Star Trek RPG - Mission #6: "Marala"

[Rangin]

Hearing the voice beside him, Rangin is relieved that he is not touching the door to Kylah's quarters although he may be facing it. He turns fully to face her as he pulls out his communicator

"Ma'am," Rangin nods in acknowledgement , "I'm looking for an errant colony member I need to speak to and waiting to hear where he may be. I am also heading for my quarters in the interim to see who I would be sharing with,. I haven't had a notification to move with all the colony members arriving on board."

Rangin isn't sure why she is talking to him as it's not as if they had ever talked at length before and especially given the ongoing situation. But he gets this feeling she should be there, that he wants her to be there for some reason he just can't quite fathom.

Rangin buries it internally, hoping to think on it later. He smiles back at her and asks politely, "and yourself, ma'am?"

[Elendil's Heir]

Lt. JG Demei Xiang looks a little puzzled but says, "These are Ens. Kylah's quarters - and mine too, at least for the next few days. We were thrown together with all the evacuees coming aboard." With a nod, the pretty Chinese officer takes in the crowded corridor. "As you've probably noticed. I just came back to take a quick nap. Can I help you with something?"

Kylah becomes aware of a second consciousness just outside her door, and recognizes it as being Xiang. Upon focusing, her psi impression of the Engineering officer is that she is friendly, concerned and tired.

Rangin's communicator beeps again.

[choie]

The target of Kylah's mental focus snaps backwards to find Lt. Xiang, apparently right outside her door. The sudden change makes her stagger--she was not expecting anything so nearby.

"Oh... oh, she is here, please let her come inside!" Kylah hugs herself in a mixture of elation and anxiety. She will be able to leave, assuming Lt. Xiang does not know of the restrictions placed on her new roommate.

Belatedly she remembers that she is not in uniform, and automatically Kylah turns toward her closet. But, catching another glimpse of herself in the mirror, she pauses. Just as earlier, her reflection looks very little like her: the thin, lavender dress, her loose and unstyled hair, and no makeup all make her appear like a young girl or teenager. At most, given her less-prominent but still noticeable curves, an older teenager.

If she had chosen consciously, she could not have planned a better disguise.

She turns back and heads to the door, waiting, praying, willing it to open.

[Rangin]

Rangin feels slightly nonplussed by Lt JG Xiang's questions. "Yes ma'am I'm aware these are Ens. Kylah's quarters, not mine, and no ma'am, unless you would happen to know where Xinle Bek, the colonist I mentioned earlier, would happen to be."

He steps back away from the door to allow her egress and brings his communicator up. "Please excuse me, this is likely to be important." he nods to her, as he looks down at the communicator to see who is trying to get in touch with him.

Turning away and stepping back slightly, he hopes he is lucky enough that they have found Xinle Bek and he can vacate the area before things get any trickier. He is not sure if Xiang will be able to get through the door and doesn't want to explain why he is truly there, but he is curious to know what lockdown has been put in place on Kylah's quarters.

[Elendil's Heir]

The door opens at Xiang's touch, and she enters. "Hello, Kylah," she says, smiling wanly. "Thought I'd come back for a little nap, if you don't mind. I'm bushed."

Science Officer Roble is waiting on Rangin's communicator circuit: "The Maat says it hasn't seen you yet. Where are you, Mr. Rangin? We don't have much time."

[choie]

Kylah nearly collides with Lt. Xiang when she practically leaps toward the door just as the other woman enters. "Yes, I know," she says mindlessly, telling the truth as she senses Lt. Xiang's exhaustion. Sidling by, she releases a flurry of words. "I-shall-leave-you-to-your-nap-ma'am-I-hope-you-feel-better."

All the while she eyes her destination--the open doorway through which she can see Velir, standing off to the side looking at his communicator. When she slips out she cannot help pausing just before crossing the threshold, breaking the invisible path of the sensors.

Please do not close, she prays to whatever gods are in charge of door-locking protocol. Please, please do not close!

A deep breath, which she holds in her lungs. Then she peeks outside to the corridor. Velir is very near, but she does not think he has seen her. She continues to hold her breath while checking both directions. Is the coast clear of anyone who might be a danger to her plan?

If not, she will turn her back but remain near enough to the door that--if it cannot somehow identify her--will ideally remain open. Otherwise, Kylah exhales at last, girds herself, and steals beyond the boundary of her confinement.

[Rangin]

Rangin does his best not to sound aggrieved over the comms channel. "Sir, I went to his listed quarters but there was no sign of him. " he politely replies, "I sent a message back saying so and was waiting for a reply while also checking a few other places to see if I could find him."

Behind he can hear a conversation going on between Kylah and Xiang causing him to stop and look around at the doorway, noticing that Xiang has indeed left the corridor

"Sir, if Xinle Bek in his quarters and ready to talk, I'll be there as quick as I can." he asks while deciding that he should be heading for the turbolift. A direction that will take him straight past the door to Kylah's quarters.

[Elendil's Heir]

Xiang looks curiously at Kylah for a moment, says "Thanks" and then goes into the bathroom. The corridor is still somewhat crowded but Kylah sees no one out there who is likely to report her to the First Officer. The door remains open, as normal, while she's blocking it.

Roble says, "Yes, Bek said no one has been by. Maybe it didn't hear you signal at the door. Please go back and see it at once; it'll be waiting."

With a respectful nod, Leventhal moves away from Onn and the two Security officers, through the mass of NR evacuees and those Yorktown personnel who are helping them. Moments later, Onn sees Lt. Cecilia Bennett coming down the corridor from the opposite direction, a data tablet in hand.

