***Nu'Daq***

Nu'Daq watched as Xenia left the restaurant. He was puzzled at her outburst. Did she think he had been intimate with another woman? With Katja? How did she get that impression? And moreover why did she care? She had broken off their relationship, she had started out by seeing other people - in this case that pakhtag Bashir. And now this?! For a moment his confusion returned......

"What was that all about?". The velvet voice of Okal interrupted his train of thought. Nu'Daq looked at her: "I do not know. That woman is now a mystery to me." Nu'Daq resumed his position at the table.

"But as I said, I need your help. I know I'm not a man, who easily befriends other people, but somehow I regard you as my best friend onboard this station". Nu'Daq saw a slight hint of suprise on Okal's face.

"As you might know, Xenia and I have had a past relationship." Okal nodded slightly, wondering where this was going. Nu'Daq continued. "Ever since I saw Xenia again, I have had trouble adjusting to the fact, that we would work together, and I have let the common past of Xenia and I interfer with my work. But no more! I will not let it go on like that. And therefore I need your help. Can I trust you?"

Okal was even more surprised. She would never have imagined Nu'Daq thinking of her as a friend or even sharing his personal life with her. Somehow she was flattered by the idea. And with slightly shivering hand she answered: "Yes, Nu'Daq. You can trust me."

Nu'Daq felt a relief within him. "Then I need your help to perform the Pu'Lagh, the Rite of Purification. With your help I will purge my soul of any lingering emotions for Xenia, so I will be able to return to my work in full strength."

"The Pu'Lagh?", Okal thought out loud. "Never heard of it".

Nu'Daq smiled at her. How could she know? "It is an ancient and rarely used rite in the Klingon society, where you dissect your soul and remove unwanted parts. Will you do it?"

Okal nodded. "How do I do it? What shall I do? How shall I prepare?"

Nu'Daq stopped smiling and looked at her with a grave face. "You will meet me on the Valjean holodeck in 30 minutes. Bring nothing."

Nu'Daq rose and left the table. --- Half an hour later Okal entered the holodeck of the Valjean. She found Nu'Daq sitting bare-chested in a hot and dry cave. Okal couldn't help but admire the amazingly strong features of Nu'Daq's upper body. A fire was burning in the center of the cave, and several iron bars were glowing from inside the fire. Nu'Daq rose and greeted her. "Welcome to the Firecave. Thanks for coming."

"You're welcome", Okal replied. "Now what's going to happen?"

"I will now sit down and start meditating. I will open the door to my soul, so it can be purged. When I lower my hands to the floor I am ready. That's when you come into the picture." Nu'Daq pulled out a glove from a cave shell. "This is a fire-retardent glove, for your protection. After all you are not a Klingon, your hands wouldn't stand the heat from the red-glowing iron bars", he said with a hint of a smile.

"What am I supposed to do with the iron bars?", Okal asked.

"When I am ready, you will start whispering Xenia's name, her full name. Keep doing that throughout the ceremony. And then you will take the seven iron bars one by one and press them onto my back for 30 seconds each."

Okal opened her eyes wide in astonishment. "Why? I won't do that, I won't hurt you", she said loudly.

Nu'Daq looked at her and angrily said: "You will do that. You promised me."

Okal wasn't sure. She didn't want to hurt Nu'Daq, but then again. He wanted her to. And she was sure, that something had to be done about him and Xenia. Okal didn't understand Klingon society, but perhaps this was the way.

"Okay, Nu'Daq. I will do it."

"Thanks. I will start meditating now."

Nu'Daq sat down with his back to the fire, closed his eyes and out his arms in front of him. Okal could hear him whispering. The heat of the fire was getting to her, she was sweating - or was it the thought of having to brandiron Nu'Daq's back seven times? She slowly pulled the glove on her right hand, while she watched Nu'Daq's arms slowly drop towards the ground.

