S6 E4 - The Dead and the Gone

[Ian Galloway]

[Bridge - USS Challenger]

Ian was smiling broadly as Space Station Deep Space K7 grew on the viewscreen. It was reunion day for the crew and spirits were running high throughout the ship and he took this moment to update his log.

"Computer, open log."

"Acknowledged."

"Captain's Log, Stardate 79570.9. The Challenger is puttin' in at Deep Space K-7 for 72 hours for repairs and most importantly, reunitin' the Starfleet crew with their families. Although I won't be personally meetin' anyone important, I am lookin' forward ta this down time. The battle with the Kinshaya was brief, but it was a brutal bloody thing and I for one ken full well the need for downtime. I haven't received our next mission yet, but that's fine with me, whatever Command wants us ta do, it can bloody well wait three bloody days. End log."

[Tora Zalos]

[Ensign Tora Zalos | Lounge 2B | Deep Space K7]

Thank goodness getting K7's quartermaster to rent out the starbase's lounge had been quite easy - and what a lovely view it had, too. If one looked out the window they were greeted with a sea of stars, endless black and gleaming white dots as the eye could see. Yes, it was just space, but after Tora and her crew's recent ordeal the Cardassian felt that what all of them needed was something low-key and simple; a chance for everybody to let down their hair.

Having convinced the station's quartermaster to let her have one of her lounges for a day she'd roped together a small team to put together a simple get-together with decent food contributed by the starbase's many vendors. There were no extraneous decorations beyond what the lounge already had this time. If anything the only addition was the playlist for the evening, which played softly overhead throughout, in addition to a table for food and utensils.  The lounge's small stage sat empty for now, though Tora had put out an interest form for any wishing to stretch their musical (or comedic, as the case could also be) muscles.

Presently, the Cardassian was preoccupied with helping to organise the food being brought in and thanking everyone involved. "That's all of them," She announced to one of her team, who'd been thus far been busy with another aspect of their prep. "How's it going over there?"

[Zemi zhCharion]

[Challenger]

With Ranier scuttled, there had been a mad rush to transfer crew and patients across to Challenger and some of the other attending vessels. The doomed vessel's CMO, the bolian Lt.Cmd Virel, was still in and out of consciousness thanks to an unknown condition. Doctor Rashar had taken on the case personally, which Zee had understood. Still, given that she'd been there herself she felt it right, nay, required, to lend as much of a hand in his care as she could.

Eventually her betazoid CO had gotten sick of having some inexperienced Andorian running under his feet. Once they'd docked at K7, Rashar had ordered Zee to take advantage of the shoreleave and let him deal with his own patient.

Honestly, she had spent the journey feeling a little helpless. The engineer she'd met back on Ranier, Neva, had done a fine job getting the EMH back online. Based on the engineer's assessment it seemed like Ranier was more than salvageable, so the evac-and-scuttle order had come as quite a shock.

Zee just hoped her CMO didn't go the same way.

[Deep Space K7]

A wander around the amenities of K7 did wonders for Zee's mood. She wasn't usually one to get down, but being on temporary exile made her feel even more helpless. Then she visited the commissary and got acquainted with one of the station's resident workers, a ferengi chef called Ligg.

During her hitchhiking years, ferengi usually meant trouble. Misogynists at the best of times, genuine creeps at the worse. For all the effort their homeworld had made on the steps towards liberalism, their extant conservatives seemed to have taken to the Merchant Leagues to make themselves useful. For all their backwards attitudes, however, they truly were fantastic chefs and Ligg in particular stood out. One well-done slug steak later - a delicacy Zee had found quite the taste for - and her mood picked up considerably. She even began to reconsider that crew get-together she'd heard rumours about.

Eventually, Zee found herself drifting towards lounge 2B. An ensign from the science division had put out open invitations, and Zee was curious if it was the Cardassian one. She'd never met a Cardassian before, and could do with a new friend.

Zee quite airily wandered into the lounge, taking in the decor or lack thereof before the people. Hands clasped behind her back, her weight jovially wavering between her left and right as she walked over, Zee approached the Cardassian with a beaming smile. "Hi! I'm Zemi from Medical, I don't think we've met yet." Of course they hadn't, but Zee had learned that people didn't like to be told that with such certainty. "Nice to get off the ship for a bit, right?"