[Elendil's Heir]

Graham's door opens without the chime sounding, and there is Ens. Faisal Mahmoud, his cabinmate. "There's a strange story going around," the barrel-chested Libyan says, his expression unreadable, "that you have an important question to ask a civilian on this ship."

"I--" Graham stops, staring open-mouthed at his old friend. He spreads his arms and shrugs his shoulders. "How in the hell is there a rumor going around about me and Marala?"

"Well, I didn't hear a particular name, but you know what they say, Book. Scuttlebutt is the only thing in the Universe that travels faster than starships."

Graham scowls. "You'd think people would have enough on their minds already... shit, I'll bite, what's the word? Am I like a dupe, a predator, or what?"

Mahmoud shrugs. "None of that, that I've heard. Just that you might have a major lifestyle change in the very near future... and that I might not be your cabinmate for too much longer."

Graham sighs. "Well, OK, to cut a long story short, it seems like it may be that if I marry my first love from 'way back in the day right now, she and her son won't have to die here." He sighs again. "Guess I'd better... figure out what to do, and get to it."

Mahmoud's eyes widen. "Yeah, I guess maybe you'd better." He gestures towards the open door. "Shall we...?"

Graham smiles. "Son of a bitch, Faisal...are you my Security escort?"

"I might be. I might also soon be your best man. Let's find out, Book."

[SidonianGal]

The very sight of Cecilia Bennett makes Nia's hands curl into claws. Every ounce of will power she possesses goes into smothering her impulse to--well, smother. Preferably by slamming Cece's face into the wall.

Holy shit, get a grip. Nia isn't proud of that uncivilized instinct or desire, although she decides she'll be gentle on herself for owning it. She can't prevent herself from such thoughts--she's only four or five generations away from the female members in past eras who fought to the death for mates.

And look at her now: Actively advocating, no, basically pushing her own... 'mate,' for lack of a better term... into marriage with another woman. Hell, I'm practically the pinnacle of civilized Sidonian evolution.

But she's still majorly pissed off and, one way or another, she's gonna make Cece Bennett the locus of her anger. As Nia moves closer, she shakes her head while sending a phaser-like gaze toward the Navigator. "Unbelievable," she snaps. "Look at you swanning about. Do you have the slightest idea just how you've screwed Booker over? Or the danger you put those civilians in?"

[Rangin]

“Aye aye, sir,” Rangin says into the communicator before heading back towards the turbolift straight past the open door to Kylah’s quarters which is being kept open for some reason. He doesn’t see either Kylah or Xiang to begin with but the person in the doorway...wait is that Kylah out of uniform?

He blinks slightly stunned, at how she looks, and ends up getting turned round and stumbling over his own feet. Trying to not fall over he throws an arm out hoping to brace himself against the wall without bumping into any of the people milling around.

[choie]

Kylah's plan was to sneak unobtrusively toward the turbolift, preferably unnoticed. Velir's sudden inability to walk ends that plan, as much as time is of an issue. Without a thought she hurries in his direction and clasps his arm. She is not strong enough to support him, but she hopes she can straighten his balance.

"I have you," she whispers in a rush. "Oh Velir, what is wrong?" Before he answers, a thought flashes into her mind and she darts a look at the closing door behind her. She inhales sharply at the fact that there is no going back now.

The magnitude of her rapidly increasing disobedience is overwhelming, and a shudder runs through her small frame. From Velir, she also senses some sort of shock. When her attention returns to the reeling man by her side, Kylah cannot prevent her voice from trembling. "Are you dizzy? I can contact Sickbay..."

[Elendil's Heir]

Bennett, who had a smile just forming on her lips when she first noticed Onn, stands frozen. She stammers, "What... what are you talking about?"

The two Security officers escorting Onn hesitate nearby.

[Rangin]

Rangin looks across to see who has caught him from losing his balance only to find himself looking straight at Kylah. "Thank you," he says reflexively before he sees further the different style up close that took him by surprise as he walked past. "I'm fine, just a little surprised", he says understating how he really feels. Just a few moments he had been sure that she had been confined to quarters and she had been saying the same thing desperate for a way out and for him to have to do something on her behalf.

He also realises that she is outside her quarters where she was supposed to be, at least that is what he assumed from Lt. Thalen's autoreply. Had things changed since then?

He takes a moment longer to allow Kylah to let him go and as she does so, he can't help but look up and down her. It's certainly a different look for her but now isn't the time to mention it.

"I would love to stay, but I have to go find someone. I see you have been let out, I assumed you were still confined to quarters, I guess that's no longer the case." He looks to Kylah to confirm or deny his statement, aware he is going to be asked later on regardless of what happens, but also aware he has little time to wait. “Do you still need my help?”

[choie]

Kylah takes a micro-step backwards when Velir straightens, and then another when he suggests she is only out of confinement thanks to Lt. Thalen's permission. Shame suffuses her face, burning underneath his scrutiny.

And also from the way he is gazing at her... She has not seen such a look from him in what seems a very, very long time. Is it... approval? From Velir?

She must not be distracted by such things. And she fears lying to him--not with his still uncertain level of psi abilities. Instead she only answers his last question.

"Yes, yes please. If you would check on..." She cannot help glancing around before continuing even more softly: "...Lt. Ferguson. I cannot contact him myself. And if he has escaped any punishment, I can rest at least a little easier. Can you do that for me?" Kylah gestures weakly toward the turbolift. "I must go... I must get to Deck Four."

