AQ/D02 - CO & FO Quarters

[Paul]

==

[Daniel Brooks]

==12 hours after Ready Room Post==

Daniel had invited Beno around for dinner.

Setting up the table with two places, he also replicated a bottle of champagne and had starters, main and dessert sorted.

He placed a little black box under a cloth on his side of the table. Dan had a set of three candles and lit them and brought the light down in the room so it was just about light enough to see each other and the food which was going to go on the table.

Daniel then went into bedroom, showered and changed into some brown trousers and shoes along with a white linen shirt. Brooks then spiked his hair up from the usual swept back style.

He knew how hard it could be FO at times and the last mission she had done well even if it was frustrating.

==Tag Beno==

[Jukish Keti]

===Wrong Place to post==

[Beno Velaul]

It was a nice two weeks was nice, when she was able to go to sleep for a few days. The hot bath was a nice touch too, now it was time to get things started again. In hindsight Beno was remembering something she forgotten, that was to take some time to relax. When she arrived at his quarters, Beno was wearing a nice sundress because they were not fully back yet. She rang the bell, and waited for the invitation to come in. 

When she did go in the place looked nice, it had the extra added bonus of being what the doctor ordered. He had created a relaxing environment, and again it is what they ordered. Right now she was living in the moment, enjoying the little things. "Daniel its nice to be here with you." She said with a smile, and a skin tone that was the closest to normal than it has in a while. 

The Champaign on the table suggested some kind of celebration,  she just wasn't aware of what kind it would be. It wasn't often that she was in suspense, when it did happen it was extra memorable. The private dining with the Daniel was also a delight, it was one of those little things that she appreciated. It was just dinner, and a little something to drink.

"Did you have time to relax while we were on leave?" Sometimes the best thing to do while on leave was just rest, it keeps the senses sharp. With a crew like this, your senses and temperament can be impacted too much when burning the candle at both ends for too long.

==Tag==

[Daniel Brooks]

The door chimed and in came Beno looking very nice in a sundress.

"Looking very nice this evening Beno." Dan commented

"Daniel its nice to be here with you." She said with a smile, he motioned her to sit down as he brought around the starter.

"Did you have time to relax while we were on leave?" Beno asked

Dan placed the plate down in front of her and said, "A little bit, I had chance to read up on some medical journals. Old habits I guess."

As he took a seat opposite her, for starters there was a Baked Feta with Sesame and Honey. Looking at Beno though the candle light he could help but smile,

"I would suspect you had a more eventful shoreleave then myself?" he asked

==Tag Beno==

[Beno Velaul]

Beno smiled at the compliment with a little blush. “Thank you my friend you look handsome yourself.” Beno sat down and made herself comfortable while listening to Daniel, it was important for Doctors to keep up with Medical Journals. Who knows when your skills are going to be needed, and it’s best to keep them sharp. 

“It was pretty exciting and relaxing at the same time, a little concerning when I slept for seventy hours strait. The Home-world sent me a trainee for joining, and we spent a lot of time together to get him ready for what his future holds. Joining is such a process that it takes a long time to get ready for it, and longer to recover.” She stopped talking for a second and had a big smile. 

“Then there was the Tongo. It was the most advisories game I ever played. The first ten hours flew by, after another six I won but I needed to bb practically carried out I just couldn’t do it alone.” There was more that Beno wanted to say, and Daniel could tell she was holding something back. 

“I hope I have a chance to tell you this before possibly reading it in a report, that I was found sleep walking a few times. I kept on referring to one of the Security Officers as my late husband. The Doctor said it was all fine, my body just needed the rest. My bloodwork came back good too, he theorized that I was getting closer to rejecting my symbiont than ever. The rest restored the proper balance.” She blushed a little more than usual. “One last thing that happened was the Security Officer and I went on a few dates together and I felt something I haven’t allowed myself to feel since my late husband.” The thought did occur to her there were two other men she felt that secure around, and one of them was right there. 