[Calindra Hejaran]

[Passenger Shuttle In Transit to DS-K7]

'Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation,' her father was fond of saying.

That expression had followed her throughout her entire life, and she had always approached everything with careful preparation. It didn't matter if she was requested to patrol the edges of a nebula, or something else that wasn't exactly Calindra's cup of tea; if that's what had been assigned to her, then she would always set out to do her best to see it carried out.

Unfortunately, the instructions she had received for her first posting hadn't given her any specific instructions or mission parameters, just a 'rendez-vous at Deep Space K7 to meet with Lieutenant Wu' by such stardate. The exact details of what she would be doing, where she was bunking, who she would be reporting to were a bit hazy seeing as they hadn't been given to her.

As she waited further instructions, Calindra's shuttle trekked slowly towards their destination. It seemed to her like weeks had gone by, even if the ride would have been a short day away. In the meantime, she managed the boredome by studying the document the Headmaster had given her when she graduated. She leafed through the USS Challenger's spec, considered the map where DS K7 was located, and all the while ungracefully spilled some of her tea on the deck, much to the shuttle's scrubber droid's displeasure.

The litany of beeps and whirs made her consider spilling the rest of her cup on the ground just to hear the frustrated litany of bips and chirps again.

"Ah heck with it," she said as she purposely scuffed the deck with her black boots, leaving a good scuff mark in the process, to which was an immediate chirp of indignation and disbelief. She grinned as the droid's admonishments started anew as it went to work on the scuff mark marring the beautifully polished deck. To her satisfaction, the droid complained the whole time as it toiled away.

"Why do you insist on antagonizing the poor thing?" asked a familiar voice behind her.

"You know, I typically don't like droids, but in this case I find this one funny. Have we arrived at the coordinates?"

The co-pilot nodded, "Actually, yes... I thought you might want to see the station on our approach?"

Indeed she had! She gave the co-pilot her best smile and nimbly made her way to the shuttle's piloting cabin for her first view of DS K7 and the USS Challenger looming ahead of her.

[Ardyn Jaeger - Wu]

[Transport room 2]

"Mom! DAD! You're back!" The little girl went barreling towards her parents at near warp speed as she finally materialized on the platform. Ardy smiled. It had been way too long to have been away from her little girl, and after worrying that they wouldn't make it through the night, they had limped the ship home, ready to get back to their loved ones as soon as possible. They were the lucky ones. Not everyone came home after that long dark night.

"Heya Mads! You have fun at the camp?" Asked Ardy, bringing in Maddy for a big hug before letting the little girl go over to Alex to hug him.

"Yeah! We did lots of games and did painting and a scavenger hunt, and got to look at stars and all the spaceships!" said Maddy excitedly as they picked up her stuff.

"Spaceships, you say?"

"Yeah! They showed us all the cool ships and we got to go on one and see inside of it!"

Ardy smiled to Alex as they came through the halls.  Things felt right.

[Lounge]

[As Cadet Oyari Sedaya]

They had survived! And given that she wasn't busy today, or at least she was just on call for now, she had time to relax. Maybe get something started in terms of food at least. After several long shifts finishing patching everyone up, she would like to not have to think about the next shift for a while. She wasn't too big on parties, but... given the harrowing time they had, she was looking to get her mind off things.  Maybe even make new friends.

The quiet cadet came into the room.  It was already starting  to come together.  She'd probably get in the way of people.

[Tora Zalos]

[Challenger]

With Ranier scuttled, there had been a mad rush to transfer crew and patients across to Challenger and some of the other attending vessels. The doomed vessel's CMO, the bolian Lt.Cmd Virel, was still in and out of consciousness thanks to an unknown condition. Doctor Rashar had taken on the case personally, which Zee had understood. Still, given that she'd been there herself she felt it right, nay, required, to lend as much of a hand in his care as she could.

Eventually her betazoid CO had gotten sick of having some inexperienced Andorian running under his feet. Once they'd docked at K7, Rashar had ordered Zee to take advantage of the shoreleave and let him deal with his own patient.

Honestly, she had spent the journey feeling a little helpless. The engineer she'd met back on Ranier, Neva, had done a fine job getting the EMH back online. Based on the engineer's assessment it seemed like Ranier was more than salvageable, so the evac-and-scuttle order had come as quite a shock.