[SidonianGal]

No denying it: Nia's heart virtually surges with relief and pleasure at the prospect of letting loose all the stress of today. She couldn't do so with Vargas, her superior, and she wouldn't with someone far beneath her in rank.

Cecilia Bennett is the perfect target. Nowhere in these calculations is the minor flirtation or whatever-the-hell it was, that Nia had noticed surrounding Cece and Booker some weeks back. Nia's sure about that.

Nope, this is about that dreamy, self-satisfied smile Cecilia gave as she led Marala and Nikolai away.

Two long strides and she's standing before Bennett. "What am I talking about? The Gromovs," she says in a near whisper. "Marala, in particular. You found her. You turned her in. To the First Officer-slash-Chief of Security."

Nia has to clench her teeth at the thought, then makes the effort to relax her jaw. "This one lone woman was in a chapel but you couldn't respect that. During any of this, did she mention Booker's name? Knowing her I doubt she'd tell you what they mean to each other, not for sympathy. But I bet she mentioned him or me, if nothing else but to explain why she was there. And you couldn't contact us instead of Commander frickin' Vargas?"

[Elendil's Heir]

Bennett's expression clouds, and she leans closer to Onn. She says coldly, "I'm so happy to have you tell me how things didn't happen, Mr. Onn. Not that I really have to explain myself to you, but Mrs. Gromov wasn't alone in the Chapel; she was there with maybe two dozen other people. She was helping another woman she knew with a child who wouldn't stop crying. I was there, as ordered, to confirm the names and identities of the evacuees there, as there've been reports of unauthorized people being brought aboard ship. I recognized her name from the initial landing party report, but she wasn't on the evacuee lottery list. She mentioned neither of you. A Security officer who was with me took her at once to see the First Officer, also as ordered. I understand, although I wasn't in the room, that he asked her why she had remained on the Yorktown. Mr. Graham's name apparently came up during that conversation. Mr. Vargas didn't hear it from me, though."

She glances at the two redshirts accompanying Onn, then looks back at the Sidonian and says, with something close to contempt, "But don't let me keep you, Lieutenant. I can see you have places to go, as do I, although not under armed guard." She turns to continue on her way.

Ens. Li coughs and says, "This way, please, Mr. Onn."

[Rangin]

The all-important question remains unanswered hanging around in the air like some miasma of doubt and deceit surrounding the both of them. Rangin is no closer to an answer and is unwilling to ask further, in case he finds out the truth and it becomes something he does not want to hear. At least at this time, Kylah is obviously out of her quarters and that is only possible because she has been allowed. Would Vargas have done anything otherwise if it is not the case?

"I have someone I have to speak with first, I hope you understand. But then if I am able, I will try and find him and let you know what the situation is." Rangin finds himself turning in the same direction as Kylah, "I'm going to Deck 6," he says as he hurries down the corridor knowing Kylah will be scant steps behind him.

As they wait for the turbolift he looks across at her wondering what she is up to next. "Whatever you are about to do, good luck. Please don't do anything that will get you confined again," he whispers quietly to her trying to make sure no-one else hears or even notices the two of them in the corridor. He wants to know more of what happened and yet impatient to be away in case some glimmer of truth enlightens the situation for the ugly mess that it is. She had promised that later she would tell all. Rangin isn't even sure he wants to know. Well, he certainly wants to know, what he doesn't want is the emotional rollercoaster that is likely to go with it.

[choie]

Kylah's eyes are wide and focused on Velir, measuring every shade of emotion running even briefly across his expression. His support shames her. As much as she desires his understanding and approval, she knows she does not deserve such things from him--not if she continues to break his trust.

She waits until there is a lull in the traffic surrounding them, or until the turbolift arrives and she and Velir are alone. Then, after a long held breath, she tightens her muscles as if in preparation for a beating.

"I must tell you," she says in a soft sigh. "I do need whatever assistance you can give me, but I cannot--" She pauses. Continuing means the possible destruction of her desperate scheme, and she clings to the last seconds she might enjoy of his sympathy.

But she rushes on: "I must not accept your help under false pretenses. Especially if by doing so you might be at risk of--of punishment. Velir, you do not seem to understand... I did not, I do not have permission to leave my quarters. As you suggested, I was able to take advantage of my roommate's arrival and the open door." Her gaze falls to stare at her sandal-clad feet, afraid of what she might see in or sense from Velir.

"So if you help, you must know that you would be helping a--I do not know what I would be called. A fugitive?" Kylah feels a bubble of hysteria swell within her, nearly laughing at using such a word to describe herself. It is far too active. "It does not matter. I have been relieved of duty already. My career is likely over."

And once she leaves, she will never see or speak to him again. Never repair their friendship. Never restore his regard of her, if he ever had any. Given her likely fate, such things would have meant some dignity, some warmth she could remember.

"But... but at least I will have done all I could to do my duty as required by my House." She crosses her arms over her stomach, embracing herself in misery as she ends in a whisper: "Please, Velir. Please do not report me. Let someone else do so, as I am sure is inevitable. If it were you, I just--I could not bear your being the person to do it."

[SidonianGal]

Nia's skin tingles with the autonomic response of her scales, as happens with most highly charged confrontations. But her system knows the difference between someone who's a danger to her versus someone who's just... flexing. Bennett's like some exotic bird puffing its feathers up to seem bigger than it is: not a true challenge. No scales even breach Nia's pores.

She's genuinely sorry she misjudged Cece's role in this situation, but any real shame is quickly shut down by the extraordinary offensiveness of the other woman's words. Keeping her chin high, Nia replies, "Sorry my extreme concern about Lt. Graham and his loved ones' safety clouded my impression of things. Glad I was wrong, Bennett." And I'd be offering a much more sincere apology if you hadn't gone over-the-top bitchcakes.

