LtJg Lera Michaels - Betazoid Wedding Pictures

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Inside the Ouachita, Deck 2, USS Khitomer, En Route to Alpha Trionus II))

Michaels: All done?

Zerva: A security officers work is never done. ::smiling as he leaned in once more whispering:: Now where were we?

Michaels: You had some thoughts that involved arms wrapped and breathing on my neck as I recall. Perhaps if we resume there, something will come to mind.

He faced her unlike before, his arms on her shoulders. His face so close. She knew that this was it. This time they were going to kiss. The only distraction was the slight twitch of his hand. What was that? Was he that nervous? Was it some nerve ailment?

oO Stop thinking like that, Lera. It is nothing. Just kiss him. Oo

Semara: Hello? Lieutenants? Everything alright?

Ezra pulled back.

oO So close. So close. Oo

Michaels: ::loud sigh. softly to Ezra :: Can't catch a break even if were to land in my lap. :: louder :: We are in here, Lieutenant. The last of the shuttle's power went off and we were preparing to attach it to ship's power. oO Yeah. That is it. Oo

Zerva: ::fumbling his words, raising his voice:: Er, yeah! Uh we were trying to find, um where to er, plug it in ::cringing as the words left his mouth::

Lera winced. Looking for somewhere to plug it in? Really?

They stepped out of the shuttle into the bright shuttle bay where Semara stood waiting for them. Was that a smirk on Semara's face? If there was one person on Khitomer that there was no hiding from, it was Semara. There was little point in even trying.

Lera stood tall as she stepped toward Amelia.

Michaels: I was able to copy the shuttle's logs before the power went out. There is nothing prior to approximately forty years ago. I have not reviewed much beyond the shuttle beign retrieved from the nebula and loaded onto a ship using a tractor beam.

Zerva: ::holding up the tool he found:: I uh, found this tool with Dewitt’s name on it. I’m not sure if it’s Connor’s or Kael’s.

Lera did her best not to smile. Poor Ezra. So little to show for the time he had spent searching.

Semara: 'Fore we dig in.... How's everyone feelin'? I know we all just took on a lot. :: Beat :: And I'd understand if you got questions for me...

Amelia glanced at Lera. Lera smiled in return, well aware that it was not a particularly Vulcan thing to do. She tilted her head and glanced up at Ezra.

Zerva: ::sighing:: As fine as anyone finding out one’s funeral.

Michaels: I am "feeling" fine though I will confess I have spent a non-trivial amount of time going over the problem our guests have presented us. I have a multitude of questions. Some could be interpreted as being of a personal nature. But I do not wish to delay our work here.

Ezra had an odd look on his face as he looked first at her and then at Semara.

Zerva: ::tossing a thumb over his shoulder at the runabout:: We should probably get the power back on?

Michaesl: Indeed. And the exercise may tell us something about the shuttle. Power connections may have changed over the years. On Earth there are several different styles of power connections despite the movement toward standardization. Ezra, please bring that power cable over to the rear of the shuttle. If it has not undergone too many revisions and updates, the external power panel should be :: beat :: and there it is.

It took Lera and Amelia a non-trivial amount of time to pry the panel open. Like so much of Ouachita, it had suffered extensive damage as well. Still the hatch cover had protected the actual port.

Semara: Response

Michaels: Exactly where it should be and exactly the type it should be. Depending on the amount of damage, there is a risk that connecting external power could exaberate the damage. However, there was power before the auxilliary batteries gave out so the risk is minimal. :: turning to Amelia. :: So. The question becomes, do you feel lucky?

Semara: Response.

Michaels: ::nodding:: I will limit the power to low voltage. :: Lera flipped the switches and after a brief pause, plugged in the cable. :: Here we go.

Instantly, the lights inside the Ouachita came back on. Lera nodded.

Michaels: Exactly the response you would expect our Ouachita to make. It appears, Lieutenant, that you are lucky.

Zerva: Well since you brought it up. You asked about our feelings, what about yours? How are you feeling about, ya know?

Semara: Response

Michaels: A daughter who, if my estimate is accurate, will not be born for another fifteen years. And who appears to have a Betazoid father.

Zerva: ::reassuring:: I’m sure it’s not easy.

Semara: Response

Michaels: I wanted to ask you a question or two about Betazoids, in general. Please stop me if I stray into inappropriate areas. I took the course on Federation Species at the Academy. As I am certain you will agree, it would be difficult to cover all that one should know about Vulcans, or Trill, or Betazoids in a 45 minute lecture. In the case of Betazoids, the session was largely disrupted by the young Human males' ... interest... in Betazoid wedding ... practices. And apparel. Or lack there of.

Lera stopped there for a moment and took a breath. Her last conversation with Amelia had not gone well for reasons Lera still did not understand. While Lera did want to know a great deal more about Betazoids and their telepathic abilities, she also wanted to be careful not to offend. There was also Ezra to consider. How would he interpret the interest in Betazoid weddings? Would he see the gambit of using an innocuous topic to start the conversation or would he see it as implying something about their relationship? Would it be so bad if he thought that? Too late to retrieve the words now.

Ouachita's lights flickered and there were sounds that runabouts did not usually make.

Zerva: ::mutters:: Well that’s not good. ::raised voice:: I wonder what caused that?

Michaels: It is not behaviour one usually sees from a runabout. :: standing back from the shuttle for a moment. :: It does appear to have stabilized. Perhaps it was as simple as recharging auxiliary batteries. Still, we should get back to work. Lieutenant. I was about to begin examining the weaponry on the shuttle. I only got a glance but it does seem to be something unusual. Perhaps even exerimental UPSD torpedoes.

Semara/Zerva: Response

Michaels: Unnecessarily Painful Slow Death torpedoes.

Semara/Zerva: Response

Tags/TBC

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LtJg Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2