Zee just hoped her CMO didn't go the same way.

[Deep Space K7]

A wander around the amenities of K7 did wonders for Zee's mood. She wasn't usually one to get down, but being on temporary exile made her feel even more helpless. Then she visited the commissary and got acquainted with one of the station's resident workers, a ferengi chef called Ligg.

During her hitchhiking years, ferengi usually meant trouble. Misogynists at the best of times, genuine creeps at the worse. For all the effort their homeworld had made on the steps towards liberalism, their extant conservatives seemed to have taken to the Merchant Leagues to make themselves useful. For all their backwards attitudes, however, they truly were fantastic chefs and Ligg in particular stood out. One well-done slug steak later - a delicacy Zee had found quite the taste for - and her mood picked up considerably. She even began to reconsider that crew get-together she'd heard rumours about.

Eventually, Zee found herself drifting towards lounge 2B. An ensign from the science division had put out open invitations, and Zee was curious if it was the Cardassian one. She'd never met a Cardassian before, and could do with a new friend.

Zee quite airily wandered into the lounge, taking in the decor or lack thereof before the people. Hands clasped behind her back, her weight jovially wavering between her left and right as she walked over, Zee approached the Cardassian with a beaming smile. "Hi! I'm Zemi from Medical, I don't think we've met yet." Of course they hadn't, but Zee had learned that people didn't like to be told that with such certainty. "Nice to get off the ship for a bit, right?"

[Ensign Tora Zalos | Lounge 2B | Deep Space K7]

"No, we haven't, and my name is Tora. Please, make yourself at home, people are free to come and go whenever. Oh, and do help yourself to the food, there's enough for all of us." Tora beamed back at the pretty young Andorian officer who greeted her as she approached. She gestured to a part of the table laden with what appeared to be some Andorian finger foods, particularly roasted redbat skewers in a warmer tub. She'd tried to cater something for everyone - the major races, anyway. "I'll come chat in a bit, okay?"

[Transport room 2]

"Mom! DAD! You're back!" The little girl went barreling towards her parents at near warp speed as she finally materialized on the platform. Ardy smiled. It had been way too long to have been away from her little girl, and after worrying that they wouldn't make it through the night, they had limped the ship home, ready to get back to their loved ones as soon as possible. They were the lucky ones. Not everyone came home after that long dark night.

"Heya Mads! You have fun at the camp?" Asked Ardy, bringing in Maddy for a big hug before letting the little girl go over to Alex to hug him.

"Yeah! We did lots of games and did painting and a scavenger hunt, and got to look at stars and all the spaceships!" said Maddy excitedly as they picked up her stuff.

"Spaceships, you say?"

"Yeah! They showed us all the cool ships and we got to go on one and see inside of it!"

Ardy smiled to Alex as they came through the halls.  Things felt right.

[Lounge]

[As Cadet Oyari Sedaya]

They had survived! And given that she wasn't busy today, or at least she was just on call for now, she had time to relax. Maybe get something started in terms of food at least. After several long shifts finishing patching everyone up, she would like to not have to think about the next shift for a while. She wasn't too big on parties, but... given the harrowing time they had, she was looking to get her mind off things.  Maybe even make new friends.

The quiet cadet came into the room.  It was already starting  to come together.  She'd probably get in the way of people.

To the young Bajoran cadet she'd met in the lab and spoken to for all of five minutes or so (and, tragically, no more), Tora flashed an equally cheerful smile. "Cadet Sedaya! Welcome! Go get something to eat and relax, everyone's welcome." She said. "I'll be with you shortly - we didn't chat much while the Kinshaya were on board, obviously." Yeah, talk about hostile boardings and battles being mood killers. Tora didn't expect everything to be hunky dory and rainbows, of course, but still. "How're you holding up? I don't think our last voyage was what you expected to get on your first ever training cruise, huh?"

[Ian Galloway]

[Deep Space K-7 - Promenade]

Ian walked through the large corridors of the space station cutting a striking figure as he went. For the first time in a very long time, he was not in uniform. Instead he was wearing and old fashioned suit, but not of modern design. He wore a charcoal gray double breasted coat, slightly baggy pants of the same color, black wing-tip shoes and a light gray fedora.