"As to my companions, well, I've never had a problem attracting Security officers' attention... one way or another. No matter what they're armed with."

With a smile so dry it could only come from a Sidonian, Nia nods to her escorts in the direction of her quarters, just as Li indicated. Curiously, she feels much calmer after having the exchange with Cece.

She matches pace with the redshirts, adding quietly: "Lesson for both you Ensigns right there--if you don't mind advice from a nefarious criminal in your custody. When someone pelts you with a couple of rocks, you don't need to draw on 'em with a phaser cannon. Those of us who move up on the chain of command understand the value of a proportionate response."

[Elendil's Heir]

Graham and Mahmoud pass silently through the crowded corridors of the Yorktown, each lost in his thoughts, coming at last to guest quarters on Deck 6. Ens. Mary Three Crows is standing on guard outside. She nods at both.

Graham softly whistles a little bit of "Here Comes the Bride." It's intentional to try to lighten thing up for Mahmoud and Three Crows... but it's also bravado. His mind is racing: What is actually going on? Is it as simple... not that this is simple, it's the opposite... but is it a deal that if I propose to Marala she gets offworld? Not just offworld... she gets to live, Booker.

"Gentlemen," the Amerindian woman says evenly. She does not appear amused by the tune, if she even recognized it. "Mrs. Gromov and her son are inside, Mr. Graham. You may go in, if you wish."

Graham nods in acknowledgment, takes a deep breath, and enters.

He sees Nikolai first, playing with some toy starships on the carpeted deck. The boy lights up, jumps to his feet and says, "Hi, Mr. Graham! How are you?" Without waiting for an answer, he shouts excitedly into the back room, "Mom, it's Mr. Graham! He came to visit." He looks back at Graham. "Did you come to visit?" Then he seems to notice Graham's expression. "Is something wrong?"

Graham realizes the last thing Nikolai needs is for his demons to cause the kid to worry. He quickly makes an exaggerated scowl, and clears his throat. "Only that it's 'Lieutenant Graham' to you, Mr. Gromov!" he says in an official voice. He forces a big friendly smile and gestures at the toy starships. "Professional advice to get you ready for serving on one of those ships - it'll be important to always recognize the chain of command, young man!"

Nikolai is taken aback for just a moment, but then returns Graham's smile. "Aye, aye, sir!" he says.

Marala enters the room, sees Graham and rushes to him, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight. "Oh, Boojee," she whispers, almost breathlessly, and starts to cry. "I didn't know if I would ever see you again."

"I...." Graham starts to reply, then takes a moment just to hold Marala gently, but with the strength he'd wished he'd had back when they were young and together. I can at least give her that, if only for a moment.

"Hey, Nikolai," he says at last, gently and as positively as he can muster. "Can you give your mom and me a moment to talk about some grown-up stuff? I'd really appreciate it...Mr. Gromov." He ends with more of an official tone.

[Rangin]

Rangin is too slow to realise that she is about to fill in the gaps and the words die in his throat as she confirms what he didn't want to know. He can feel anger and frustration boil to the surface as the trials of the day take their toll.

"Thanks. Thanks Kylah, you just put me in the position of having to report you instead of being allowed to assume it is a mistake." he growls out between clenched teeth close to her ear to keep it private, "Unless, you idiot, unless..."

He tries to think quickly as to what he can plausibly get away with given everyone is so busy with the colony and he has to speak to Xinle Bek as soon as he can.

"Unless you promise, on your honour to go back to your room and stay there, because everyone is too busy with the evacuation.Got it. Nod. Good," he rattles off as if acknowledging her response whether she likes it or not. "I will be round when I am next free, at least five minutes, maybe longer and I expect you to be there. If not, that is when I will report you. Understand."

As the door opens for Deck 6, he looks straight into her eyes. "Five minutes. Mark," he whispers as if starting a countdown as he reaches down to squeeze her hand maybe one last time, “Good luck. Be Quick. I’ll find Ferguson.”

He can feel somehow much she is hurting, that she is throwing away all hope of surviving as she is and the desperation she faces and in some ways he hopes he can help her as best as he can. He has seen that look before, felt those feelings before, knows what it is like to be in her shoes and it doesn’t fade as he lets go. He nods once, then turns and exits the turbo lift to the deck to leave Kylah to do what she needs to do.

[choie]

Kylah's back is literally against the wall as she endures the onslaught of Velir's aggravation and disapproval. She deserves everything he says to her, the insult and demands and--not a threat, really, just the foreshadowing of what he must do, the result of the difficult position in which she has placed him. Knowing his nature, and their history, Kylah really did not expect anything else.

But she cannot swear on her honor. She has none left. Her honesty about her confinement status was not rewarded: to the contrary, it seems to have made things worse. Yet she cannot lie to him anymore.

All that is left is what she thinks he needs from her: neither agreement nor refusal, neither promise nor defiance. She watches helplessly, silent and still hugging herself, while Velir turns and seems about to leave.

Then he--he does not leave. Not yet.

Instead he reaches for her right hand, fingers brushing hers and gently slipping beneath where she still hugs herself. His touch cajoles her hand from its defensive grip of her arm until she at last lets go, allows him to pull her into a delicate, warm clasp.

The expected flood of emotions flows into her like the smooth flow of honey. His sympathy. Compassion. Concern. Confusion--no, not quite confusion, but uncertainty as to what lies ahead; what she will do with this gift of choice he is offering to her.

Protectiveness.