“For the first time since leaving the Academy I let my guard completely down, and it was wonderful.” Beno knew that she can talk a lot, and stopped there to allow Daniel to eventually get a word in. 

== Tag Daniel- Also Paul Beno isn’t pregnant, Carley on the other hand is.  LOL J/K==

[Jez Mala]

As Jez made her way to deck two to Velaul’s quarters, she couldn’t imagine what the First Officer wanted to discuss. Beno had said, "Don't worry, it's a good thing." The trip from deck six to deck two wasn't that far, but she was also deep in thought about what to do about Devyn Ukinix, who was he to call her a mongrel and yet want to raise her child? She couldn’t believe how blind she was towards his narcissistic, supremacist attitudes. Yes, she was in love with him briefly during that Summer. He was dashing, he charmed her, but as the Summer ended, he turned cold, distant.

Jez knew that people fall out of love sometimes, but Devyn was next-level cruel; he beat her and called her nothing, a worthless half breed. She could take a beating; her beloved sensei, her beloved Teddy Bear, taught her to take a beating, to fight. She broke his nose and blacked Devyn’s eyes and split his lip and even broke a few of his ribs,  but to be called nothing, to be called a mongrel, that was more than she could take. She had struggled for her parents' attention; they were too busy with their careers.  To be called nothing to be thought of as less than in someone's eyes, especially someone she loved and thought loved her.

Let it go, Jez, let it go.  Devyn isn’t worth it.

Yes, Devyn was her first real lover, not boyfriend, she had dozens of those, but her first crush was the Chief of Security for her parents Archeology Team, a former Star Fleet Chief of Security Mike Denton, a big burly man, jet black hair, steel blue eyes, broad shoulders, but he was at least twenty-five years older than Jez. Her parents didn’t like the fact that her first crush was Mike. It wasn’t so much that Mike was older; he was just a bit of a drinker, not a drunk, but he did like his Double Malt Whiskey and getting into the occasional barroom brawl, and he only beat up people who deserved it.

Suddenly, Jez found herself outside the First Officer's quarters. She wasn’t sure what to expect. Jez tried to recall if she did anything that would warrant attention from the First Officer?

Jez took a deep breath. The more she considered the situation, the more she realized that things could be worse, but she was on the Aquila and with her new family.  She rang Commander Velaul’s door chime and waited for her to respond.



== Tag Velaul. ==

[Beno Velaul]

==after the meeting in Science.==

Beno wasn't in her quarters long before the chime rang, she was half way between getting changed from her civilian clothing to uniform. "Enter." She said while getting changed, her uniform was ready to be put on. Everything still felt so strange to her, out of all the missions she went on this one will stand out.

"Lieutenant Mala." She said with delight in her voice. "I basically came here to get changed and take a minute, but I am glad you came. Can I offer you a beverage?" Beno asked while getting herself a Raktajino.

"I enjoyed having you on the Away team with us, you were quick to react when needed and made the situation with the President less tense. Things could have went sideways real fast as it is always easier to escalate the situation, and almost impossible to bring back down again. On another Away Mission I would be proud to have you with me." Beno stopped for a second as she noticed something.

"Is everything alright with you? I am not a telepath but a lifetime in Science made me aware of subtle changes. Is there anything you want to talk about?" This was one of those times where taking a minute was going to make all the difference, especially in times like these.

==Tag==

[Jez Mala]

Jez heard the Commander call “Enter,” which caused her to jump a little. Jez stepped to the door, and it opened. Jez looked around, it was a statement to minimalist expression, but to the trained observer, like a Star Fleet  Security Officer, the quarters screamed loads of information,  there appeared to be several Data Padd’s, the telltale sign of a writer. Jez did recall the Commander and her talking about trading samples of their work, as Jez was a writer herself, she was hoping to write the great Federation mystery novel.

Commander Velaul spoke, "Lieutenant Mala." She said with delight in her voice. "I basically came here to get changed and take a minute, but I am glad you came. Can I offer you a beverage?" Beno asked while getting herself a Raktajino.

