Mas'Riat herself seemed largely unconcerned and though she could not suppress the shudder that ran though her, she could neither suppress the smile threatening to twist the corners of her lips. Sisko, that tool, had appearantly retro-activated her, since she'd really only been a member of the crew for several hours yet.

She was curious to see if the cat would catch on, however that might in fact raise a few questions and she doubted that whatever stories Sisko had had to create for her to get her into the system could stand an investigation. Her mind churned. No, better to suck it up and deal than risk exposure. Telling the Lyran about the prison was one thing entirely. He was one peron upon whom her trust would not be misplaced, and she knew that, as a fellow crew member, she could depend on him if it came down to it.

But if someone else were to look through her file, and looked into her, it would all come out. The prison, Gani, Davorious, everyone would know. And everything would change.

"My mistake," she said softly. She rose and smoothed out imagined wrinkles in her uniform. The playful, mischevious spark had died and was replaced by a cold automaton. "Have a pleasant day."

This was difficult. She focused her eyes upon the door, and willed her feet to move. Move, you spineless maggot! Davorious is coming and the only way to escape is on that ship NOW MOVE! She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Stardate: 2374.09.01
Deep Space Nine - Quark's - 1830hrs
"My mistake," she said softly. She rose and smoothed out imagined wrinkles in her uniform. The playful, mischevious spark had died and was replaced by a cold automaton. "Have a pleasant day." This was difficult. She focused her eyes upon the door, and willed her feet to move. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Lt Cmdr Talon stopped his laughter and his grin faded as he wondered if he had pushed the woman too hard. Bajorans were not that far from human and though he thought them made of sterner material than most maybe he had been wrong about this one. He watched her rise and look as if she were struggling to leave the room.

“LT?” he said sternly, in a commanding voice, if she paused and looked at him he would smile only slightly, the most non-threatening gesture he was capable of, “don’t worry… you will do fine!”

His smile broadened a bit as he continued, “I’ll be there to make sure you don’t screw things up.”

He picked up his glass again and watched her, seeing if she left or stayed, his eyes studying her demeanor. He had a feeling that she could handle whatever this mission might bring, but he had been wrong in the past, only time would tell if he was mistaken this time.

Stardate: 2374.09.01
Deep Space Nine - Quark's - 1831hrs

Her feet stopped, and though her head was high, she felt as if she were no more significant that a virus. In truth, she was terrified of the ship, of it's larger meaning in her life. It occired to her that her actions would now affect others, that it was no longer every man for himself. She honestly didn't know if she was capable of existing in ordered, polite society anymore.

The Lyrans words hit her like phaser fire and she turned, smiling that pale false imitation of a gesture, and hesitated. "I'm not used to this," she confessed. "It's been a long time since I was part of a functioning society."

Stardate: 2374.09.01
Deep Space Nine - Quark's - 1831hrs
The Lyrans words hit her like phaser fire and she turned, smiling that pale false imitation of a gesture, and hesitated. "I'm not used to this," she confessed. "It's been a long time since I was part of a functioning society."
Lt. Cmdr Talon laughed uproariously and had to set his glass down to keep from slipping the remaining amber liquid on himself.

“You apparently don’t know the Charon,” he finally said, “it isn’t your typical Federation starship… it’s Captain and crew is .. unique!” He grinned as if to say that she would soon find out what he meant.

Rising to his feet, he swept up his glass as he did so and downed the last part of it in one gulp. The glass now empty, he turned and threw it hard to smash into the wall behind the bar causing the bartender there to duck and yell in surprise. Talon just laughed figuring they should be use to him by now as he always did the same thing after drinking, it was a Lyran drinking custom.

“Put it on my tab,” he told the bartender as he turned and walked over to her as she stood there looking at him. He stopped and looked at her in return, his yellow slit eyes regarded her for several long moments in silence, the mirth of earlier gone. It was as if he was trying to see deep into her soul, just standing there looking into her eyes.

“Like I said Lt,” he finally said all hint of laughter and amusement gone, “I think you will do fine aboard the Charon… you’ll fit in nice with all the rest of us misfits.” He grinned slightly.

“Now I must be reporting back to the ship,” he said as he turned and started to walk out of Quark’s but paused and turned back to look at her.

