"Sometimes You Don't Even Need The Tennis Ball To Get Hit"
[Last post: Sabrina's "Assignment"]
=/\=
Stardate: 60314.1640
Setting: EARTH, Starfleet Command, JAG
The JAG office normally settled matters that were more serious.
Things ranging from conduct unbecoming an officer to murder. Things
that required serious thought and maneuvering of the Federation legal system.
However, it could handle more mundane things. Like divorces. And
within hours of what was being whispered as "the tennis incident" Eva
had gotten word that Nolan was granting the divorce.
Eva had filed for a divorce through the JAG office next to Starfleet
Academy for the reason it was simple and she didn't think it would
take too long. True, Nolan was a pain, but he wasn't a bright pain.
She didn't think he could cause her too many problems.
"Yes, Ensign Doratheva," the JAG officer nodded. "Your petition for a
divorce was conceded by your estranged husband and will be granted by
a JAG pending your signature on a few documents."
So the Edo/Betazoid signed the papers and then read the documents, her
joy over winning any kind of logic of doing things in the reverse.
Fairly straight forward – distribution of assets (there were none,
they had been students after all), agreement that this was permanent
(Eva did a small tap dance in her chair when reading that), and of
course, palimony.
The Ensign blinked. Backing up she read that again. Palimony?
Eva was far from perfect and as such she had her share of pride. She
would have rather been tied upside down and naked to a hive of
starving Klingon flesh-stripping larvae with targ being dumped on her
than ask Nolan for anything, including alimony. Seems he didn't have
any such problems.
"Excuse me," Eva called out. "This has to be a mistake."
"The forms are quite clear – this is permanent," the JAG told her.
"If you had any problems you should have brought that up before you
signed the papers."
"But this palimony – you can't be serious," the Ensign argued.
"I am, indeed, quite serious," the Vulcan replied.
"I'm not! I'm not paying him anything!"
"If you don't, Ensign, you'll be thrown into the brig for not
complying with a JAG order," the officer told her. Giving her a look
he said, "You should have thought of contesting the palimony before
signing the papers."
She struggled to hold onto her temper. It was one thing to claim that
a wayward tennis ball was an accident. The thoughts the Ensign had
about using one of her swords in the JAG office now…no that wouldn't
be called an accident, by anyone's stretch of the imagination.
Opening up her eyes she asked, "When do I stop paying palimony?"
"When your ex-husband establishes himself that he no longer needs it
or when he remarries," the officer told her.
And just then Eva realized while she might have one the set against
Nolan, that little maneuver was game, set, and match. He was too lazy
to go for any "big" job that would enable him to earn more than he had
to, and he would enjoy stringing out lovers rather than actually
marrying again. Why marry when your ex-wife could pay for your
affairs?
With a growl, Eva stalked out of the JAG office looking for something to hit.
=/\=
It was late, she had an early morning, but right now this had to be done.
[/\] Eva, my girl, it's about damn time you kicked that lazy no good
husband of yours out,[/\] the loud, and booming voice, said. [/\]
I'm only sorry I wasn't there to help you kick him.[/\]
Eva smiled at the man on the screen, it was her guardian and
godfather, Archie. Well everyone else had called him Captain
McIntyre, or other names too polite to be said in public, but to her
he was simply Archie. He had raised her after both of her parents had
died, and the two had been close. And while he blustered and shouted,
he had a good heart that had a soft spot for the Edo/Betazoid woman.
So it was of no shock he didn't like Nolan. Then again he thought no
one was good enough for his godchild, which was why he didn't allow
her to date while she lived with him. It also probably explained why
she eloped with Nolan in the first place – she was too dumb at the
time to know any better.
Still that was in the past. Only palimony was in her future.
She shrugged her shoulders, not wanting to talk about the palimony.
"I got my assignment."
[/\] And? Don't keep me waiting. [/\]
"I can't tell you all of it. Intel," she explained. Actually up until
that moment she wasn't 100% sure what she was going to do about the
Klingon's offer. Saying it out loud – well suddenly
it all made sense.
And what she implied about Intel, that was somewhat true – Eva knew Intel
assignments weren't discussed with those outside command, even if they were
family. Still she probably could have told him more but simply chose not
to. Archie had retired, but she figured he would have leaned on friends
still in the service to nose about in her life. She adored him, but she had
to go out on her own.
The older man sighed, not happy with the answer. But he was Starfleet
and accepted it nonetheless. [/\] You're going into dark waters there.[/\]
"Someone has to go diving," Eva argued.
[/\] Yes but sharks only swim in the deep. Be careful. I'd hate for you to
have finally gained some sense in losing that dumb lump you married only to
be sucked in by who knows what.[/\]
=/\=
Eva was standing around the Transporter Room wondering what was going
on. First she was told to go to McKINLEY STATION. Then to a ship
that didn't exist on the ship roster. Now to another ship that didn't
exist at all.
Morbidly she began to wonder if she existed.
"Those are some interesting swords you have there," the Commander commented.
The swords he was referring to were the two Edoan swords strapped
across her back in an X format. Long, slim, silver, curved, and very
sharp, they were part of her Edoan martial arts training. As she
frowned over the schematics, wondering about pulse canons that only
fired on the X-axis, she murmured without looking up, "Thank you, Sir."
The Commander decided to test what the Ensign was made of. "They're
not part of regulation."
Great, she'd have to stop reading the schematics, to play verbal
footsie with the Commander. Eva made sure her face looked as blank as
possible, she didn't need to annoy the first Commander she met. Well
not intentionally anyways. Besides she grew up on a starship, she
knew her regulations. Meeting him head on she explained evenly,
"Starfleet regulations allow for cultural symbols that do not detract
from the job at hand to be displayed on a person. Additionally if
these symbols have any practical purpose then in fact it is encouraged
to allow officers to use them. I am half Edoan, these swords are part
of my Edoan martial arts training. Therefore it fits within the scope
of the regulation."
Commander Du'Kim didn't smile but was pleased with the answer. And a
bit concerned – the Ensign was smart but feisty. He wondered if she
was really up for the challenge. Only one way to find out. "They're
not allowed on the NILE – and it is up to Command's discretion whether
or not to allow these things. So Ensign remove the swords from your
person."
Now, Eva got annoyed. He was just doing this to be a pain, she could
feel it coming off of him. Still he outranked her and she would like
to actually serve on a ship before getting kicked off. Taking a step
back, she crossed her arms over her head and whipped out the swords.
Idly she twirled the swords as she moved forward to her bags. She had
two – one duffle bag with clothes and small momentos and another long
slim suitcase for her swords.
The Cardassian had no choice, lest he go to Sickbay, but to step back
if he didn't want to be in the way of the swords. He watched as she
twirled them. With her foot she nudged the suitcase open, somehow
opening up the locks with the tip of her boot, and finally she stopped
twirling the swords long enough to place them in the suitcase. A
glance down showed that she had other swords in there. Once they were
in, she removed the straps across her body and placed that in the
suitcase as well. Finally she nudged the top of the case closed and
once the lock clicked into place she stood up straight.
She'd never taken her eyes off of him, he realized. She did what she
asked, but clearly, without using words, expressed what she thought of
the request.
Yes, the Commander thought, this one was worth watching. He had no
idea which way she'd jump.
=/\= 2005 post #213
Scene: EARTH, Starfleet Academy, Eva's Room
Stardate: 60314.2240
Setting: USS NILE, Transporter Room
Stardate: 60315.0700
Cady O'Brien {cadyob@gmail.com}
Ensign Doratheva
Assistant Chief of Security
USS ANUBIS, NCC-18501
