[G] LtCmdr Rahman: Fortune Favors the Bold (DeVeau)

[Rich]

((Starfleet Academy-Beta Ursae Minor II, 2374))

Shandres: Nice shot, Rahman.

::The young Kriosian plebe took a final, satisfied look at the downed target before putting the phaser rifle down.::

Rahman: Thanks. I don't know if it'll make any difference for you. You might even prefer it switched off, but I figured for some of the other--less combat oriented specialties, the improved aim assist should help.

::The third class Betazoid cadet looked intrigued as he inspected the modified weapon. She crossed her arms and boasted about the rifle's enhanced specifications.::

Rahman: It uses a micro broad-spectrum image scanner based on those used in pattern enhancement theory and is coupled directly to the original targeting system of the rifle to refine calibration by 35%, albeit with a 10% increase in power cell consumption.

::She said that last part with a little less gusto. Ten percent was still a bit higher than she would have liked. She was aiming for at most five, but for now, she hoped the trade off would seem acceptable given that the increased accuracy should translate to fewer shots needed per target.::

Shandres: ::chuckles:: You sure like your numbers... 

::He picked up the rifle and looked down the sights at his own set of targets, standing motionless and spread across the field.::

Shandres: ...but I know only one way to test out a rifle. Computer, begin target program beta.

::At once the targets came to life, whizzing back and forth behind cover. Shandres steadied his aim and deftly switched between each target as he fired. In quick succession, five of the targets had already fallen with only one shot each. Two other targets remained, darting in and out.::

::Waiting just a moment for the first target to peek out again from behind a pillar, Shandres shot it down before spinning around and launching two volleys at the final target. The first volley flew by, but the second one caught the target cleanly in a shower of sparks.::

Computer: Program complete.

::Roshanara just shook her head in disbelief. The man had barely broken a sweat as both of his arms remained gripped on the weapon.::

Rahman: ...wow.

Shandres: ::to himself:: Not bad. Not bad at all.

::He then relaxed his arms and looked back at the engineering cadet with a sly smile that made her feel weak.::

Shandres: You sure you don't want to switch from starship engineering to tactical R&D? You've got the talent for it, and I could talk to Commander Kalashnikov. Put in a good word for you...

Rahman: Thanks, but, uh... ::She chuckled nervously.:: I don't know. It's not really why I joined...

::At that, the other cadet laughed.::

Shandres: Let me guess: see the stars? Strange new worlds and fascinating new cultures?

::The mocking tone with which he said those phrases caught her off guard. She felt slightly offended.::

Rahman: They're not just words to some of us... we're not all going into fields of combat.

::The Betazoid smiled again, but this time, she didn't feel as welcoming towards it.::

Shandres: You really think some Jem'Hadar soldier is going to give a damn that you're holding a toolkit in one hand and a hyperspanner in the other instead of a phaser rifle? Hate to break it to you, Rahman, but they're not all friendly people out there...

::He delivered the words with that typical blunt Betazoid honesty and looked back at her, still grinning. He was clearly enjoying this "debate," much more so than her.::

Shandres: But I suppose that's why people like you need people like me or else we'd all be worshiping the Founders by now.

::Roshanara looked down, then, a bit hurt by how swiftly he had poked fun at her idealism, as if it were no greater a challenge than the targets he had destroyed earlier.::

::"Strange new worlds." "The final frontier." She knew those phrases romanticizing Starfleet's role of exploration and diplomacy had become cliches. And during this time of war, many had started to question them. Yet some part of her--a large part--truly did believe them. After all, what was her life itself but an example of the generosity of the Federation?::

::For his part, the Betazoid seemed to recognize the sting of his words, though it would have been obvious even for one without the privilege of telepathy.::

Shandres: ::softer:: Hey... sorry, I didn't mean it that way, Rahman...

Rahman: No, it's... you're right. I mean, there's a war going on right now after all. ::She gave a sick laugh.:: Probably the worst war in the history of the Federation... and I'm pretending like it'll all be over soon, so I can sail out into the "final frontier." It's... it's selfish is what it is.

::His voice was firm.::

Shandres: No, stop.

::He wrapped a hand around her arm, which surprised her. She normally avoided such contact, but now, she found it comforting, even desired. That surprised her, too. But then again, she had been motivated by more than just an innocent desire to demonstrate phaser enhancements when she had arranged to meet him after lectures, hadn't she?::

Shandres: It isn't selfish at all. It's that hope that things will go back to the way they were--that there will be a tomorrow to look forward to for the dreamers like you out there. That's why we fight.

::She tilted her head up to meet his gaze. He smiled once more, this time remorsefully.::

Shandres: I'm sorry.

::She could see her reflection in his solid black irises. She felt a sudden urge just then to do something also uncharacteristic of her. It was potentially reckless, and if she had given herself even a tenth of the time she had spent working on the phaser rifle to think about it, she probably wouldn't have tried.::

::As he continued to apologize, she leaned in towards him and closed her eyes...::

((Sixteen Years Later))

Pasht-Nos: On your own feet or dragged by your hair: either way, we're going. Now! 

DeVeau: Okay. 

::The woman strained as she got up and nearly fell when she took a step forward. The Orion was growing inpatient.::

Pasht-Nos: Stop stalling!

::She looked up, back towards the catwalk, and Pasht-Nos looked up as well to see the commander still gazing back down at him, with what was certainly the hatred unbecoming of a Starfleet officer. The Orion just laughed.::

Pasht-Nos: He can't help you now. Let's move.

::He pressed the disrupter rifle against her back to prod her along, and she hobbled towards the tunnel he had come from. He looked back down at the other fallen officer. He would have preferred to just let such a pathetic creature resigned to her fate, but he wasn't a fool. Even with the element of surprise and his rifle, he was still outnumbered. As long as he had hostages, he had leverage.::

::He grabbed the unconscious woman and tossed her over his shoulder. Then, he took one final look up at Ross, still looking down at him with a scowl. Pasht-Nos flashed him a final grin before moving on after his other hostage.::

((Tunnels, Nygel II))

::As they continued their walk towards the room that held the Gateway, the ground continued to tremor at regular intervals.::

DeVeau: RESPONSE

Pasht-Nos: Keep moving!

DeVeau: RESPONSE

::The Orion wanted to make sure they reached the Gateway before the other Starfleet officers, but he could tell the injured woman wasn't going to be running away from him anytime soon, and he'd rather not have to carry two hostages.::

Pasht-Nos: Fine.

::He turned around and fired at the rocks above to cause a cave in, blocking the path from which they'd come. He then laid down the other officer he'd been holding next to where the woman had sat down before looking at her again.::

Pasht-Nos: Try anything, and I *will* kill you without hesitation.

DeVeau: RESPONSE

::He then went off ahead to secure the Gateway.::

::When Roshanara finally awoke, the first thing she felt was the soreness from the back of her head. She let out a groan.::

Rahman: ...ow.

DeVeau: RESPONSE

TAG! TBC...

Lt. Commander Roshanara Rahman

Chief Engineer & Second Officer, USS Mercury

and

Captain Pasht-Nos

FTS Treasure Sprite