“When do you plan to report for duty LT?” He asked her raising a brow ridge in query, “I wouldn’t want you to be in more trouble your first day by reporting any later than you already are.”

He tried to keep the grin off his face, knowing that she might be angry if he knew that her orders said she wasn’t to report till tomorrow by 1000hrs and he had only been playing with her earlier when he told her she should have reported this morning. He wondered what the Captain would say to her if she reported early but apologized for being late. He looked forward to seeing the reaction as he planned to be there, which was why he wanted to know when she would be reporting; he didn’t want to miss it.

Mas'Riat forced a smile, a dazzling display of white teeth and self-control, and ran a hand through her hair, dragging strands away from her face. Her lips parted, releasing a smooth golden laugh, a moment of truth in a position of deception, and for a moment one might have seen her, in that laughter, as the girl she once was before The Dominion go their hands on her. It amused her to see the witrers scurry in the wake of the cat. While he stared her down, she replied in kind, searching him for some sign of herself, some way to verify that she was in fact really here, doing this.

There was a moment, standing there, when she thought she saw something pass through his eyes, like a show, but it was gone again as quikly as it came. She realized this was as close to another person as she had physically allowed in a long time, and his proximity was not disruptive to her. Rather, she enjoyed his company.

"I wouldn't want to make too terrible an impression upon our Captain," she sighed. "Might I walk with you?"

Stardate: 2374.09.01
Deep Space Nine - Quark's - 1831hrs
Talon only raised a brow ridge again and then nodded as he turned and headed off towards the docking ring where the Charon was docked.

“I don’t mind,” Talon said as he walked away, “but you should know.. among my people women must walk two steps behind the males at all times.”

She couldn’t see his face to see the grin that was present there; he was curious how his words would affect her. He didn’t expect her to ‘follow’ him as he had mentioned, but he was curious to see the expression on her face or to hear what she would say once she caught up to him.

Talon didn’t know why he felt a tiny pleasure at harassing the Bajoran female, maybe it was that he saw a strange inner strength in her that he hadn’t seen in many among the Federation crewmen. In a way she reminded him of Captain Gavison; he was eager to observe the first meeting between those two, it was sure to be entertaining to the Lyran.

The corner of Mas'Riat's mouth curled into a wry, crooked half-smile. "Then I am eternally grateful that we are not, as you said, among your people because I hardly think two steps is far enough to save them from the stench."

She did enjoy baiting him, Mas'Riat confessed to herself. There was something deeply rewarding in watching his expressions, especially when she challenged and provoked him. There was something kindred in him, something familiar, and it helped to ease and allay her anxiety.

She considered the captain. If he was, as Talon suggested, like her then she was not sure how well they would get along at all. While indifferent to herself in general, she was aware and had accepted how diffifult and combative she could be. She admired the Lyran, but that was largely due to his ability to roll with her verbal punches. She could only imagine what the captain would be like.

Stardate: 2374.09.01
Deep Space Nine - Quark's - 1831hrs
The corner of Mas'Riat's mouth curled into a wry, crooked half-smile. "Then I am eternally grateful that we are not, as you said, among your people because I hardly think two steps is far enough to save them from the stench."
Without stopping, Talon turned his head and looked at her with a raised brow then he laughed heartily at her obvious jab at him. He made no reply to her comment but let it go for now.

She followed him as he went directly to the docking ring where they could board the Charon. On guard at the portal was a security crewman from the ship who snapped to attention when his superior walked up the corridor with a Bajoran female in tow.

“Carry on Ensign Bane,” Lt. Cmdr Talon said as he stopped in front of him and peered at him with an appraising eye, “This here is Lt Mas’Riat.. A new addition to the crew… I am taking her so that she may report for duty.”

“Welcome aboard Maam,” The young officer said to Mas’Riat as Talon practically brushed him aside as he went through the portal leading to the ship.

Inside, he leads her directly to the nearest turbo lift and once she joins him he turns to the intercom.

“Computer, location of Captain Gavison?” He asks and when the computer tells him he directs the turbo lift to that location. While they are traveling he turns to face the Bajoran.

“Might as well get your introductions over with,” he said with a faint grin, “besides I might be able to smooth things over with the Captain regarding the lateness of your reporting.”