He felt amazing and was grinning from ear to ear as he entered a nightclub named the "Kit Kat Club". There he joined dozens of other patrons also in 1930s period dress and clearly having a blast. He ordered three fingers of single malt scotch and only managed to take a single sip when his eyes were drawn to a spectacular sight. A tall brunette in an emerald green dress slinked, because no other word could come close to describing the motion he was seeing.

"Hello, my name is Rachel, would you like to dance?"

"As if I'd deny the lady's request. I'm Ian of-"

Rachel placed a finger on Ian's lips.

"No titles, tonight I am just Rachel and you are just Ian."

Ian nodded and led the lovely woman to the dance floor. Just as they got into position, the powerful opening notes of Benny Goodman's tour de force "Sing sing sing" started. Rachel grinned and said.

"I hope you have stamina."

As the two launched into an energetic full pace jitterbug.

Sing, sing, sing
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u_E0UVNtJ9Y&pp=ygUcYmVubnkgZ29vZG1hbiBzaW5nIHNpbmcgc2luZw%3D%3D⅞

Jitterbug
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TIoTpeM6o2A&pp=ygUYSml0dGVyYnVnIHNpbmcgc2luZyBzaW5n

[Zemi zhCharion]

[Ensign Tora Zalos | Lounge 2B | Deep Space K7]

"No, we haven't, and my name is Tora. Please, make yourself at home, people are free to come and go whenever. Oh, and do help yourself to the food, there's enough for all of us." Tora beamed back at the pretty young Andorian officer who greeted her as she approached. She gestured to a part of the table laden with what appeared to be some Andorian finger foods, particularly roasted redbat skewers in a warmer tub. She'd tried to cater something for everyone - the major races, anyway. "I'll come chat in a bit, okay?"

"I-" Zee was about to apologise for having eaten already, but the surprisingly chipper Cardassian had already wandered off to chat with someone else. She mumbled to herself instead. "-I'm sorry, I guess." With a tired sigh, she picked up a skewer and started taking small nibbles out of politeness.

[Kyan Mackenzie]

[Commander Kyan Mackenzie | Docking Ring, Space station K-7]

The docking ring of any space station was probably Kyan's favorite part of the facility and one of the things he missed most about being assigned to a station. One of his most vivid memories from the days after leaving Miri's Planet was waiting with his adopted parents in a docking ring somewhere and watching people arriving from all over the quadrant. There were blue-skinned Andorians with their antennae twitching about, Tellarites arguing with the other passengers, and the depressingly tall Capellans. He'd once seen a black-furred Caitian chasing a yellow  Aurelian through the place, hissing and roaring about something that the Aurelian had done to give offense. All the humans had found the whole thing very funny for some reason.

Today he'd come to greet a new Operations officer. Technically it was Lieutenant Wu's job, but the Onlie figured that he'd probably want to spend time with Ardy and Maddie so he'd volunteered to do it. He'd even made a sign for her, which he'd affixed to the stack of cargo containers on which he'd perched himself to wait. Well, Maddie and Mo had actually made the sign, but he'd ensured that they spelled her name correctly.

Sitting cross-legged above his sign, Kyan had a great view of all the new arrivals. He could also see the big sign above the entry way which seemed odd.

On second thought, it did make sense. Klingons were known to frequent the station and they hated the little furballs.

The crowds came and went as he waited but Kyan didn't mind. It beat staying on the ship, on which they'd all been cooped up for the past several months, and most of the ship's kids were with their parents anyway.

"Hey kid." a voice called out from below.

"Hey yerself grup." Kyan replied looking down at the guy, a seedy looking human.

"Is there a bar here?"

Kyan pointed to the door under the Tribble sign. "Ya sure. Follow the signs."

"Thanks."

Kyan nodded as the grup hurried off to the bar and he went back to waiting. 

[Alexander Wu]

[Transport room 2]

"Mom! DAD! You're back!" The little girl went barreling towards her parents at near warp speed as she finally materialized on the platform. Ardy smiled. It had been way too long to have been away from her little girl, and after worrying that they wouldn't make it through the night, they had limped the ship home, ready to get back to their loved ones as soon as possible. They were the lucky ones. Not everyone came home after that long dark night.