Jez couldn’t understand people’s obsession with Raktajino, the industrial lubricant that the Klingons call coffee; it was, in her opinion, not fit for consumption.

“No, thank you, Commander. I'm not a fan of Raktajino. Perhaps mineral water with some lemon in it?”

"I enjoyed having you on the Away team with us. You were quick to react when needed and made the situation with the President less tense. Things could have went sideways real fast as it is always easier to escalate the situation, and almost impossible to bring it back down again. On another Away Mission, I would be proud to have you with mumptione." Beno stopped for a second as she noticed something.

The Commander's statement surprised Jez because the nonverbal cues from Commander Tallion made it seem like her suggestion about using a Telepath as the New Ambassador was somehow wrong, but Jez stood by her assessment of the situation; a telepath would give the President leverage in dealing with the rival factions.

"Is everything alright with you? I am not a telepath, but a lifetime in Science made me aware of subtle changes. Is there anything you want to talk about?" This was one of those times where taking a minute was going to make all the difference, especially in times like these.

A little smile came to Jez’s face. The Commander was able to read Jez’s body language and determine that things were not going well for Jez.

“Well Commander, there was the incident with the Away Mission, Commander Tallion made me feel like I was mistaken to suggest that The President request a Betazoid as the Federation Ambassador, he didn’t listen to what I had said, I said request not necessarily use a full Blooded  Betazoid, the rival factions would know of use Betazoids telepathic abilities and would they dare lie to the President, when it came to good faith negotiations? ”Said Jez, her tone full of confidence. “But that’s not what's on my mind. If you recall when I first arrived as part of the crew, I was with child, but the zygote is in a cryo stasis pod in my quarters, until I’m ready to have a baby.”

Tears started to run down Jez’s face as the horrible words of Devyn Ukinix, he beat her like an animal, but said she was nothing, a mongrel unfit to raise a Child of the Ninth House.

Jez felt horrible, she never got the attention from her parents, her parents were more concerned about their careers and her emotional well-being and development. Jez took out her personal Data Padd and tapped it, and brought up the message she had received from Devyn Ukinix

Jez handed her Padd to the Commander, open to the letter,

[ To: Jez Mala
From: Devyn Ukinix

It has come to my attention that you are carrying a Child of the Ninth House. However, as you are a mongrel and unworthy to raise such a noble child as one that possesses Blood of the Ninth House, you are hereby ordered to surrender the child to the Ninth House Delegation as soon as possible.

Failure to do so will result in your family losing their professional standing and licenses

Respectfully yours,
Vaxa Ral, Matriarch of the Ninth House. ]

“ The Ninth House is wealthy and powerful and holds sway over the other great houses, as they all owe the Ninth House money or some kind of political favor.” Explained Jez.  As she explained the political complexities of the Betazed Great Houses.

“ Knowing Ukinix he won’t stop at their licenses and professional standing; they will probably seize my family's Estates.” Said Jez as she fought back her tears.

“ The beatings I could take, my Teddy Bear taught me how to take a beating, but Commander,  He... that is Ukinix said I was nothing, a mongrel!  He…he…he said I was nothing!’ sobbed Jez as her emotions were catching up with her and her tone was a little louder than she intended. Jez could take many things, “And now he wants the baby. I can’t allow that to happen. I can’t have my baby girl being raised in a supremacist, narcissistic house like the Ninth House. “ Stated Jez. 

Jez, you idiot, you raised your voice to your Commanding Officer. Teddy Bear taught you better than the Commander probably thinks you're an ignorant fool.

Realizing how emotional she was being in front of Commander Velaul, she apologized.

“Commander, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful and raise my voice to you, especially in your quarters. I meant no disrespect.” Said Jez,



== Tag Velaul. ==

[Beno Velaul]

Getting the beverage for Mala a chilled mineral water with a wedge of lemon, Beno listened undivided to everything she said. It made Mala a little emotional but that was completely understandable, anyone would under these circumstances. It was one of those times when the Uniform and Rank needed to be set aside, be a little more personable.