The last emotion shocks her more than the rest. Kylah, stunned, meets his gaze but does not even have time to squeeze his hand before he releases her with a glance she has not seen from Velir Rangin since before Anubis.

Then he steps away and the door closes, shutting her in.

At first she cannot move. She does not know what to think, what message he was sending her, what he truly wants her to do.

Kylah forces herself to clutch the turbolift control handle nearest to her, wishing she were still holding Velir's hand. Staring ahead at nothing, still trying to translate the emotions and signals Velir radiated toward her, she says in a wondering command: "Deck four."

[Elendil's Heir]

Where is Rangin going, specifically?

The turbolift soon whisks Kylah to Deck 4.

[Rangin]

Rangin is going to the quarters on Deck 6 that Lt. Cmdr. Roble sent him to as being the location where Rangin would find Xinle Bek. If he gets there and there is no reply, Rangin will confirm once again with Roble as to where the errant colonist called from and where Rangin should be going.

[Elendil's Heir]

Rangin arrives back outside the quarters he'd been at before.

[SidonianGal]

Since her escorts offer no genuflections or grand 'thank you' responses to her pearl of command-track wisdom, Nia shrugs and quickens her pace. They can follow her for a while. Besides, the likelihood of an appearance along the way by someone truly useful to her is pretty microscopic. If she's gonna be confined, she might as well get it over with.

Until then she's tucking Booker's situation into an imaginary mental lockbox. Nothing she can do right now, and sadly she can't get in touch with him, so it'll do no good for her to dwell and feel hopeless.

At the nearest turbolift she presses the controls and, when it arrives, will request her deck.

[Rangin]

Rangin tries the door comms for the second time in only a short while to see if Xinle Bek answers.

[choie]

Kylah, her mind whirling with various conflicting emotions and plans, stands outside the turbolift and looks both ways, somewhat dizzy. She needs to recall which direction she should head in order to reach Lt. Onn's quarters. Time is whirring away and--if Velir truly means to turn her in if he arrives back at her cabin to check on her--she must move quickly. There is also the worry that Lt. Onn might have already discovered the stowaways, but all Kylah can do about that is pray.

[Elendil's Heir]

Onn and her escorts make their way through the crowded hallways to her quarters, and arrive there.

Rangin barely hears someone within the guest quarters say, "Come in."

Before too long, Kylah is able to recall the location of Onn's quarters despite her swiftly-racing mind and scattered thoughts.

[SidonianGal]

Nia enters the doorway, letting it open, before turning around to the security officers. "Okay. Thanks for the accompaniment and patience. You can leave me in here for now. Unless you've been ordered to, uh, tie me to the bed or something." She smiles crookedly at Li. Her ability to B.S. through awkward situations holds her in good stead, fighting the despair that's been nipping at her heels since seeing Vargas and Marala in the shuttlebay.

"Amazing how circumstances change. I just realized we met earlier today--when I ased you to take Captain Bell to the Brig. Bet you didn't think you'd be doing roughly the same to me, huh? Makes two of us."

She shrugs. "Oh, and if you're still willing to grab me something to eat, that'd be great. Your pick, like I said." She switches her gaze to Ens. Degheidy. "Before you go, I have to ask. You do talk, right? Or are you some race with an alternative method of communication?" Nia raises her hand to her heart. "That sounded snarky but it's an honest question, Ensign. I really don't know if you're a human or what."

[choie]

Kylah walks in as unobtrusive a manner as possible, keeping her head down. She must not be recognized. Velir's disconcerted reaction upon seeing her hopefully meant that she looks unusual, but she is uncertain. She did not have time to ask, and it is not something she can truly judge on her own.

I am just another refugee, not used to being onboard a starship, and--and looking for my mother, she decides. As if inventing a role for her to play will make it believable.

Still, her actual mother used to remind her that regal bearing is not just a stance, but something that comes from within. "If you believe--if you know you are the next Dohlman, you will be seen as such, and treated accordingly."

Of course the advice quickly became obsolete once Kylah's status was yanked away in favor of her younger brother, but Kylah has not forgotten it. She has just grown worse and worse at seeing it through.

Her current circumstances make the talent imperative. So, shrinking in on herself, walking like an awkward girl rather than someone in a Starfleet uniform, Kylah continues to the aft side of the Yorktown, looking for #4A14.

[Rangin]

Rangin's ears perk up at the sound from within the quarters, which is something new from last time. Who knows what happened in the last few minutes that there is an answer this time, but frankly Rangin does not care. He wants to get this over and done as quickly as possible, although not too quickly, so he can try and locate Ferguson and then work out what to do about Kylah.

He pulls up the details on Xinle Ben, just in case there is more than one entity within. For the Maat, this may be a cultural thing, but Rangin would not be surprised if this had another angle to it. One that holds people's lives in the balance and Rangin fears he is going to have to make that call.

Telling himself to be ready, Rangin looks to enter the room.

[Elendil's Heir]

Ens. Li says to Onn, "All right, Lieutenant. We'll get you something to eat and bring it right back to you."

Ens. Degheidy smiles a little - very little - at her and says, "I talk, and I'm Human, ma'am. But I don't talk if there's nothing I want to say." Her voice is surprisingly deep, and she speaks Federation Standard with a strong Arabic accent.

No one pays any attention to Kylah as she makes her way through the noisy, still-crowded corridors of Deck 4.



Rangin enters the Deck 6 guest quarters to find the lights dimmed and someone seated crosslegged on the deck.

"I am Xinle Bek," it says in a quiet, pleasant voice. "Identify yourself, please."