After what seemed to be a lifetime Nu'Daq's arms touched the ground. Okal started whispering Xenia's name and took one of the iron bars from the fire. It was red-glowing, fumes rose from the end of it, as she moved it towards Nu'Daq's bare back.

"Oh my, what am I doing? I certainly hope this works", she thought to herself. She moved the iron bar closer to Nu'Daq's back.

Suddenly the holodeck doors opened, and someone entered. And when the person came closer, Okal saw who it was. It was Xenia.

*** Jadzia ****

I let myself go limp in a chair, letting the tensions and anxieties of the day dissipate.

After a long chat with Odo regarding the kidnapping of Laizia, I had taken Laizia back to our quarters to rest up. Julian had stopped by briefly, on his way to a dinner or something, to check on Lai and he pronounced her perfectly fit.

"Are we still okay to leave tomorrow?" I had asked anxiously.

"Yes, of course," Julian had replied. "Now, if you don't mind, I have an, um, event to attend."

"Of course."

Laizia was now asleep and I was waiting for Worf to come back. I certainly intended to have a discussion with him regarding recent events. It had been his idea to give all those involved in Laizia's drugging and kidnapping a warning only and I wasn't terribly happy with his decision.

"This is your daughter!" I had yelled at him but he had been insistent.

"This is our crew," he had said. "They did not mean to cause her harm."

This last sentence made me wonder. We had spent many months trying to cull together the Valjean crew and now that our roster was complete, I now began to wonder if we had not made some terrible mistakes in personnel.

I scanned through the roster again, trying to connect names with faces and reputations.

I started with our chief medical officer, Lt. Commander Kaye Xenia Rafko. Bajoran by ancestry but raised on earth. Her service record was exemplary with unenviable position on the desert planet of Riga Prime. Still, there were enough discrepancies and questions there to make me wonder who she really was.

Lt. Ruk Takei was our assistant chief medical officer. I didn't know much about him except that he had served at Wolf 359 and the battle had left him scarred in ways that could not be seen.

I had handpicked our chief science officer, Lt. Emallia Janor, from the nearly fifty applicants. She was young, but advanced for her age in all the fields that mattered to us, including xenobiology and astrophysics. As a footnote, I had seen her glance at Julian Bashir in a way that was a little more friendly.

I did not know much about our chief engineer, Lt. Aleana Lan. She was rather quiet, kept to herself. Hopefully that would change soon.

Our helm officer, Lt. Tenjou Utena, was a bit on the tempermental side. I didn't blame her. Her mother was desperately ill and she had already experienced more than her share of bad experiences at her young age.

Lt. Nu'Daq, our chief of security, had been Worf's choice and now in retrospect, I wondered. This Klingon seemed particularly angry and argumentative. We needed cool heads on this mission and I wasn't sure that Nu'Daq would fit into that particular category.

We needed counsellor or so Worf insisted. I think it was his soft spot for Counsellor Deanna Troi that led him to select Lt. Katja for the position. From what I had seen of Katja, she was very calm, very serene - especially for someone who was half-Klingon, but then I imagine, her Betazoid genes kicked in every now and then.

Ensign Catava Okal was in engineering and of all of the Valjean's officers, she seemed to be particularly well-behaved. Her service record was exemplary and she seemed to work well with others. Her grades at the Academy had been top-notch, and she had come to us very well-recommended.

The remaining members of our main crew, Lt. Jazelle Doran, Lt. jg Kazri Yal and Ensign Mona (Riona) Arsinoe, I did not know much about. Perhaps this was a good thing.

I already knew more than I wanted to about some of the Valjean crew and that knowledge did not particularly fill me with confidence.

I heard some noise and I sat up to check it out. Laizia.

"What are you doing out of bed?" I asked.

She shrugged and came to sit next to me on the sofa. I draped my arm around her shoulder, pulling her close.

"Thank you for telling Odo everything. You did that very well," I told her.

"I told him exactly what happened," she answered proudly.

"Yes, you did."