Giving Jez a hug in support. "Don't worry about any of that, we are just two people having a conversation." Any leader worthy of being one would take the time do do this. "I do recall that I meant to get you a gift, but I got too caught up in other things at that time." 

"I also wouldn't worry too much about Commander Talion, he is one of the finest Officers I have ever served with. Its just these are highly unusual circumstances, if anyone were to say anything it would have been me or the President." Her main concern wasn't that, it was about her child.

"These people sound like they are underhanded, and if they are attempting this with you chances are great they have done this with others. If you allow it to happen what's to stop them from pulling this again, this time something that could lead to criminal charges. Plus how would they treat your daughter while in their care?" Beno took a minute to think things through for a second.

"Besides one call to Star Fleet security we have them on extortion and possibly a hate crime, if this gets in the light this house will all go to prison. Their so called Nobel blood counts for nothing in there, my only response to them would be Dear Muppets, get stuffed. They are attempting to strong arm you, but they lack the juice to pull this off." The choice was hers on how to handle this, and Beno was there to help her along the way.

Beno put the final touches of putting on her Uniform. "It's a lot like putting on one of these Uniforms, it comes with hard choices that are going to be difficult to make. Often times too many people fold under the pressure, but I have a feeling that you re not one of those people. These people know it too witch is why they are attempting it now, and if they can't do it now they never will. The alternative is once they get started they will never stop, I will support you in any way I can." Beno was as supportive as she could, and not from Officer to Officer. It was on a personal level, and at this time there was nothing more important.

==Tag==

[Jez Mala]

Jez took the glass from the Commander; the chilled glass felt nice in her hands. She took a sip, the cool liquid hit the back of her throat, it was refreshing. It momentarily drove her frustration away. Giving her time to think.

Jez was surprised when Velaul hugged her. Jez understood it was meant as a sign of support. The Commander clearly saw a crewmate, a fellow being, a friend in distress, and wanted to let her know that she was not alone, that she would be alright. It made Jez feel like she was more than just a crewman, that she was somehow a friend or family member to the Commander and the rest of the crew, that they all looked out for each other.

When the Commander said next, surprised Jez a little, "Don't worry about any of that, we are just two people having a conversation."  Jez had to agree it was just two people having a friendly conversation. "I do recall that I meant to get you a gift, but I got too caught up in other things at that time."

Jez took another sip of her mineral water. It was refreshing and helped her to relax and calm down a bit, but the idea that that arrogant bastard was calling into question her ancestry, her lineage. Jez’s mother was a daughter of the Sixth House of Betazed, and her father’s family was well placed on Vulcan, but for Devyn Ukinix to call her nothing, to say that Jez had no value, no worth, hurt more than any physical beating.

Velaul then said, "I also wouldn't worry too much about Commander Talion, he is one of the finest Officers I have ever served with. It's just these are highly unusual circumstances; if anyone were to say anything, it would have been me or the President." Her main concern wasn't that; it was about her child. attempting this with you, chances are great they have done this with others. If you allow it to happen, what's to stop them from pulling this again, this time, something that could lead to criminal charges? Plus, how would they treat your daughter while in their care?" Beno took a minute to think things through for a second.

Jez nodded in complete agreement with the Commander's assessment. The Commander had an excellent point: people who have always been told yes or got their way, often react badly when they are finally told no, but add to it the fact that Devyn Ukinix was an arrogant narcissist whose family indulge him and spoiled him, he was use to getting what he wanted and that made things especially problematic, if not downright dangerous.

Beno then added, "Besides one call to Star Fleet security, we have them on extortion and possibly a hate crime, if this gets in the light this house will all go to prison. Their so-called Nobel blood counts for nothing in there, my only response to them would be Dear Muppets, get stuffed. They are attempting to strong-arm you, but they lack the juice to pull this off." The choice was hers on how to handle this, and Beno was there to help her along the way.