Bek is a bilaterally symmetrical humanoid with two legs and four arms, and two long and two short fingers on each hand. It is leaning forward slightly and all four of its hands rest on the deck, as if bracing itself. Its body is long and thin, almost scrawny, as is its head, which has three small but bulbous eyes positioned side by side in front over a small lipless line of a mouth, and no ears, but two holes just below and behind its jawline on either side.

The Maat gives an impression of masculinity even through Rangin knows it is monosexual, like all of its race. Even seated, it is almost as tall as him. Although clad in a nondescript dark-gray miner's coverall, its chitinous skin is a remarkably bright green with subtly overlapping scales, reminding the young xenobiologist of an Earth green mamba he once saw in a San Francisco zoo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_green_mamba

[SidonianGal]

Returning Ens. Degheidy's smile--microscopic though it may be--Nia nods. "Yeah I'm the same, only speak when I wanna say something. I just, y'know... usually have something to say." She takes in both officers. "Well. This is awkward as hell, but hopefully we'll see each other in better circumstances. Thanks again."

She steps back into her quarters, far enough for the door to close, unless the redshirts have something else to say. If she's left to herself, she'll shake her head and glance around just to get her bearings after a very long and stressful few hours.

Assuming the guards do leave, what does she see--or hear--if anything? E.g., that food tray Johnson left earlier, has that been utilized?

[Elendil's Heir]

Li raises his hand in (temporary) farewell. The doors whoosh close, and Onn immediately notices, on her table, a food tray that hadn't been there before. She then hears a small noise in the back room.

[SidonianGal]

Food! Actually, no, no food except scraps. What the hell?

Nia has a flash of the messages Ajay sent earlier, and a vague memory of his having mentioned bringing a meal for Kylah. And then she scowls, reminded of the puzzling question of why the girl had gone into her quarters in the first pla--

Abruptly her head turns in the direction of her closet and bathroom. A noise. A noise she doesn't recognize. Nia's been on starships for the past ten years or so, and the myriad sounds within them are too countless to identify, tending to form a white noise. ...With certain exceptions. As an experienced pilot and engineer she can decipher most of the subtle shifts related to the warp core powering the Yorktown's movements through space.

This wasn't one of them.

Again she recalls Ajay's words. Crap, is Kylah still here?!

"Hey," she calls while using a finger to scoop a dollop of what looks like some sort of salsa from an untouched little bowl on the tray. She tastes it and closes her eyes for a second. Yum. No way Ensign Li will deliver anything like that from a replicator.

Well, that curiosity sated, Nia now has to take care of the little pain in the neck who's decided to turn her quarters into a hotel room.

"Hey," she repeats, passing by the unmade bed--did she leave it like that?--and stopping about two meters from the closed door to the head. "Ensign, you in there?" Nia folds her arms across her chest. "I heard you. So unless someone snuck some Tribbles into my quarters, there's someone sentient in there." Depending on your definition of the word.

Nia sighs and leans against the wall. "C'mon, Kylah. I don't wanna interrupt anything you're, uh, doing in there, but can you hurry it up? This has been an incredibly shitty day and I'm not exactly in the mood for company."

[Elendil's Heir]

The door opens and Onn sees an Asian woman she has never met before standing there, nicely dressed, with arms crossed and an almost-defiant expression.

[SidonianGal]

Eyes widening, Nia drops her arms and straightens her stance. The woman's a civilian, obviously, which means... she's probably from the colony.

Just 'probably'? Where else would a civvie come from? Great detective work there, genius. She's already berating herself when it strikes her that calling her own day 'shitty' in front of a woman who's had to flee her home and possibly left friends behind to die must've sounded really, really petty.

"I'm sorry ma'am," she says slowly, chastened. "I thought you were--" Her hand waves away the thought. "Scratch that. Doesn't matter. I'm Lt. Nia Onn, this is my cabin. And you are...?"

[Elendil's Heir]

The woman stares at Onn, blinks, and her expression shifts. She says, almost coyly, "I'd rather not tell you my real name, Lieutenant, as I have some, uh, privacy issues, but you can call me Denise."

[Rangin]

Rangin looks around the room briefly before focussing his attention on the Maat in front of him while trying to remember to be polite to someone who has already given him the run around already.

"Ensign Rangin", he says with a nod of his head. "I am here to talk to you about your request. I understand you have asked for three extra people to be evacuated. This is because you have shared DNA with them and you now consider them family. I have to say there is no record of such familial association being registered, so can I ask you to confirm the names of the people and also how the DNA was shared?"

He holds up a hand before Xinle Bek can respond. "Before you start please consider that we are already over capacity for our Life Support and every extra person could be a tipping point. I have to make a recommendation in five minutes, if you want to save your family this has to be watertight."

Rangin pulls out his datapad to make notes and nods to Xinle to begin talking.

[SidonianGal]

With an overstressed mind and body, Nia's not operating at full capacity. But she's pretty sure she heard the woman--"Denise"--correctly.

"Privacy," she repeats, eyes squinting as she stares at the stranger. "Okaaaay, if you think it's necessary for... some reason." Nia shrugs, hoping she doesn't seem rude to someone who might be bonkers, but is still a guest. "I mean... I'm not sure why you'd need to give me an alias, but if you've never met anyone from Starfleet before, I can understand being a bit intimidated. Still, we're gonna be sharing quarters for the next three days, so maybe you'll feel comfortable after a while. That is--"

Nia stops, recalling the orders earlier regarding crew reassignments. She's supposed to be moving to someone else's cabin--she can't remember whose. It's a mistake, since she's volunteered to sleep somewhere less less habitable to humans, saving precious air and heat resources. She'd better contact the quartermaster now.