Stardate: 2374.09.01
USS Charon – Captain’s Ready Room – 1830 hours
Gavison stared at the PADD with such a foul look on his ugly, scarred face that he might have broken the device by sheer willpower. He hated being manipulated, despised the cloak of espionage that was now surrounding him, and was allowing his rage to build up inside of him at the thought of being a weapon in someone’s arsenal. His meeting at Quark’s hadn’t been what he’d hoped it would have been, and he had yet to hear back from any of his officers concerning the footwork he’d asked them to undertake. By his estimation they only had a few days before the Cerberus arrived expecting the Charon to be ready for departure, and he was no where near ready.

Kel’s teeth ground beneath the pressure he put on them as he tossed the PADD to the tabletop in disgust. What the Hell is this all about? he thought angrily. And how the Hell am I going to get the Charon and the Cerberus out of this one while still doing as much damage to the Dominion as possible?
Just then the computer beeped indicating that there was someone outside the door requesting admittance. Kel turned a withering eye on the door and considered for a moment whether one of his officers had actually found something useful. When it beeped again, he took a deep breath and rose up from his chair. “Come.”

The door swished open admitting Talon and a Bajoran female in Star Fleet red. Gavison had never seen her before and the enigma didn’t sit well with him. If she were a Star Fleet messenger with more hidden instruction, he was going to break her neck.

“What is it, Commander?” His tone was almost as much a growl as the Lyran’s own throaty voice.

Stardate: 2374.09.01
USS Charon – Captain’s Ready Room – 1830 hours
Lt. Cmdr Talon entered the Captain’s Ready room when the door opened and gestured to the Bajoran to follow him in. Taking a couple steps inside to allow room for the female to enter nodded his head and thumped his chest with his fist, the typical Lyran salute, to the Captain. It wasn’t standard policy for Senior StarFleet Officers to salute, but aboard Lyran ships is was still mandatory and a habit for Talon.

“Captain,” Talon began, “I would like to introduce Lt. Mas’Riat.” He had a strangely amused grin on his face, something that most people who knew him meant he found something funny that would usually irritate others. The Captain had seen this look before and knew the Lyran was finding some perverse pleasure in bringing this officer before him.

“She has been assigned to the Charon,” Talon continued, “just today… a special assignment .. Just for this mission I take it.”

He turned his head and glanced down at Lt. Mas’Riat to give her a chance to speak now. Inwardly Talon was eager to see how this meeting went as he could tell, as most of the Senior Officers aboard the Charon, that the Captain was in an even more fouler mood than usual.

Mas'Riat blinked once as she entered with Talon. The man before them was scarred, greatly maligned, and she sighed inwardly thinking of Ganithon, who had also been terribly scarred.

Starfeleet, it seemed to her, was an entrily seperate society, one with its own customs and procedures and rules of engagement. Head high, nearly defiant, she straightened herself and stood, hands behind her back, one hand gripping her unseen wrist tightly.

"My appolgies, Captain," she offered. "I am Lieutenant Cathica Mas'Riat, your most recent accquisition on behalf of Benjamin Sisko, who sends his regards."

She stared, unblinking, into his furious face. "I understand I was to report earlier, and I have no excuse for my lateness. I will accept whatever form of discipline you deem appropriate."

Stardate: 2374.09.01
USS Charon – Captain’s Ready Room – 1830 hours
Kel stalled for a moment as he picked up his PADD and thumbed in the command for personnel changes. He didn’t have the luxury of a yeoman, and Operations hadn’t reported any change in staff recently…something he’d have to look into further once he had a chance to meet with Lt. Kennedy. As it was, not knowing about the arrival of Mas’Riat irritated Cpt. Gavison further causing his scarring to stand out vivid white against the rush of blood to hid face.

The roster lists formed beneath his eye, and within a couple of passes of his fingers he’d taken the PADD through to Flight Control/Operations…and there she was: Lt. Cathica Mas’Riat, half Bajoran…not much else to go on, but a personal note from Sisko stating that she’d be valuable in what was to come.

Kel looked up from the PADD’s display and quickly gave her the once over. More and more Star Fleet personnel were bearing scars, so hers wouldn’t be distracting, especially to a crew that worked under him. They were mere white lines compared to his disfigurement—something that would keep him from gracing the halls at Star Fleet Command as a desk jockey, of that he was certain, and with no grim satisfaction at that.

