First Morning [Mahak]

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"I believe you are an effective Chief of the Boat." Mahak told Reyes. "And I believe that I have somehow mastered the art of diplomacy in a short time."

"Shall we send in the next one?" The Vulcan asked her.

[Kali Reyes]

"Why thank you, Mr. Mahak," she teased. "Now we just have to work on your timing. Like not coddling a half-Klingon." Adaptation. That was the word she was thinking of to help Mahak move along. Adaptation and oodles of experience. "We'll make an Operations Chief out of you yet. Count on it."

And honestly, if he genuinely believe he could turn her into a disciplined fighter, then she can turn him into an effective people person.

The third crewman was Nurse Henri from Medical. As engaging as her vivid red hair, exemplary at her job, and all around patient pleaser. Transferring her in from Starbase Kappa was the best thing that has ever happened to Sickbay. Her lovely appearance attracted many eager men from crewman to decorated officer. The annual physical turnout was their record best this year.

But there was a slight flaw to her and it revealed itself when she walked in, glanced at Kali's alien companion, and her entire demeanor shifted. She quickly took the seat Kali wordlessly offered her and leaned ever so in Mahak's direction.

"Morning, Nurse Henri," Kali greeted into her coffee. This was going to be interesting.

"Good morning, Chief! Mr. Mahak..." The way Henri's tone dipped mentioning his name made Kali's jaw click. Easy, girl, she reminded herself and dealt this like a champ. Especially when the nurse turn on that subtle charm that attracted all the wrong people. Henri was not a man-eater, she was an alien-eater.

Kali respected the attitude. They were literally twins at that department. But the fact that she's got her attention on Mahak really was an exercise of restriction. The wild, party girl inside her wanted to howl and dig her manicured nails right into her-

"Right!" Kali said brightly. "So, your record is spotless, your attendance is great, and you've even got an award for outstanding service for this quarter. Congratulations!"

"Thank you," replied Henri. "I really love my job. The Discovery's diverse crew really helps me learn more about xenobiology."

"Oh, I bet it has."

Henri glanced at the Vulcan with her charming green eyes, her voice gentle. "I believe your annual physical is coming up this month, sir. Would you like a prior personal appointment? It's much less invasive than the actual physical. And much more intimate to accommodate your Vulcan sensibilities."

Oh, she's good. Kali thought ruefully.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"Nurse Henri, you show a great skill with patients and treating their needs, but you're memory is at fault." Mahak said. "My annual physical was undertaken before you came aboard."

Perhaps he was learning something about diplomacy. There was no mistaking the look in the nurse's eyes or the way she was sitting and tossing her hair. But Mahak knew that with Reyes's bright eyes boring holes into Henri's and contemplating murder it was no time to flirt even if he wanted to.

"Do you see yourself entering the Academy eventually, Nurse Henri?" Mahak asked in a professional tone. "There you can major in your subject of interest. Alien anatomy."

[Kali Reyes]

Henri looked so contemplative, even Kali was wondering what the hell was going on. It was pretty obvious what had happened. She gave him an invitation, he refused, the end. But instead of fumbling with embarrassment or at least anger, the angelic nurse looked upon Mahak the same way Kali did when he swooped her in for their first kiss.

"I... thank you," Henri breathed out, her gaze soft and in awe. "No one's ever been concerned about my career. It's humbling."

Kali wasn't even granted the time to gape like a fish. Not when Nurse Henri forced herself to tear her gaze away from the Vulcan and genially answer and ask any queries she's had aboard the ship. Once Kali was finally able to dismiss her, she locked eyes with Mahak like a child with wonder and that's when it hit Kali like a ton of bricks.

"What the hell just happened?" Kali demanded once the door slid shut. She rounded on him. "It's like you've got some kind of anti-floozy tractor beam." Turning women like Henri and her into these doe-eyed monstrosities - it was downright alarming.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"You would have to ask a female that question, or better yet ask yourself." Mahak told her, his tone familiar and perhaps a bit warm if you knew how to distinguish it. "Nurse Henri's behavior just now was not very professional, so it was easy to ignore."

"And besides," He said gently. "One does not pay any mind to such trivial matter when one's needs are already so amply fulfilled."

[Kali Reyes]

"My behavior isn't very professional," she pointed out to him fondly. "Why haven't you written me up for it yet?" She didn't think she was any different from Henri, though they approached it differently. While Henri preferred subtlety, Kali made things pretty clear from the get go. Like a cargo freighter reverse parking right into a starbase dock instead of putting it in drive. If she liked someone, they'd know.

It was easier. She knew where she stood with a person. Nice and clean.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"You are my superior, Chief. Write ups go down, not up." Mahak pointed out.

Their fourth appointment, the attaché to the admiral, Lieutenant Dupree, breezed into the office as if he owned it. His bow was airy and deep.

"Chief Reyes, and of course Crewman Mahak," Dupree's Creole accent rendered the Vulcan name very wet sounding to his ears. "I am here for the evaluation, yes?"