Her hand automatically moves to her belt, but... of course. No communicator. And if she remembers confinement protocol, even if she uses her terminal, she won't be able to get in touch with anyone except for Security. She'll just have to ask Li to do a favor for her. Yet again.

"Great," she mutters with rolled eyes, then looks back at Woman Calling Herself Denise. "Right, I just remembered I'll likely be leaving. At some point," she adds with a layer of bitterness over her admittedly deserved punishment. "So I guess you'll get another roommate. It might be someone you know, which means your name won't be a secret to them."

With an attempt at a welcoming smile, Nia glances around. "So... where are your belongings? Or are they being beamed elsewhere on the ship? I haven't been involved in the process of getting you folks onboard, so I don't know this stuff. And I should say..." Her hand again touches her heart. "I am very sorry about all you must be going through. Your home... I know a little about that kind of loss, my planet is dying too, but it's nothing in the realm of all this."

She's sincere, but the more she looks at the stranger, the less certain she is that this is as traumatic a moment for her as Sidonia's slow death has been for Nia. Maybe she's in shock?

[Elendil's Heir]

Bek says, "Yes, we shared DNA when I performed the enjevin ritual and, after each of us had pricked a finger, I drank a drop of their blood, and they each drank a drop of mine. And thus, under Maat law and cultural practice, each is now a member of my family, just as if they had been born to it. It is somewhat similar to the marriage tie in many Human societies, as I understand your ways. Our familial bond was not registered with the colonial government because we just created it a few hours ago. There was no time to register it before I was told I would be beamed up to your ship."



"Thank you, Lieutenant," Denise says. "I appreciate that. Really. My friend David and I each have a small suitcase. We stowed them in back. David...?" she says, raising her voice. "Come meet the nice lady whose quarters we're in."

A thin, tired-looking young man emerges from the back room of Onn's quarters. He forces a smile and says, "Hello."

"This is Lt. Onn," Denise says. Something about her tone bothers Onn.

The man says, "Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant." He looks like he wants to say something else but, with a glance at Denise, he shuts up.

[SidonianGal]

If Nia's eyes were wide before, they're virtually popping out of her head once a second stranger appears from her bathroom.

"Whoa, uh, okay... hi, David." She pauses and, pointing vaguely in the direction of the head, finally blurts out: "What the heck were you both doing in--"

Her words choke off. A couple of answers to the obvious question spring to mind, and neither of them are ones she really wants to know the details about. Especially given Not-Denise's unctuous attitude. "Actually, no. Forget I asked." David--if that's his name--looks exhausted. Maybe she should give him some of her meal, whenever Ensign Li returns...

And something clicks. The invisible clockwork engine running Nia's intellect may be rusty, but gradually the gears have started to turn and calculate. She glances back at the tray now devoid of whatever meal Ajay prepared. He told her it was for Kylah. And Kylah was apparently here at some point... allegedly with a migraine, which was the explanation for why the girl didn't make it to the shuttle.

Except it was manifestly a lie, not very convincingly told by Ajay, but he knew she'd play along.

Nia's squint narrows further and her hands plant themselves on her hips as she paces back to the dresser. She doesn't particularly care why Kylah didn't show up to the shuttle. But what was she doing here?

Oh. Wait. Occam's Razor. Probably the role of noble escort to some needy refugees is more the sorta job a royal whatever-the-hell-Kylah-is would prefer. Now that is annoying. Booker wanted the ensign to show up at the shuttlebay, the least the girl could've done was to let him know she's busy playing the gracious hostess.

She turns back to Not-Denise and Maybe-David. "Um, just out of curiosity, were you two brought here by an ensign named Kylah? Young woman, dark curly hair, about this tall?" Nia's hand measures just under her chin. "Looks closer to you than me, complexion-wise, and she'd be wearing red, not gold. Is she the one who ordered you a meal?" After a pause, she stares behind their shoulders. "And there's not a third person about to appear, is there?"

[Rangin]

Rangin nods along as Xinle Bek speaks and checks the details of the ritual in the datapad against the brief knowledge they have of the Maat to see if it is as simple as suggested or if there is anything else that is needed for it to take place.

"Ok thank you, so a few brief things. One let me just confirm physically it occurred, and then if you could tell me why did you the four of you do it and do the others know what the repercussions of it are going to be?"

Rangin uses a tricorder to confirm the ritual as described took place, so showing that the finger was indeed pricked. The same will have to be done on the others in the group if this turns out to be true.

[Elendil's Heir]

Denise says, without a pause, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch the name of the crewman who helped us. It wasn't a woman, though, and I don't think he was wearing red. Was he, David?" He shakes his head but meets neither of their eyes. She smiles. "And no, it's just the two of us here."

The Federation's somewhat limited xenosociological database on the Maat mentions the enjevin ritual but gives very little detail; Rangin can find nothing that contradicts Bek's description, at least. A tricorder scan confirms that the alien has recent, minor puncture wounds on one of its sixteen fingers.

[Elendil's Heir]

Nikolai looks from Graham to his mother and then back again, and nods solemnly. He goes into the back room.

Marala leans away a little from Graham and grasps him by the arms. She looks into his eyes, concerned. "What is it? What's going on?"

"I... uh..." Graham pauses and takes a breath. "Maybe we should sit down, Marala."

Wordlessly, she leads him to the nearby couch and sits down, still holding his hand.

