Captain Roshanara Rahman: Tempt the Tiger

[r.rahman]

((Ready Room, USS Veritas))

Rahman: ...evidently, you have friends in high places on Donova because the chief prosecutor's office is not moving forward with the case.

Ukinix: ::furrowed eyebrows, looking down, blinking:: Really?

The captain returned a simple shrug. It was a surprise to her as well.

Rahman: ...on the condition that the animal is returned.

Ukinix's hopefulness turned back to dismay. He rolled his eyes with a sigh before he brought his head to his fingertips, looking down at the deck.

Ukinix: Crap.  Well at least the authorities on Earth know about him now. 

Rahman: I have a feeling Mr. George might not feel so keen about performing for us after all... 

Ukinix: ::Still looking down at floor:: Fine with me. 

She looked over at the stuffed animal Ketaran panda she'd gotten from Chicchoni's park. It was sitting temporarily on the end of the desk. She knew not everyone approved. 

Ukinix: That’s cute.  Where’d you get that? 

Rahman: Picked it up from Ms. Chicchoni's animal sanctuary. ::She looked back at Wil.:: Heard of her? 

Ukinix: ::Looking at toy:: She was the one on the protestor’s t-shirts.  Celebrity vet, right? 

Rahman: ::chuckles:: She'd probably pat you on the back for what you did actually. She seems to have a serious vendetta against Mr. George. Gave us a whole list of his supposed illegal inventory to investigate. 

A renewed vigor took over her chief engineer as he looked over at her and smiled. 

Ukinix: Oh really?  Can I have a look?

Rahman: Oh? Want to steal a few more animals, is that it?

She shook her head in mock disappointment.

Rahman: You know most criminals get caught because they can't resist quitting while they're ahead...

Ukinix: ::Bright tone:: Captain, I understand that being a Starfleet Captain can be stressful.  Have you had some sunshine recently?  Fresh sea air?  You know, a walk in nature to get away from it all?

She furrowed her brow, smirking.

//Rahman: When Mister Teller was aboard, it was easy to forget that Commander Ukinix actually had his own hand in a lot of their dastardly deeds.

The captain's eyes narrowed as she stared back into the camera.

Rahman: Yes, I need to keep a closer eye on this one.//

The Kriosian starship captain crossed her arms.

Rahman: What are you getting at?

Ukinix: ::Cheeky smile:: Got 5 minutes?

((“Thomson Bay, Rottnest Island”, Holodeck 2, USS Veritas – A few minutes later))

They arrived on the holodeck to find a recreation of an island off Australia's western coast. In the distance, the skyline of Perth could be seen across the blue water of the Indian Ocean. It didn't look like Del's family home, but it was beautiful all the same. As Roshanara and Ukinix stepped further into the island, the animal he had liberated took a few steps of its own towards them, standing on his hind legs.

//Rahman: Australia has by far the most ridiculous looking animals in the galaxy. ...and I've been to Alfa 177.//

Ukinix bent down to greet the quokka.

Ukinix: Hey, mate!  You doin’ OK?

The small marsupial grabbed a couple of leaves and offered them to Roshanara.

Ukinix: ::gesturing with chin towards Quokka:: Go on, Captain.

//Rahman: :-| //

Rahman: ...thanks.

The creature went back to finding some more food on the simulated island. A gentle breeze brushed through the various trees.

Ukinix: The computer ran a health scan from limited data in the Starfleet database, it suggested he needs rehab.  He’s not in the best shape.

Rahman: Well as pleasant as this recreation is... ::She looked around the surroundings.:: ...it's no substitute for a proper animal hospital.

The captain looked back at Wil, tilting her head towards one shoulder.

Rahman: Like it or not, George may have the best care for him.

Ukinix: Yeah, but we didn’t say *when* we’d return him.  How about if we get Ms Chickaroni up here to check on him before we send him back?  It couldn’t hurt to have a vet to look at him, right?

Rahman: Chicchoni.

Ukinix: “Chicchoni.”

Rahman: ...and I suppose. Fine. But keep your cards close to your chest, Wil. I don't know what it is exactly, but something tells me she may not be the saint she tries to portray herself as...

Ukinix: Response

The captain turned her palms upward.

Rahman: I looked into her own background. Despite her frustration at George's shows, she evidently is a bit of a celebrity in her own right here on Donova. Has quite the devoted following.

Ukinix: Response

Rahman: What I'm saying is that I think we've found ourselves in the middle of a B-level celebrity feud.

Ukinix: Response

Rahman: Anyhoo, go ahead and reach out to her and see what she thinks of... our guest. Let me know what she says.

Ukinix: Response

The captain looked back over at "Wally," who was now a little farther away. At least the animal seemed happy.

Rahman: And Wil?

Ukinix: Response

Rahman: Don't get too attached. That's an order.

Ukinix: Response

//Rahman: I've not been privy to all of Mr. Ukinix's dalliances, but from what I have seen, he has a type... assertive, independently-minded to a frustrating degree, a hint of danger to his personal well-being... ::shrugs:: ...tall.

She snickered.

Rahman: She's going to eat him for lunch if he's not careful.//

The captain raised an eyebrow with a serious look.

Rahman: Either.

(OOC: Ending the scene here, assuming they take a few more minutes to relax in the holodeck with Wally offscreen)

TBC...

Captain Roshanara Rahman

Commanding Officer, USS Veritas

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