Eva Jaz

♪ Let's get sand in places sand just don't belong.... ♪

Eva propped herself on her elbows, wincing as her head throbbed. This was a headache that could put any Romulan Ale hangover to shame. She reached for the cup of coffee, one of the med tech had graciously refilled for her. Vilanne had tried to convince her that she had done all she could given the circumstances, but part of her refused to believe so. The doctor replayed the last few hours before the rescue in her head. Taking a sip of the hot coffee, she shook her head slightly,she had failed her duty as a physician. The concussion had certainly slowed her down, even incapacitated her in the last hours before the rescue, but decided to have a talk with Vil, concerning the standard medical kit carried for short terms away mission. She shook her head again, it hadn't been the med kit, it hadn't been the injury... she knew that. She had been selfish and panicked when it came down to it. Despite the concussion and blood loss, she should have been able to attend to the 3 others and not focus on Jaz's well being. As difficult as it was to accept, the symbiont was not the first priority, Tang,Mitar and Ian should have been. It would be in her report. She downed the cup of coffee, closing her eyes as the feeling of guilt and failure washed over her, amplifying the migraine.

Happy B-day!

I think most of you know me well enough to know it's definitely the first one :D

So I'm wondering if I'm both a trekkie and twi fan ( I know, I know ) what does that make me ?

I vote for these being part of the official Starfleet academy uniform!