"Heya Mads! You have fun at the camp?" Asked Ardy, bringing in Maddy for a big hug before letting the little girl go over to Alex to hug him.

"Yeah! We did lots of games and did painting and a scavenger hunt, and got to look at stars and all the spaceships!" said Maddy excitedly as they picked up her stuff.

"Spaceships, you say?"

"Yeah! They showed us all the cool ships and we got to go on one and see inside of it!"

Ardy smiled to Alex as they came through the halls.  Things felt right.

[USS Challenger - Transporter Room 2]

Alex didn't know why the Kinshaya had attacked in the first place, nor did he understand why they pulled back so quickly. Maybe it had been only a probing incursion, to test their resistance, or their resolve. In any case, the battle had been quick, fierce, and costly. Most of the day had been spent arranging for the remnants of Ranier's crew still in their sickbay to be transported over to K7's medical facilities. The able-bodied were next to leave, and then Alex had the sobering privilege of repatriating those who had died or been recovered. Truth be told, he was glad that he had that job, because it meant he didn't have to be part of the receiving team, standing with all those waiting widowers, widows, and orphans.

That had been an hour ago. After the last casket disappeared from Challenger's cargo bay, Commander Mackenzie had graciously and somewhat surprisingly offered to take care of Alex's final duty of the day, greeting new crew coming onboard. So now, he hugged Maddison tighter than he'd ever held her before, as Ardyn asked about their daughter's adventures and games she'd played over the past month. Looking over to Ardy, he couldn't help but feel selfishly relieved. They were still alive, and together. "Well, why don't you pick one or two of those paintings out, and we'll hang them in your bedroom?" Alex reached down to pick up Maddy's bags, slinging them up over his shoulder. "And tomorrow, you can show us all the cool places you went to on K7. I bet you know the station better than we do!"

Maddy started skipping, clutching both Alex and Ardyn's hands on either side, occasionally pulling both of her feet up to swing like a little monkey between them. "Okie! Can we have gummy worms for dinner, mommy?"

[Zhukdrashar Mrekrerhas]

[Ensign Tora Zalos | Lounge 2B | Deep Space K7]

Thank goodness getting K7's quartermaster to rent out the starbase's lounge had been quite easy - and what a lovely view it had, too. If one looked out the window they were greeted with a sea of stars, endless black and gleaming white dots as the eye could see. Yes, it was just space, but after Tora and her crew's recent ordeal the Cardassian felt that what all of them needed was something low-key and simple; a chance for everybody to let down their hair.

Having convinced the station's quartermaster to let her have one of her lounges for a day she'd roped together a small team to put together a simple get-together with decent food contributed by the starbase's many vendors. There were no extraneous decorations beyond what the lounge already had this time. If anything the only addition was the playlist for the evening, which played softly overhead throughout, in addition to a table for food and utensils.  The lounge's small stage sat empty for now, though Tora had put out an interest form for any wishing to stretch their musical (or comedic, as the case could also be) muscles.

Presently, the Cardassian was preoccupied with helping to organise the food being brought in and thanking everyone involved. "That's all of them," She announced to one of her team, who'd been thus far been busy with another aspect of their prep. "How's it going over there?"

[Lieutenant Commander Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas | Lounge 2B | Deep Space K7]

Zhukdra'shar Mrekrerhas found himself lost in his thoughts, once he had inspected the inventory, making sure that everything had been readied for the evening at hand. The new shindig that Tora had prepared alongside him and a couple of fellow members of the crew had gone off without a hitch. People were arriving, and beginning to partake in the festivities. The Caitian felt... less festive, though. While the administrative duties have aided him in keeping his mind busy, his mind usually strayed back to the two members of Security that he had lost back in the USS Rainier.

He wondered if he could have done a better job in training and organizing his Security officers. If he had any failures while commanding them on the Engineering deck. If he had any failings as a leader. Previously, he had struck against his enemies with certainty and unwavering conviction. Had the fear of the Kinshaya affected him?

Or, had it just been bad luck?

His actions, after all, had allowed Neva and the rest of Engineering to regain the section and had prevented the total loss of the vessel. Most of the Rainier survivors had made it out alive, too.

It had been not easy to reconcile both views that constantly quarreled in his mind, thus he could not fully enjoy his current duties. In fact, he was so out of it, that he missed when Tora had called for him the first time, his ear swishing instinctively to the direction of her voice. It took him a moment to fully process the words spoken,

"Ah... yes. All the decorations have been set in place, Tora."