"Are those people... coming with us?"

I sighed. "Yes, they are, Laizia."

Laizia scrunched up her face, "But will they be nice?"

"I hope so," I said fervently. "I really do."

**** Rafko ****

I was too angry to eat after seeing Nu'Daq with Okal and I did not understand why. Bashir dragged me away.

"What about Emallia?" I asked as we walked down the hall. We had left Lieutenant Janor alone at the table -very rude of us and I was concerned about how that would ook. At the very least, we should have asked her to come with us or should have explained what was going on.

"I'm worried about you," Bashir said. "The way you reacted to Nu'Daq, that's not like you. In all the time I've known you, I've never seen you like that before."

I sighed. I agreed; my reaction had been a little over the top, but I couldn't help it. Feelings that were long dormant were slowly surfacing, even though I tried to push them back down again.

Bashir walked me to my quarters.

"Meet you at the holodeck in an hour?" he asked shyly. "You look like someone who could use some time with Vic."

"Sounds good," I said gratefully. I went into my quarters. It was still a mess but I didn't care. I went through my closet and picked out a red dress I had bought from Garak not too long ago. It was square cut across my chest, with tiny little straps holding it up. The waist was tight but the skirt flared out around my knees; a perfect dress for a night of dancing. I finished off the ensemble with gold earrings, gold bracelet and red shoes, held to my foot with several strategically placed straps.

I swept my dark hair up into a ponytail and clipped it back with a gold barrette. This was my last night to have fun and damn, I was going to look my best. From now on in, it would be nothing but work and tedium.

I arrived at the holodeck exactly on time but Bashir was not there yet. Vic was waiting though.

"Hello, pretty lady," he greeted me. "Your fellow is late."

I blushed in spite of myself, "He's not my fellow... we are just friends."

"I've heard that before," Vic said. He showed me to a table, courteously pulling out a chair for me. "How about a song?"

"That would be nice," I said.

Vic nodded to his orchestra and held the microphone to his mouth.

"When I'm alone I dream of the horizon and words fail; yes, I know there is no light in a room where the sun is absent, if you are not here with me. At the windows show everyone my heart which you set alight; enclose within me the light you encountered on the street."

I shivered. I knew this song.. knew it well and wondered if Vic knew that I did. He had this uncanny way of getting to people. I'd be damned if this was a coincidence.

"Time to say goodbye. I'll go with you to countries I never saw and shared with you, now, yes, I shall experience them. I'll go with you on ships across seas which, I know, no, no, exist no longer; it's time to say goodbye. with you I shall experience them."

My eyes closed. A date with Nu'Daq, my head resting on his shoulder as we swayed to the music. And in the background, this song...

"When you are far away I dream of the horizon and words fail, and, yes, I know that you are with me; you, my moon, are here with me, my sun, you are here with me with me, with me, with me."

Vic was standing very close to me now, his eyes intently on me. I could not look at him; he knew. How did he know? It was impossible... unless Nu'Daq had been here. Had Nu'Daq come and requested this song that was ours?

I could not believe he would do such a thing. He hated me... unless, I was wrong.

"Time to say goodbye. I'll go with you to countries I never saw and shared with you, now, yes, I shall experience them. I'll go with you on ships across seas which, I know, no, no, exist no longer,"

Vic paused briefly and he covered the microphone with his hand and leaned close to my ear.

"It's never too late," he whispered.

"But it is," I replied.

Vic only smiled and resumed singing.

"With you I shall experience them again. I'll go with you on ships across seas which, I know, no, no, exist no longer, with you I shall experience them again. I'll go with you."

And then as Bashir walked in, Vic finished the last line of the song, "You and me."

I was shaking as I got to my feet.

"Sorry I'm late," Bashir said. "I stopped by Jadzia's to see if Laizia was okay."

Sudden guilt grabbed my gut; this wasn't the best way to start a relationship with the Valjean's first officer.

"Is she all right?" I asked.

