? Visited - Greece Lived - Japan (military brat I lived there for a few years)

17. Strangest thing you've eaten: 

M.

Maybe it's the feminist in me, but personally I liked Janeway.  Of course she was always too willing to go off on subplots instead of getting her damn ship on course to return to earth, but that's an understandable issue with the series in general, not a real debate on her command.  I really enjoyed a female captain, who wasn't even a total babe... Left that job to Seven of course.  

I'll have to give Enterprise a try though.  Got a few more movies and TNG to get through first though.  The kids thought that the Star Wars marathon over Christmas break took awhile.

M.

I have never really given Enterprise a try, my husband was watching it and the theme song was jarring enough...However, I was talking about this game with my family and realized I had failed my children and we had not really watched much ST as a family.   So... We watched Wrath of Khan two nights ago and have moved onto Search for Spock now.  

M.

Stardate: 2635.05.15

USS Peregrine, Deck 4 - Sickbay 00:45

“You are right,” Dana said slowly, “none of what happened was honorable.  It was useless and pointless, and people died, and there was....”

Cook paused as if she were struggling to go on, but eventually she did.

Karri let the woman pause and gather herself a little, but found that she recognized the look in her eyes all too well. 

“There was nothing I could do about it,” she said as she closed her eyes a moment to block out the vision again of Sandra laying there with her neck broken. 

Dana’s head came up and her eyes open as she straightened up and looked at the Lt again.  

“Time..” the nurse said as she turned to her desk and picked up her PADD and began entering her treatment of the Officer, “I guess we’ll both have to wait and see.”  

Turning back to the Lt, the Head nurse didn’t look up as she continued to tap quickly into the medical log.

“That sedative should kick in soon,” she said, “make sure you get back to your quarters soon.  You don’t want to be found sleeping in the hallway.”  A faint smile lifted the corner of her mouth.  

Karri returned the smile tentatively.  “No… that would be most embarrassing, especially with me in my robe.  I’m afraid I wouldn’t ever hear the end of that…”

The cat-like woman rose up off the medbed.  “Thank you, already my head is feeling better, I believe that elusive sleep will be forthcoming.”

“Have a good night Lt.,” Dana said as she looked up and met the Caitian’s gaze, “I hope everything goes well tomorrow.” 

“Same to you.  If by chance we are both in the Aerie at the same time perhaps we might share a drink sometime… It might be nice to talk to someone who isn’t in Engineering now and then.”  

((OOC:  Assuming a positive response to that.))

“Until then…” and with that she strode out of the bay, feeling better and looking forward to curling back up in her own bed.