He spoke, in the serious, monotone voice he almost always used. He supposed that the Cardassian may notice he was not feeling his best, but he hoped that she wouldn't ask. He had no intention of bringing it up. In fact, with the event going well thus far, he was shuffling the idea of heading out to a place where no one knew him. When he first arrived at Deep Space K7, he saw a club that had caught his attention: the Kit Kat Club. A place with an ancient theme to it, that just sounded quite interesting to him. It could prove as a perfect next distraction for him to avoid having to fully face his current feelings.

[Transport room 2]

"Mom! DAD! You're back!" The little girl went barreling towards her parents at near warp speed as she finally materialized on the platform. Ardy smiled. It had been way too long to have been away from her little girl, and after worrying that they wouldn't make it through the night, they had limped the ship home, ready to get back to their loved ones as soon as possible. They were the lucky ones. Not everyone came home after that long dark night.

"Heya Mads! You have fun at the camp?" Asked Ardy, bringing in Maddy for a big hug before letting the little girl go over to Alex to hug him.

"Yeah! We did lots of games and did painting and a scavenger hunt, and got to look at stars and all the spaceships!" said Maddy excitedly as they picked up her stuff.

"Spaceships, you say?"

"Yeah! They showed us all the cool ships and we got to go on one and see inside of it!"

Ardy smiled to Alex as they came through the halls.  Things felt right.

[Crewman Zala | Transport Room Two | Deck Four | USS Challenger NCC-40117-A]

Zala gazed at the tender scene with a smile, shared between Maddy and her parents. Reunions, even if they came from other people besides her family, always made her teary-eyed. She also felt a certain relief at seeing that both Ardy and Wu had remained completely unscathed. Not everyone had been so lucky over at Security, yet she decided not to think too much about it. She was thankful for Lieutenant Commander Mrekrerhas, who had saved her life not once, but twice, by quickly getting them to cover, and shouting a warning just before she had attempted to fire on her rifle on one occasion, saving her life. Sure, she had been wounded on her shoulder shortly afterward, but she had at least not lost her entire head. She had also made sure to pray, and offer a few slips of the little Latinium she had to the Blessed Exchequer for letting her remain relatively unscathed from the brutal engagement.

And of course, reuniting with her beloved brother.

"Sisther, sisther!"

Came the excited words of Little Mo as the two of them ran towards each other to reunite. Zala brought him into a bear hug, and she began to cry,

"Yes, it is me, Chikeki! It makes me so happy to see you!"

[Calindra Hejaran]

[Commander Kyan Mackenzie | Docking Ring, Space station K-7]

The docking ring of any space station was probably Kyan's favorite part of the facility and one of the things he missed most about being assigned to a station. One of his most vivid memories from the days after leaving Miri's Planet was waiting with his adopted parents in a docking ring somewhere and watching people arriving from all over the quadrant. There were blue-skinned Andorians with their antennae twitching about, Tellarites arguing with the other passengers, and the depressingly tall Capellans. He'd once seen a black-furred Caitian chasing a yellow  Aurelian through the place, hissing and roaring about something that the Aurelian had done to give offense. All the humans had found the whole thing very funny for some reason.

Today he'd come to greet a new Operations officer. Technically it was Lieutenant Wu's job, but the Onlie figured that he'd probably want to spend time with Ardy and Maddie so he'd volunteered to do it. He'd even made a sign for her, which he'd affixed to the stack of cargo containers on which he'd perched himself to wait. Well, Maddie and Mo had actually made the sign, but he'd ensured that they spelled her name correctly.

Sitting cross-legged above his sign, Kyan had a great view of all the new arrivals. He could also see the big sign above the entry way which seemed odd.

[Ensign Calindra Hejaran | Docking Ring, Space station K-7]

Calindra had not seen the wounded, the dead, but there was a subdued and even mournful quality to the hubbub she'd come to expect from a starport. She hadn't been sure what to expect when the shuttle's co-pilot had invited her to join them, but the damaged hull of the USS Challenger had been sobering. Nevertheless, she had gotten into the queue, waiting to be processed and she suddenly wished she had a scrubber droid to annoy.