"Ah...." Graham looks down at their joined hands. His, stronger than they had ever been when they were young, but now crisscrossed by ugly scars, in contrast to Marala's. He winces slightly, momentarily wishing for the comforting touch of Nia's hand. Yeah, this would be a hell of a thing to ask Nia to help me work through. He returns his look to Marala's eyes. "So, in the course of... everything that's gone on, including me taking Nikolai on the shuttle, and you being here - well, the Captain asked about... well, I explained that we'd been close... ah, more than close." He clears his throat. "I told her how much you'd meant to me." He squeezes her hand gently and pauses. "It seems like it's possible that if I were to propose to marry you, Marala, and you accepted... that you and Nikolai could remain on the ship."

She stares at him. "Your Captain is putting you up to a shotgun wedding to save our lives?"

Graham can't help but grunt. "Ah... I... I don't think it's like that, Marala. I'm not sure, but I hope...." He squeezes her hand and looks away for a moment, then back. "We brought back a wanted fugitive from justice from the planet, who wasn't a lottery winner. Because that's how Command interpreted its duty." He sighs. "Not what I would have done, but I don't doubt they concluded in good faith it was what they ought to do." He shakes his head slightly. "I think - well, no, I hope, I don't know for sure - but the Captain's a good person. I hope she's looking for a way to... make things less horrible. A reason, that maybe... holds up with her own conscience for making one exception rather than any one of a million others." He pauses and squeezes her hand again. "I was trying to find a... justification... for keeping you and Nikolai here, and putting the blame for violating the rules on me. I beg you not to make me try to re-create my lame story. But the upshot was that the Captain asked whether or not a proposal from me, to you, would be a sham... or, 'not.'"

She is still staring, but now there is something different in her expression. Something he last saw in her face, in her eyes, a long, long time ago. "And would it be? Is this something you would be asking me, if it weren't for this... this terrible situation?"

Graham blinks, and smiles wanly. "Those are two very different questions, Marala," he almost whispers. He blinks again. "When we came here, I assumed you had a life here. I was going to leave after our mission, to wherever the ship was headed next, and... with a girlfriend on the Yorktown. And I...." Graham looks away and squeezes his eyes shut. His body spasms as he chokes back a sob. "I don't deserve you, Marala. I didn't deserve my late wife either, and it's my fault she's... you...." He clears his throat and forces himself to hold her eyes again. "Whether you want another husband or not, I'm sure you could find a better one than me. I'm sure Nikolai could have a better father." He sighs. "But it kind of changes the equation if I can do one good thing that gets you off this planet... if you'd be willing to... settle." He clears his throat. "When it comes to marriage, or parenting... I'm a big mess, Marala." He squeezes her hand again. "But I love you, and I've always loved you, and I always will."

She grins crookedly, and now there are tears in her eyes, too. She squeezes his hand very hard. "That's just as well, Boojee, because I have to say I'd almost forgotten just how much I'd loved you, too. It wouldn't be settling. No. Promise me you won't think that, not for even a nanosecond, ever again. And if that's a proposal... my answer is 'yes.'"

Graham lets her squeeze his hand. What is the opposite of surprisingly strong? He'd always admired Marala's strength, both in body and mind. The pressure - slight pain, even - helps him stay grounded in this surreal situation, something he couldn't have imagined even a day earlier. Very slowly, without squeezing back, he raises his hand in order to kiss the back of hers. Then he pats it gently with his other hand as she touches his cheek and brushes his hair a little. He says gravely, "OK, OK... let me... let me find out what this means, Marala. I need to talk to the Captain. Everything hinges on her decision."

The emotions ripping through Graham are... a lot. He thinks, If anyone would understand, Nia would. But goddammit, I wish I could talk to her... what does our life together... a life together I imagined when I was a kid, but that never came to pass - holy hell, what does this mean... and what is the Captain going to do? I swear, if someone tries to send Marala and Nikolai back to the planet now.... Enough. He jumps up and goes to the door. It opens, and he says to Mahmoud, "Hey, so if I need the Captain to officiate, how do I put in my request?" he asks, quietly but intensely.

Mahmoud smiles. "Leave it to me, Book."

[choie]

As she nears Lt. Onn's quarters, Kylah fights her instincts to bow her head while walking farther down the corridor. She glances up at the small signage beside each cabin she passes--with a demeanor that is curious, uncertain and above all guileless, like any normal, uncertain new passenger. Still, the hands gripping one another are white and cold as ice.

Aware of the time constraint Velir has placed on her, not to mention the possibility that Lt. Onn will return and discover the stowaways, Kylah quickens her pace.

[SidonianGal]

"Uh huh, just curious." Nia nods, outwardly accepting their--well, her answers. But internally she finds the 'vibe' in here kinda... hinky. But it's nothing she can put her finger on.

Except Maybe-David over here. His silence irks her now, just as it did with the female guard five minutes ago. Well, whatever. She has to pack on the off-chance she’ll be allowed to move. So back to her bed she returns, kneeling down on all fours to grab one of the cases where she keeps her breathing apparatus and supplies.

"'Scuse me," she murmurs to the guests as she leans and reaches under the bed to find the handle. "I need to pack some supplies for the next few days." Assuming they don’t flush me out the shuttlebay in punishment for trying to help save a mother and kid’s lives. Nia knows, of course, that her sins aren’t quite that simple. But it's the upshot and she can't sweep the bitterness from her as easily as she's pulling the case out across the smooth floor.

Then she tilts her head to meet the mute young man's gaze. "Lemme guess. You don't speak unless you have something to say, right? I seem to be bumping into more and more people like that."

[Elendil's Heir]

David smiles wanly. "Uh, I guess so...? What would you like me to say?"