The image of Devyn being dragged out and arrested was oddly satisfying; she could picture Devyn yelling, “Do you know who I am, Devyn Ukinix of The Ninth House?”  Maybe some big, burly Security Officer would drive Devyn’s face into a bulkhead. Thought Jez, with a satisfying smile on her face.

Beno put the final touches of putting on her Uniform. "It's a lot like putting on one of these Uniforms; it comes with hard choices that are going to be difficult to make. Oftentimes, too many people fold under the pressure, but I have a feeling that you are not one of those people. These people know it too, which is why they are attempting it now, and if they can't do it now, they never will. The alternative is once they get started, they will never stop. I will support you in any way I can." Beno was as supportive as she could, and not from Officer to Officer. It was on a personal level, and at this time, there was nothing more important.

“Commander, I think I left you the wrong impression of Commander Talion, he is truly amazing, he has been very kind and helpful, His family is very prominent in the Betazoid Houses,  He said he would help me to navigate the complex legal maze that was the Betazed legal system, especially when it comes to the Great Houses  I think someone in his family is a Barrister, or a Legal intercessor. I think of him as an older brother.” Said Jez. Jez blushed slightly, “Plus, he’s kind of cute.” Added Jez, unfortunately, sounded like a girl with a schoolboy crush.

A million ideas flooded through Jez’s mind: Devyn, her daughter, her parents. Ideally, her parents wouldn’t be her first choice, as she was afraid that her parents would raise their granddaughter as they raised her.

“ Commander, as far as who will take care of my daughter, I was thinking if I wasn’t allowed to keep my daughter with me on board, then I would want my Nana on Betazed, or let Teddy Bear raise her.”

Jez realized that she was rambling. The Commander asked her here to talk about something good. The Commander did mention that she

Maybe that was it, maybe the good thing was the Commander meant to get me a gift.

“Commander, you had mentioned that you wanted to talk to me about something when we beamed back aboard. “ Said Jez, her voice filled with curiosity.



== Tag.==

[Beno Velaul]

Sometimes Beno was reminded of the time when people valued Rank over humanity, they would pull it just to make others feel insignificant to make themselves feel better. It was something that Beno was glad to see wasn't a practice as long as she had anything to do about it, Talion was right about the bullies they have no place here. Then one of the bigger questions was asked.

“Do you know who I am, Devyn Ukinix of The Ninth House?”  Jez asked.

"I can't say that I do, however in time I can get to know you better." Beno started. "As for Ukinix I don't know him personally but I know the kind of people, people who have power always want more. The only thing that they really respond to is force, if they see a soft target they will strike until there is nothing left." Beno said with a smile.

“Commander, I think I left you the wrong impression of Commander Talion, he is truly amazing, he has been very kind and helpful, His family is very prominent in the Betazoid Houses,  He said he would help me to navigate the complex legal maze that was the Betazed legal system, especially when it comes to the Great Houses  I think someone in his family is a Barrister, or a Legal intercessor. I think of him as an older brother.” Said Jez. Jez blushed slightly, “Plus, he’s kind of cute.” Added Jez, unfortunately, sounded like a girl with a schoolboy crush. Again Beno had a bit of a faint smile.

"All of that is true, and in a way he kind of reminds me of an old Husband from a couple of lifetimes ago." It wasn't too often that Velaul got married, but when it did happen they were memorable

“Commander, you had mentioned that you wanted to talk to me about something when we beamed back aboard. “ Said Jez, her voice filled with curiosity..

"We have covered some of it earlier, but when we have that dinner we will go over the rest. Its mostly about chartering a plan for you, advancements with important details about how with what comes with it. You can train for most everything but how the realities are when you achieve more authority, for now there are a lot of details for me to hammer out. When the President arrives I believe you are the best person to escort her to the Observation Lounge, I have faith in you and one day I know you will make a great Security Chief. But like I said, there are a lot of things I need to put into motion."

Tapping her Com Badge. [Commander Talion please report to my Office in five minutes.] Reports had to be filed and they needed to be accurate.

>>>> FO Office>>>