Alas, there seemed to be none, or at least it was too busy for the maintenance crews to let them all loose.  She started to wonder why you never saw them, and then it dawned on her that they'd be underfoot when an emergency might arise. Still, perhaps she could find one for her own quarters, assuming she wasn't bunking with someone else. Either way, she expected no luxuries like she had at home. Truth be told, she had left it all behind for a reason.

She finally reached an unimpressed Vulcan who waved her through when she saw her freshly pressed uniform, but not without verifying that her ID matched those on the offered documents. Calindra had no personal items other than a small tote bag which carried her personal computer and selected toiletries. Finally free of the influx of people getting into the station, she felt a bit lost now that there was no one else to follow.

[ShranLahr ch'Verret]

CPO ShranLahr ch'Verret
[Deep Space K7 - Promanade]

Despite the numerous minor repairs than had needed fixing on the travel back to K7, by the time the ship arrived 95% of them were completed.  Given that their Chief Engineer was a Vulcan, Lahr had fully expected to be denied any type of shoreleave so that those final repairs could be made while the ship was in dock, but to his surprise that morning he received his shoreleave papers.  This put Lahr in a rare good mood and he started off his leave intending to do a 'pub crawl'.  He'd asked Burke and a few other Sec/Tac friends of is to join but many of them were assigned as the ship's skeleton security team.  Lahr really needed to find more friends outside of his former team.

His 'pub crawl' plan was to have a single drink at every establishment that served alcohol.

The first place he drank at was called, rather blandly, The Red Lion.  There he started his binge with a nice malt beer.

After finishing that rather quickly, since he was 'pub crawling' alone, Lahr hit up the next establishment, a nightclub called the Kit Kat Club.

[Deep Space K7 - Kit Kat Club]

He was nearly denied entrance because he wasn't dressed in period, but after paying the doorman a half slip of latinum to 'lone' him an outfit, Lahr entered and made his way to bar, there he ordered a pale lager.

When his drink arrived Lahr sat at the far end of the bar and turned to watch the dancers on the dance floor.  His eye caught sight of a lovely brunette in a slinky emerald dress, and the 'Casanova' Andorian gave the woman a bit of an sultry up-nod and raised his glass to her as she danced by with some dullard.

Lahr couldn't help but imagine how amazing that dress would look on Ruth.  This thought immediately reminded him of how Ruth was still MIA - assumed killed during the Frontier Day massacre. The reminder was unwelcome so the Andorian tried to drown it out by chugging down his ale.  Accomplishing that feat easily, it was time for Lahr to continue his 'crawl'.  He slammed his mug down and inadvertently shattered the empty mug in his hand.

Nearby patrons turned to look towards him as he scowled down at the broken shards of glass and the slight spill of blue blood that followed.  "Ah Roozh!"

He looked to the bartender.  "Sorry about that." And he paid the man in credits for the vintage broken glassware.

[Neva Cordon]

[Deep Space K7-Guest Suites]

Neva practically ran to the suite her Aunt Gilda and Cousin Maiora were staying in, her heart in her throat. She didn't ask to enter their suite, she just barged right in.

Both women froze in surprise for a heartbeat then Neva was enveloped in a three-person hug.  Neva felt hot tears on her cheeks as she felt  a warm blanket of love, joy, and relief. Time stood still for once....

Sooner than she liked, they all stepped back and continued to hold each other's hands. Neva and Maiora sniffled, Aunt Gilda blinked rapidly. All three of them smiled.

"We must be a sight," Aunt Gilda said with a telepathic laugh. "Your mother would-"

"My mother would be chiding us for not including her!" Neva finished, laughter in her own telepathic return. Sobering, she squeezed both women's hands and dropped them.

Neva then walked over to the sofa and leaned against the back of it, hands holding onto the top of it. She regarded them now somewhat dispassionately.

"Has my mother passed?" She asked bluntly aloud. "You realize I'm only on Shore Leave. I couldn't go home even if i wanted to."

Maiora dropped her gaze and twiddled her thumbs low against her waist, saying nothing. Aunt Gilda folded her arms across her chest, a stern expression on her face.

"No, not yet Nevanthi. She is quite close however." She looked away from her niece a moment then back. "Unfortunately, the surgery you came home for didn't help after all."  Gilda sighed, walking to a chair across from the sofa.