"Fine. Nothing a little rest can't take care of. Shall we?" Bashir offered me his arm.

In the background, Vic sang very softly, "Time to say good-bye, I'll go with you to countries I never saw and shared with you."

I was shaking now and could not take Bashir's arm.

"I'm sorry, Julian," I said. "I have to go."

"But I just got here," he said bewildered.

"I know and I'm sorry, but there is something I have to know."

I rushed out of the holodeck and pulled out my communicator from a small pocket in my skirt.

"Computer, location of Lieutenant Nu'Daq."

"Lieutenant Nu'Daq is in holodeck two."

I whirled around. What was Nu'Daq doing there?

I walked the three meters to holodeck two and entered. Inside, I saw a familiar scene; the fire caves.

He was there with Okal and she was holding the irons.

It could only mean one thing: the Pu'lagh ceremony. The ridding of a former love from a Klingon's heart.

Okal and Nu'Daq both looked stunned by my appearance.

"Nu'Daq?" I asked softly.

"You must leave!" he yelled.

"No! Not until you tell me what is going on!" I yelled back as I went to him.

"Uh," Okal stood there in confusion. "What do I do with these?"

"Put them down," I put my hands on Nu'Daq's bare shoulders and allowed myself to sink to the ground so that I was looking him almost squarely in the eyes.

"You are interrupting an important ritual," he said, but there was no fire in his words.

"Please," I said. "I have made a terrible mistake."

*** Nu'Daq ***

Nu'Daq heard someone enter the holodeck. It didn't take him long to recognize the person. He could hear it, smell it, feel it. It was Xenia. He turned in surprise and looked at her, breaking his meditative state.

He heard her call his name. He wasn't sure what to do. Once again he was confused.

"You must leave", he said. He wanted it to sound firm and steady, but it didn't.

"No! Not until you tell me what is going on!", Xenia said, as she came towards him.

Okal stood as confused as Nu'Daq. "Uh, what do I do with these?" she asked, the fumes still rising from the hot iron bars she was holding.

"Put them down", Xenia said. Nu'Daq saw how Xenia came to him and kneeled down in front of him. She put her hands on his shoulders, the gentle touch of her skin on his made him warm inside, his blood started to rush. He tried to prevent the inevitable.

"You are interrupting an important ritual," he said, but there was no fire in his words. His eyes met with the gentle eyes of Xenia, the woman he had always loved and always would.

"Please," she said. "I have made a terrible mistake."

Nu'Daq could feel her hands moving onto his back, the fire in his blood started to burn. He was still able to resist his urge to hold her, to feel her body against his.

Without moving, he asked: "What mistake is that?"

The fire in Xenia's eyes was lit, the sparkle was still there. "I should never have left you. I should never have turned away from you. I still love you, I have since the first time we met, and I always will - in this life and beyond. Can we bring back the love that was between us? Do you still love me?"

Nu'Daq could see the doubt in her face. She wasn't sure, if Nu'Daq could be swayed. Had she been too late? Had their relationship passed the point of no return? Nu'Daq looked into her eyes. He leaned towards her and answered her question with a kiss, a long and gentle kiss.

And as they laid themselves down onto the floor of the firecave, they both knew they were meant to be together forever. Nu'Daq looked at her again, looked at her beautiful smile, her deep and warm eyes, her fair face. In that face he could see their common past, happy and full of love. And he could see, that the future promised the same, lots of happiness and love.Xenia was not just another woman, she was the one, his soulmate.

And by looking at her, he knew she felt the same way. Their lips met again in a hot and passionate kiss, and Nu'Daq's hands started to caress Xenia's body, his fingers searching for the straps on her red dress. Okal was still standing there, she could feel the happiness. Xenia and Nu'Daq seemed to have forgotten her presence, and she decided to leave the holodeck quietly, leaving the two lovebirds.