"Yes. Dupree. Sit." Mahak said, his voice every bit as even and stone cold as the lieutenant's was jocular. "Please describe your duties on--"

"I will happily describe to you what it means to be Dupree," the officer interrupted, and began speaking in a rapid fire accent that was so deep and queer to Mahak's ears that it was hard to decipher:

"Admiral Kirok rises promptly at 0500 every morning. He is not a man for a large or elaborate breakfast, no. He likes some morning tea and a bowl of oats or perhaps some fruit and milk. After that he takes his appointments, beginning at 0730. First he meets with--"

"Lieutenant, you can merely say you are the admiral's primary aide, attaché and steward." Mahak said blandly.

"Of course."

"You are clearly dedicated to your job." The Vulcan continued. "But would you care to explain why you're nearly 60 years old and still only a lieutenant?"

"I...ah..."

"Tell us about your first tour of duty on the USS Atlantic City," Mahak said quietly. "Tell us about the mutiny."

[Kali Reyes]

[Kali's Office]

"You are my superior, Chief. Write ups go down, not up." Mahak pointed out.

The biggest load of bull she ever heard. She gave him a long look of disbelief, because he knew exactly what she meant, but their next appointment was arriving soon and she couldn't call him out on it.

So point went to him. For now.

Attaché. It was a title to dignify their real name: butler. Or handmaiden, if she wanted to be mouthy. She didn't exactly have a love for attaché's; it reminded her of the dozens of the hired help waiting on hand and knee for her father and their lavish household.

The moment Lieutenant Dupree walked in, Kali sucked in her breath before the guy tried to tighten the non-existent party dress belt around her waist. It's tight enough as it was, she couldn't breathe, the fabric itched-

Her silence may have prompted Mahak to take control.

"Mutiny?!" she blurted out. It was quite literally the first thing she ever said during Dupree's evaluation. The middle-aged man shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"It's not relevant to the Discovery." He rubbed his knobby knuckles nervously. "It is the past - long past. Certainly you have a long day's worth of appointments-"

Kali spared a glance at the chronometer on her desk. "Nah. We've got plenty of time. Xawin's probably still eating breakfast." And she was kind of interested.

"Yes, well..." Dupree still seemed hesitant. "Rank isn't everything. I was young, impulsive, full of life. I started out as a yeoman on the Atlantic City. Very new, very important. Never saw a lick of combat, but we carried some very, very important people aboard. Diplomats, senators, peacekeepers. At one point we even transported a very prominent musician that specialized in heavy pulsar. The music was impeccable back then, not this new warp trance garbage-"

"You want to tell us the entire history of the Federation while you're at it?" So she was a little impatient. She just hated long winded stories. "Can you just give us the cliff notes?"

"Oh, uh... I led a union against my Captain. Myself and a group of yeoman went on strike for the Captain's gross misconduct. We were court marshaled for it. It did not go in our favor."

Kali sat up in her chair. "What did he do?"

"She," he corrected primly. "You see, back then we also belonged to a very staunch culinary guild on Tartas III. Most yeomen transferred there to study nutrition and other incentives to better assist our future superiors. Captain Dalas demanded ketchup on her hot dogs. Our refusal brought disciplinary hearings and by then we had enough. She was later promoted to the Admiralty and I have never raised past the lieutenant rank since."

Her coffee had long since gone cold. "You're saying that ketchup on a hot dog stalled your Starfleet career?! Are you nuts?!"

Dupree sniffed indignantly and straightened his jacket. "It is the principle of the thing, Chief."

"Obviously! That's disgusting!" she snarled. "What kind of heathen puts ketchup on a hot dog?!"

"Thank you!" he agreed, albeit hysterically. "Exactly!"

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

Mahak's eyebrows were raising exponentially throughout the entire speech. When it ended, he could not help but cast two bewildered glares to each of the humans in turn.

"'Hot dog'? I thought those were companion animals." The Vulcan asked. "I did not know that humans ate their dogs. Tellarites do."

[Kali Reyes]

They both shot him back a look of utter disbelief. Dupree raised an eyebrow and leaned toward her. "We cannot judge. We mustn't."

"He is a Vulcan," Kali agreed. "And most are vegetarians."

"A cruel world they must live in."

"Indeed." She gestured invitingly to Mahak. "They're not really dogs, bab- Mahak." Whew, she almost lost herself there. "It's processed meat on a bun. Kind of in a shape of a sausage. What condiments go on it has been a battleground for humanity for hundreds of years." Kali grinned at Dupree. "Personally, I'm more of a mustard and onions kind of girl. Maybe a jalapeno or two for kick."

"Gumbo or chili, like my grandmother used to make," he said wisely. "Or perhaps an old fashioned Coney Island dog."

"Stop, you're making my mouth water!" she whined. "And no replicator on the planet can make a really good, thick, juicy-"

Dupree almost had a cardiac arrest on the seat. "My poor heart can't handle anymore! But I have found a kindred spirit of the dog and I am very blessed."