Neva turned in place in with her aunt so both could face one another. Maiora sat on the sofa so she could see both her cousin and mother.

"After you left to go on duty, she began to deteriorate. She..." Neva felt and saw her aunt's helplessness, as well as a little bit of anger at the situation. She nodded silently, her heart once more in her throat.

"When the Doctor saw her again, he found she has the Betazoid Flux.  Apparently, the surgery shook the Flux cells loose enough it metastasized everywhere it could."

Neva sucked in a breath, barely catching herself from banging her head on the sofa in her shock. Memories of and with her mother crashed over her like a tsunami. To lose the only parent she had left...Neva was shattered.

Neva's gaze vaulted up to deny the admission her mother's sister gave, anger and despair warring inside her ebony Betazoid eyes. "How long does she have?" Neva growled out, her voice just above a whisper.

"Two weeks...maybe a month at best," Maiora said, breaking the tension. "I'm sorry, Nevanthi. I realize we're giving you shitty news. You have to admit it's better to hear face to face than over Subspace, right?" Maiora's pixie face showed a sympathetic frown/smile.

Neva let her head drop to look down at the sofa cushions and gripped the edge of its back a long moment. She then nodded her head a couple times then pushed herself vertical. Neva traced the edge of the sofa to guide her around its curves so she could finally sit down. She didn't trust herself to walk without assistance at this moment.

"Has she gotten her affairs in order?" Neva asked tiredly. She felt the last of her energy drain away as she sat there.

"Yes, her Writ of Succession has been filed and sent to both our government and the Houses. She-"

"Am I to Succeed her, or will someone else?" Neva asked, adding "I honestly don't want to, Aunt Gilda. I have my Starfleet career and I don't want to leave it. Is there any-"

Aunt Gilda raised a hand to stop Neva, who fell silent immediately. "No, my child, you won't become the new Daughter of the Ninth House. She planned for your welfare as her daughter, so you can rest assured of that." Gilda sighed as she looked down at her lap for a long moment. Returning to hold Neva's gaze. "She's named me as her Successor."

Neva's whole body dropped back against the sofa, her head resting on the top edge. She smiled broadly, a soft chuckle floating up unbidden. As if a switch had been flipped, Neva sprang off the sofa to wrap her aunt in a tight hug.

"Oh Aunt Gilda, that's such a relief! I'm glad it's you!" She cried. Gilda slowly put her arms around her niece, feeling both relieved and happy.

"Thank you, Nevanthi. I'm glad you approve...and yes, a relief!" Her aunt laughed, squeezing Neva tighter.

"Hey Neva, I'm hungry. Where's a good place to eat here?" Maiora's pronouncement cut the silence the other two made, causing them to laugh and break their embrace.

Neva cocked her head and put her fists on her hips as she regarded her cousin. "I have no idea. I've never been here before." Neva looked up at the ceiling and called out. "Computer! What restaurants are closest to this suite? List on the desk monitor."

[Kyan Mackenzie]

Finally free of the influx of people getting into the station, she felt a bit lost now that there was no one else to follow.

Having been waiting for some time, Kyan had elected to pass the time by playing the newest expansion to CoD: Dominion War on his RomTek HR. Supposedly they had gotten the Breen right this time, which meant that they had fixed the glitch where they looked wrong if you managed to get the helmet off one of them. Honestly it had made the game nearly unplayable.

He'd been playing for a while and was deep into a mission when the new Ensign entered. The Onlie didn't see her at first, focused as he was on killing a Jem'Hadar soldier. And that whilst simultaneously dressing down the rest of his squad for having gotten themselves all killed off by a Changeling.

"An I told ye lot not ta go an fight the Changeling sure an I did but dija listen? Nae.. an now... Haud it... Jus haud yer jobby wesht! I'll... oh... Shite. Sorry.. the person I was waiting for's here. I gotta go. Bye ya wankers!"

With that Challenger's pint sized XO hopped off the cargo crates and onto the deck. Hey! Hey wait. Kyan called to the woman who'd made for the doorway into the station proper. He turned off the holographic sphere around his headband and smiled up at her when she turned around. "Merry Met Miss Hejarin. I'm Kyan Mackenzie, First Officer on the Challenger."