The next morning the crew assembled in front of the Valjean, ready to go onboard and start the mission. Nu'Daq and Xenia showed up as the last ones except for Captain Worf and Commander Dax. And everyone noticed a couple of deep scratches on Xenia's and Nu'Daq's faces, which had been repaired by a dermal regenerator. Xenia seemed to have a slight pain in her ribs, and Nu'Daq's wrist obviously caused him a little pain. But only a few of them knew why. They both went to stand with the rest of the crew outside the airlock, but said nothing.

At that moment Worf and Jadzia exited the turbolift at the end of the hall.

"Captain on deck," Xenia shouted, and everyone saluted. The air was thick of excitement. Finally they would depart on their mission.

*** Emallia Janor ****

"Okay, that was strange." I said to myself as Julian dragged off Rafko. Once again my assumption that her and Nu'Daq had had a fling in the past was only reinforced by this lovely little display. I just sat for a while, trying to decide what to do, when my stomach decided for me, so, taking Julian's advice, I ate, a semi- healthy meal. Afterwards, I returned to my quarters to finish, well, start the packing that I had so skillfully "forgotten" to do till now. Oh well.

Well, that was fun, I thought to myself as Ilooked around the disaster area that used to be called my quarters. I most likely shoulda just had all this junk beamed over to the Valjean, but after that little fiasco at the Academy with an attempt like that, I think not! I stopped and started to make sure that I hadn't left anything behind when my eyes came to lay on Binks.

Binks, I should say, is my truest confidant. Well, of course he is, he's a stuffed, white cartoon dog holdinng a rose. Harry Kim gave him to me before he left on Voyager. I hope he's okay. They've been gone a long time. Oh well.

"So old man, what should we do on our last night of freedom?" I asked him, knowing that I would get no response, but his eyes spoke volumes. "You know, I think you're right. Let's check on Vic's. i feel, 1960-ish tonight."

And with that I put him back on the bed and I headed towards the closet. Feeling daring, I pulled out this little pale yellow number and pulled it on. I decided, for once, to leave my hair down, as much as I might hate it and headed out to Vic's.

The looks I got on the way were very interesting to say the least, a few cat calls from the younger ensigns and some very interesting looks from the rest. I never understood why this dress did this. It was really a modest one. The top went practically to my neck and the bottom ended at my knees. When I walked into Quark's, he warned me that Bashir and Rafko were already in there. I called for confirmation from the computer and found that only Bashir was left in there, so I made my way up there.

"Anyways, so, the man with the monkey said, hey, at least he didn't ask for a banana!" Vic finished.

Julian just kind of looked up at him.

"Hey, it was bad okay pally, but that's still no reason for the silent treatment."

"I'm sorry Vic. I just don't understand what happened." he said as he went back to nursing his drink.

"Hey, as I told Xenia, some times, it's never too late."

And with that he returned to the stage to confer with his fellow band members. Julian looked up at that cryptic remark and his eyes fell on me. He stood up and offered a seat to me, which I accepted.

Come on, who can turn down Julian Bashir?!?!?

"I'm not much for company tonight," he said as he turned back to his drink.

"Well hello to you too. Bad night?" I asked and flagged one of the wait staff down.

"I'm sorry. Hello. Might I add that you are a sight for sore eyes tonight?"

"You most certainly may."

I had come to realise that flirting with Julian was an art. He tried not to be obvious in his attempts, yet, it was still there.

"Well, you do. But, it's been one of those nights." I shifted a litttle closer.

"I'm all ears, if you want. Judging by how things are between the Valjean crew, it's gonna be kinda silent if you're new to the group, like me."

"No, it's nothing. But, you could make me happy by indulging me by telling me who exactly Emallia Janor is. All I know is that she's a very talented officer with a nasty sense of humour."

And with that began the night of story telling. Along the way, Vic started to sing and things just kinda slipped into place. It was wonderful.

"All right, truth or fiction. You were skipped a year," he started.

"Fiction. It was half of a year. Are you really genetically enginered?"