They shared a high five. Hot dog comrades!

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

"Perhaps if we could return to the matter at hand..." Mahak said.

"Of course." Dupree said. "There's your answer, crewman. A vengeful captain with absolutely no discernible palate."

"We will have a word with Commander LeFleur at Starfleet Command." The Vulcan said. "You've been in limbo far too long for such a talented officer."

"Thank you, thank you!" Dupree said, kissing his fingers exuberantly. "And for you, Mr. Mahak, I shall make soy hot dogs. No meat, twice the protein, and with a nice vegetarian chili topping--"

"Perhaps you two can exalt over food later." Mahak suggested. He paused a moment. "But thank you just the same, Lieutenant. Send in our next appointment if they're out there."

Dupree left, walking backwards, bowing and scraping.

"He has an unusual amount of energy even for a human." Mahak remarked to Reyes.

[Kali Reyes]

Kali beamed at Mahak for his suggestion and then to Dupree for promising him a taste of one of humanity's finest dishes - well, the soy part was kind of weird, but so were Vulcans and they tasted just fine to her.

Dupree happily departed and Kali ticked him off her list. So far everyone has been satisfied with their evaluation except for Kaori, but Kali was already planning on clearing the air later.

"He has an unusual amount of energy even for a human." Mahak remarked to Reyes.

"Hmmm." Kali gave him a particularly heated look, but it was very appropriate; she was simply craving hot dogs. "Vitality is a remarkable thing." And if her voice sounded a bit thick, well, she was simply hungry.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

The look that Reyes was giving him was more than a little stirring. Idly, Mahak's mind, usually so focused, drifted unbidden to the night before. The contrast between the casual, joking Chief who was his work colleague now and the wild and yet coquette woman who was his lover was singularly odd and somehow pleasant.

The Vulcan studied Reyes with a fond eye until he remembered they still had one more evaluation to perform.

"Who is next, chief?"

[Kali Reyes]

"Ensign Xawin," she told him slowly, her smile widening and really, what came out of her mouth was pretty much auto-pilot at this point. She was too interested in burning away that icy stiffness for the guy last night. Maybe she was the only one presently who could.

The door buzzed. What was the deal again? Professionalism. Resigned, Kali cast him one more look that was positively sinful before shouting, "Come in!"

Xawin was their only Edosian. The seven feet tall, salmon colored, insect-looking alien with a purpose - and the most alien looking on the ship. His third leg tapped naturally behind him until he draped it out of the hole behind the seat after he casually saluted.

"Morning, Mr. Xawin." Kali drummed her fingers on the desk, a bit intimidated and, if anyone looked into it carefully, almost hesitant in speaking.

"Your drumming irritates me, Chief Reyes." He didn't even greet Mahak, but maybe it was for the best. The way he said her name was positively venomous. Her smile faded a bit along with the tapping of her fingers. "I have a complaint."

"Okay?"

"I live in the quarters on the left hand side of yours," he said brusquely. "Ever since you moved in, I have been plagued in the late night hours by your incessant pacing. I would like that to cease as soon as possible."

Kali cringed and refused to look at Mahak the whole time. "Uh... I'm sorry? I didn't think anyone could hear me pacing. The others never made a complaint-"

Xawin snorted loudly. "Yes, I am aware of human ignorance. You are no different. In case it did not occur to you, I am Edosian. I hear more than you can possibly imagine. The vibrations especially." Before Kali could say anything, he continued. "I do not care for why you do it. I haven't had a wink of sleep with the exception of last night. This is why I bring it up now. Whatever trial you had to suffer through to cease that obnoxious pacing, I suggest you keep doing it. For the benefit of your neighbors at least!"

Oh. My. God. This was it. The fabled thirteenth circle of hell: embarrassment. She blushed so bad, it looked like she was having a fever. Xawin probably mistook it as shame for her late night pacing and raised his chin proudly in self-righteousness. Professionalism was now officially out the window. Desk meet head. Her forehead thumped the desk hard enough for her to wince.

[Malcolm Adeyemi]

[Kali's Office]

Mahak studied the conversation unfolding between the two of them with a calm eye and his fingers steepled beneath his chin. His eyebrow raised when Reyes face planted onto her desk in embarrassment.

"Ensign Xawin, I believe that Lieutenant Baranski is still the Operations officer in charge of rooming and accommodations."

"What?" Xawin demanded. "How does that information pertain to my dispute? I fail to see--"

"And I fail to see how disrespecting the senior most enlisted crew member in Shadow Fleet by complaining about your rooming assignment pertains to your evaluation." Though quiet, Mahak's tone was cuttingly logical and cold. "If you would like new quarters I am sure there are some changes we could make."

The Vulcan let the question hang for a moment before continuing.

"The change I would like to see made is your fitness reports, ensign. For a triped species your run time is unacceptable."