“It would appear, Lieutenant, that you aren’t due until later, so your apology need not be presented to me.” Kel’s narrowed eyes met Talon’s with more than a little fire behind them. “It states that you’re a decent pilot,” The whole while Kel is speaking to Mas’Riat, his eyes remain locked with Talon’s. “You’re likely going to need every trick you’ve got up your sleeve Lieutenant. When flying for me, you have to think outside of the box, as sometimes, regulation doesn’t cut it.”

The PADD hit the tabletop again with an audible clanking sound as Kel dropped it unceremoniously, eyes still on the Lyran. “Welcome aboard,” he stated in a near growl, his teeth clenched. “I’m sure you won’t mind waiting outside for our Chief of Security, now will you, Lieutenant?”

(OOC: assuming Mas’Riat doesn’t have any questions, but leaves to wait outside…)

Once the flight officer had been separated from them by the hydraulic-powered door Kel gave a slow shake to his head while his lip curled, eyes still on Talon. “Have I not given you enough to do, Commander Talon? That you would find time to play cat and mouse with a new crewmember while I’m waiting on intelligence pertaining to our flight paths, ship operations, and plans on just how you’re going to protect my ship from Romulan technicians!? The Cerberus will be here in a few day’s time and my ship is still sitting in drydock under repairs! Get out of my sight, Commander, unless you’ve something productive to report on. MOVE! Before I skin you alive…”

It was an order Kel fully expected to be obeyed. He’d known Talon long enough to know that this kind of reaction wasn’t alien to the big cat as he was still being kind compared to the Lyran officer’s code of conduct. It wouldn’t damage the trust between the two, Kel had been standing side-by-side with Talon facing Jem’Hadar soldiers when the two of them had burned through their phaser charges and were reduced to nothing but knives. There was too much history, and that’s one of the things that bothered Kelsey about this shenanigan: Talon should have known that Kel took wasted time very seriously.

(OOC: again, assuming that Talon doesn’t have a response and leaves to collect Mas’Riat and begin work on their flight plan…)

When the door had slid shut once more, Kelsey snatched up the PADD once more and made his way to the window overlooking DS9. He stared blindly at it for a moment before opening a channel to the computer.

“Computer. Inform Commander Fletcher that I’ll expect him to join me for a late dinner with a full report on what he’d been able to determine in his meeting with Shilotte at 22:00 hours. Make sure Lieutenant Commander Jones is fully aware that I expect a report by the same time on the timetable for completing the repairs. I’ll have a plotted course from Lieutenant…Lieutenant Mas’Riat and Lieutenant Commander Talon no later than 10:00 hours tomorrow morning. I will see Lt. Kennedy in my ready room as soon as possible. Confirm.”

/--\\ Confirming: Commander Fletcher has been notified of your dinner appointment and the required report. Lt. Cmdr. Jones has been notified of the report deadline. Lt. Cmdr. Talon and Lt. Mas’Riat have no been informed of their report deadline. Lt. Kennedy has confirmed receipt of your request and has replied that he will be back on board the Charon within the hour. /--\\

Kelsey heard, but did not reply as he continued to stare past the pylons of DS9 at the place where the wormhole opened. Right now, it was black space filled with mines. Somewhere on the other side were the graves of his wife and daughter, and he’d be exacting vengeance for them again soon.

Stardate: 2374.08.31
USS Cerberus – 1500 hours deck 5 The Lounge

The guard will hesitate a bit, the smoothly cover it up by saying “I noticed that your drinks are low, would you like a refill?” at those words Shiarrael face becomes amused “Good recovery for a red shirt you just might become an officer, IF you live past your blunders, next time you would like to peek at a personal PADD approach the user from behind a little to one side or the other, with a cover story ready to go. This way you can at least get a glimpse of what is on the screen. A good memory is a major help in that area. In answer to your question, I’m drinking spring water with Ice and my friend is drinking a Beer. She might like a brandy, since she posted that the beer was tasteless and the list of drinks is very long.” After the guard leaves, she will then type // I hope you don’t mind that last part? I felt like tweaking his nose a bit. //

When the guard returns she notices he has taken her advice about peeking at PADDs. She will allow him a peek,…… He will see Romulan script not federation on it.