"Yes. When I was six."

"You weren't even given a chance! Do you blame your parents?"

"My father, yes, not my mother. Would you like to dance?"

"Yeah, I think I would." I said as he pulled me to my feet and took me out on to the floor. I could see Vic smiling as he started to sing some old love song. I couldn't place it, but who'd want to? As the night went on, I found myself getting lost in the arms, eyes and heart of Julian Bashir. If I thought I was gone by the end of the holodeck time at Vic's, the good night kiss at my quarters sent me over the deep end. As I lay in bed that night, all I could think of was how was I going to survive on the Valjean without him?

*** Okal ****

I was in the holosuite with Nu'Daq helping him perform the Pu'Lagh ceremony. I really didn't want to place those red-hot iron bars on his bare skin. However, he had made me promise as a friend. For an instant I thought there was just a speck of a chance of something deeper. I wouldn't have gone that route of course. Xenia was one of my closest friends and you just don't lay treachery of one's past on top of friendship.

Nu'Daq was glistening in the light of fire caves. He was shirtless. When his hands touched the floor I started to whisper Xenia's name. Although it was simply repetitive, I had never used her name in the context this situation implied. Still, I was unsure even what that meant. Was I trying to symbolize what they had? Was I bonding the two of them somehow? Or was it the reverse? I really had to study up on my Klingon culture.

Just as I was about to, hesitantly, lay the first bar across the tender flesh of his back, Xenia walked in. I almost dropped the bar. While I regained my composure, I hoped for something a little less hostile than our encounter at the restaurant.

"Nu'Daq?" She asked. The voice quivered like that of a small child.

Nu'Daq looked up but didn't straighten. Which was good or he would have hit the iron bar I still held overhead. "You must leave." His voice was loud, but not commanding.

"No! Not until you tell me what is going on!" She yelled back. She was starting to walk towards us.

"Uh, what do I do with these?" I motioned the hot bar in my hand and those behind me. I may have been wearing a fire-retardant glove, but the heat was starting to sear through.

"Put them down." Xenia told me. I was more than willing to oblige. I went to the fire pit and replaced the iron bar, taking as much time to do it as possible. I poked at the coals and shuffled the other bars around. I would say I couldn't have procrastinated any more than a couple of minutes. I turned around and Nu'Daq Xenia were almost in the throes of passion.

'This is my cue to exit.' I thought to myself. Carefully and noiselessly stepping around them I left Holosuite 2. I stood outside the doors for a minute. I heard music from Vic's and decided to venture in for a peek. He was finishing up a robust love song. There were smiles and laughter, and sultry eyes that asked for more.

Vic placed his microphone in the stand and catching a glimpse of me, gestured to his band and came to greet me. I went to shake his hand, only realizing I hadn't discarded my glove yet.

"Hi there sweetness! How's it goin'?" he asked me.

"Good I guess." I really didn't know how I was feeling. I caught a glimpse of Emalia and Julian dancing up a storm. I think her eyes said the most.

"Hey now, why don't we have a seat?" He pulled me out a chair and offered it to me. I accepted. "Would you like a drink?"

"I could really go for a martini... with two olives."

He looked at me, almost sullen. "Sorry sweetie, we're all out of olives. The market I usually get them from went under last week and I just can't get a supplier like Lenny. How about a Gibson, and I throw in all the onions you'd like."

"Sure," I waved my hand in approval. A waiter came over, he whispered in his ear and off he went. I was staring at Emalia and Julian. He looked in their direction with me.

"Love certainly is in the air tonight," he smiled.

"Hmmm," I agreed. "I just got back from Holosuite 2."

"Ah, the good doctor and the burly fellow?"

I grinned. I had never really thought of Nu'Daq as burly. It was almost funny. "Yeah."

He smiled a satisfied smile. I just kept staring at the couple on the dance floor.

"You know, it ain't so bad."

"What?" I asked. I really didn't know what he was talking about.

"Livin' the single life. Look at me. I got guys who wanna be like me and dames who wanna be by my side. I got the whole pot to choose from. And out of that whole pot, I'll know when the time comes to stop because I've found the right girl. Just like all your friends here. I don't know how I'll know but I do know that I will. The same will happen for you. Maybe sooner than you think."

My drink arrived. I downed half of it at once. "What do you mean?"

"Well, it could be years from now, or your special somebody could be right under your nose. Just enjoy the life you have. Like the person you are. Enjoy the way people see you. Listen, I got another set to do. Will you stay?"

After his last remark about people seeing me, I looked at myself. I was sweaty from being in the other holosuite and my hair was slightly mussed. "I better not Vic. I have a couple of things to do before we leave."

"Will do. Then I'll see you when you get back then?"

I finished my drink. "You can count on it friend." I kissed him on the cheek and grabbed the toothpick speared onion from my drink and popped it in my mouth and crunched on it on my way out. Perhaps people watched me as I left Quarks or not, but I certainly did feel better about being single.

When I arrived at my quarters I had another sonic shower and dressed for the evening. I had to put all of my uniforms in the replicator anyway and the maintenance should have been done by now. As it was I replicated some clean uniforms and packed two in a duffle bag and set one aside for tomorrow. I packed a few trinkets. We were only allowed one standard sized Federation duffle bag as luggage so any and all packing was certainly limited. I was sure to take a few toiletries. I can't stand Federation issue overnight tooth cleansing gel. I packed a picture of my parents, Lamaara & Ranin Okal. I packed one casual outfit of sports pants and shirt. I also packed a long Tholian silk nightgown with a slit on the side from here to the Delta quadrant. It had been a gift from Taite. He had been in my command ethics class. He was probably working his way up the ranks by now. I sighed. I folded it carefully and put in the duffle bag.

I went to the replicator, asked for a glass of water and went to bed.

The next morning I felt refreshed. I was awake before the computer could drag me from a restful sleep and I was one of the first to await the captain et al at the docking ring. Lt. Katja was already there. She stepped in beside me against the wall.

"Why the smile?" she asked. Being a counselor is a day long job.

I looked at her and smiled wider.

"Life is good."

We chatted amongst ourselves as the rest of the crew started to gather. Finally, meandering their way down the hallway with schoolkid grins were Xenia and Nu'Daq. Nu'Daq didn't put any pressure on his wrist and you could see on their faces where there had been lesions. I caught Xenia's glance. She just smiled at me. I smiled back. I didn't have much of a chance to talk with her before we boarded. I excused myself from Katja to make my way over to her. Just as I got there, my commbadge beeped. Xenia looked up.

"Quark to Ensign Okal."

"Okal here." I was perplexed.

"You have a delivery here."

"I don't have time to pick it up Quark, I'm gettig ready to leave on the Valjean. Can you beam it directly to crew quarters Alpha 19?"

"That will be an extra 2 slips of latinum."

"I'll pay when we return."

"Plus interest," he added.

"Fine Quark. Do you know who it's from?"

"Sorry, there's no name attached. Listen I have to go. There's a couple of Klingons getting a little too lucky at the Dabo tables. Quark out."

Just as I was going to ask Xenia about this new plot twist in her life, our commanding officers with their little daughter came out of the turbolift.

"Captain on deck!" Xenia shouted, and everyone saluted.

Laizia hid behind her mother's legs from the time the exited the lift until the time they embarked on the ship. The three of us who had kidnapped her stood together. What a trauma. Commander Dax looked our trio over with no emotion on her face and said nothing. She turned and protectively guided her daughter to the ship.

"That went well..." I mumbled to Xenia. We were going to share a three bed compartment.

She nodded. We still had yet to find out who our other room-mate was. I wanted to find out what my parcel was before we left as well. We had 15 minutes to deposit our things in our quarters and be back at our posts. Just enough time.

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