Stardate: 2374.09.01
USS Charon – outside Captain’s Ready Room – 1831 hours



Mas'Riat smiled as graciously as she could, and nodded at the dismissal. The doors hissed closed she stepped into the hallway, a flurry of dark thoughts spinning madly through her mind.

Why, of all the... that flea-bitten, furry faced, maggot! I'd like to wrap his hide in adhesive and yank his precious mangy ass bare! Toying with me as if I were a simpleton. And falling for it!
The Captain was another thing entirely, and she was suddenly unsure of herself under his demanding eye. Was her feat so daring, so bold, that it would actually impress him? She chided herself for the thought. Cathica Mas'Riat had never needed anyones approval before, so what was so different now?

His scars. While certainly horrifying, they betrayed a deep pain, and were constant reminders of survival. While it should have made her cringe, his disfiguration only served to galvanize her desire to succeed, though she still had no idea what for.

She assumed this mission would take them through dangerous territory, but a nagging sliver of worry gnawed at her. She had never piloted a craft this large before. The skiff she'd stolen was at most four man capacity and this... this was considerably larger.

Her thoughts returned to Talon, and his unkind trick. She considered how to repay him for nearly embarrassing her before the Captain, and decided, when next they had the chance, she would invite him to a little sparring session. For now, she was content to wait, to plot. Her best hope in retalliation was to find out what matterd most to him, and what his weaknesses were. Mas'Riat understood there would be few, and those hard-pressed for her to find, but she would...

Mas'Riat smiled, contemplating.

The Lyran was going to know her unhappiness. And he would be very sorry indeed.

Stardate: 2374.09.01
USS Charon – Captain’s Ready Room – 1830 hours
Once the flight officer had been separated from them by the hydraulic-powered door Kel gave a slow shake to his head while his lip curled eyes still on Talon. “Have I not given you enough to do, Commander Talon? That you would find time to play cat and mouse with a new crewmember while I’m waiting on intelligence pertaining to our flight paths, ship operations, and plans on just how you’re going to protect my ship from Romulan technicians!? The Cerberus will be here in a few days’ time and my ship is still sitting in drydock under repairs! Get out of my sight, Commander, unless you’ve something productive to report on. MOVE! Before I skin you alive…”
Talon did find amusement with the games he had been playing on Lt Mas’Riat and he could see that the Captain didn’t find them amusing at all. Keeping a straight face as the Lt walked out and during the Captain’s berating of him, the Lyran didn’t take offense at his commanding officer’s tone. He was use to it and expected it most of the time; having fought back to back with the Captain through many battles he knew they shared a kinship unknown between other Humans and Lyrans. Talon respected Captain Gavison and would lay down his life for the man without a thought.

“Yes Sir!” He said giving a proper Lyran salute before turning sharply and leaving the Ready Room.


Stardate: 2374.09.01
USS Charon – Outside Captain’s Ready Room – 1831 hours
Stepping out into the hallway, Talon noticed the Bajoran Lt standing there with an exasperated look on her face he smiled and laughed softly.

“I hope your not angry,” He said to her a grin growing on his face, “it was all in good fun! Consider it an initiation aboard the Charon.” He didn’t wait for a reply but started off down the hallway leaving her to follow him; his long strides would force her to walk quickly to keep up with him.

“Come along, Lt,” Talon said in a Senior Officer to Junior Officer kind of tone, “I have to get you some things so we can get you started on your assignment.”

(OOC: Assuming any responses from her to take place as they walk)

Talon would lead her to the turbolift and address it to the security station; once there he would type into the computer some information and his security code and then hand her a Starfleet communicator badge and a PADD.

“These have been assigned to you,” he began, “if you check the PADD, you will see the Captain has already assigned a briefing time of 1000 hours tomorrow for a report on your suggested course into Dominion space, I will assist you if you require it.” If she looked at the PADD it already had her name, rank listed at the top and the scheduler shown had her reporting to the Captain at 1000 hrs tomorrow morning.

“Might I suggest that you don’t be late for this meeting,” Talon snickered, making a soft hissing sound.