The Beta Shift personnel began to filter into Main Engineering. As always, Tang ran through the activities of the day and tasks to be completed over night. There was still much to do to bring the Manticore back to its original condition, however, with them now under tow back to Maturin Station, there was not much they could do. Tang had skipped lunch today in order to get the work that he had to finish done. He had therefore worked up quite an appetite. However, the thought on replicated food, yet again, did not seem too appetizing. He recalled the offer from Eva, she had extended the invitation for a nice non-replicated meal at her quarters. ‘Now seems as good a time as any’ he thought to himself as he walked into the TL. He wasn’t sure how to handle asking though. He didn’t know whether or not to go directly into sickbay and set something up, or if a simple comm message would do. It was a decision he agonized over all the way to the quarterdeck, before decided to just comm her. He didn’t want to come off as overly formal, and besides, the invitation had already been extended in person. He took a deep breath and tapped his comm badge. “Dalsazashvili to Dr. Jaz.” he said, immediately regretting the use of last names and titles. This was personal, not duty related, he could have come off a little more personal. Hunched over a report, concentrated on the task at hand, Eva almost spilled her coffee when the comm badge chirped. Securing the cup with one hand, she tapped her badge. “Jaz here” she answered. Vakhtang paused for a few seconds, not knowing what to say, he tapped the badge again. “I. . .umm. . .I was wondering if I could take you up on your dinner invitation this evening.” he said. He remembered her invitation and was taking her up on it, Eva smiled to herself. “Of course! Any allergies? Special request?” she asked, already formulating a tasty menu in her head. Tang blinked, actually taking a moment to recall whether or not he had any allergies. “Umm, no. . .no allergies.” He began. “And I’m sure whatever you cook will be fine.” waiting a few seconds, wondering if he should set the time or let her. It was her quarters and her cooking, it was probably best if she set the time. “Just tell me what time you want me over.” Eva peeked at the wall chronometer, purposely ignoring the smiling nurses. “I finish my shift in 10 minutes” The doctor did a quick calculation in her head, adding “ So let’s say 90 minutes? How’s that for you?” “Great!” he replied, maybe coming off a bit to enthusiastic. “I’ll see you then!” “I’ll tell you all about it later” She told the nurses and doctors. She suspected Nurse Nancy to be purposely overly excited, using Jaz’s date with the engineer as a good way to deflect the attention off herself and Commander Precip. Promising them details later was the only way she had found to dodge the gossip monster and head out of sickbay with enough time left to change into something nicer than her uniform and get started on what she hoped would be a memorable meal. *************************************** After managing to break her all time record for taking a sonic shower, taming her wild curls and trying 4 different outfits before settling on a emerald sleeveless dress that managed to revealed the right amount of spotted skin without looking like an Orion girl on the prowl, Eva stood in her quarters glancing at the chronometer. “Mmm let’s see .. Food... “ She said out loud before digging in her closet for her induction plate and a couple pots and pans. She hadn’t cooked in a while but having a Frenchwoman as a mother, she was taught from early childhood the secrets to tasty dishes. Tying an apron over her dress, she headed to the replicator for ingredients. “Let’s see... Escargot, butter, garlic, salmon....” she went on for a while as the machine began replicating what she was asking for. “.. and finally, dark chocolate, strawberries and cream.” Vakhtang hurried through a sonic shower before instinctively grabbing another uniform to throw on. ‘Waitasec’ he thought to himself as he started to put it on. ‘This is an off duty dinner date, not a staff meeting.’ Tossing the uniform back into the closet, he began to sift through his fairly limited stash of civilian clothing to find something to wear. He settled on a fairly casual outfit, something he thought was good for a casual, informal affair. He didn’t want to appear overdressed, nor did he want to appear under-dressed. What he had chosen seemed to be the happy medium. Carrying all her ingredients towards her makeshift cooking station, she glanced once more at the chronometer which told her she had little time left before Vakhtang’s arrival. “Replicated dinner would have been good enough, but no you had to try to show off and now the entire place reeks of garlic” She thought while sauteing the escargots. “Computer, vent this place and play...” she threw her hands in the air “some kind of Earth 18th century classical music” Harvester talked in her medication induced sleep, well more complain than talked, about her colleague playing classical music all the time. “Should have paid attention to the composer” She thought while expertly twisting the end of the papillotes together, sealing the salmon and vegetable together. The door chimed as she finished pouring the Mayan chocolate cake in its mold. She looked around trying to locate her shoes while trying to get rid of the apron. “Come in “ she said, quickly shoving the apron in the closet. Vakhtang entered and spied Eva in the kitchen. “Ahh, Vivaldi.” he said, referencing the music. “Very nice.” “Oh .. that’s what it is” She thought before smiling and nodding . “Just some ambiance music.” She said dismissively, trying to avoid a discussion that would definitely exposed her limited knowledge of Earth classical music history. “Well, its a very nice ambiance.” he assured her, walking over to where he stood, giving her a slight kiss on the cheek, as was the customary greeting where he came from. “How are you this evening?” Eva stood still for a second, taken by surprise by the greeting. Slightly tired, very hungry and definitely grateful for the company.” She said with a smile.”How about you? Not as busy in the ship’s bowels since the jump?” Tang shrugged. “We’re still busy, but things have calmed down considerably. We’re no longer working double shifts, which is good.” he told her. “Those can take the energy right out of you.” “Remember what I do for a living! I know all about double shifts” she replied. He smiled in response. “Yes, yes I know. You up there in sickbay have your hands full with all the goings on here on this ship.” he paused for a moment. “But we can save the talk about work for another time, I think we both have had enough of that for the day.” Eva nodded vigorously in agreement, before walking over to the oven to take a peek at the fish. Vakhtang’s eyes followed Eva to the oven. “It smells nice in here, what have you prepared for us this evening?” “Escargot Provençal, Wild Pacific salmon en papillote and a spicy chocolate cake for dessert Hope you don’t mind me serving you snails?” she said grinning. “I swear it’s nothing like Klingon food!” Tang chuckled. “I don’t mind at all.” he reassured her. “Sea snails are quite a popular dish in Georgia. I’ve never had Escargot before, but I’ve heard it is not that much different.” “I could have eaten them from breakfast growing up if my mother did not stop me.” She continued talking while taking the fish packets out of the oven and expertly putting in the chocolate dessert in, all in one swift move. Tang walked over to the table, his eyes still on Eva. She looked stunning in her sleeveless dress. He suddenly felt underdressed for the occasion and silently cursed himself for not picking out more of a formal outfit. “I probably wouldn’t have gone so far as to eat them for breakfast,” he said, his eyes still fixed on her. ”But if I could have got away with eating them for every lunch and dinner, I wouldn’t have complained.” “Then I guess my somewhat risqué menu was well chosen” Eva said, approaching the table carrying two little escargot plates, careful not to burn herself on the hot metal. Tang stepped to the other side of the table to allow Eva room to set the two plates down. “Can I help you with anything?” he asked, feeling rather embarrassed that he was just standing there while she juggled 5 different tasks at once. Eva shook her head. “Just sit back and enjoy your food. “ She replied, smiling before putting the steaming plate in front of him. Tang looked down at the plate of escargot which now sat on the table. “I intend to.” he replied. Eva made her way to her chair. “ I apologize in advance , but I’ve spent 12 hours running around and as nice as these look . “ removing her high heels. “ they will be the death of me.” Tang chuckled. “No apologies necessary, my dear.” he told her. “We both work on our feet all day. As you can see, I decided to forgo heels for a more comfortable set of footwear.” he said, attempting a joke. ‘Nice one, Vakhtang’ he thought to himself. ‘A comedian you are not.’’ Eva giggled as she took a seat. “Smart choice!” Tang chuckled, letting the silence provide a break from his joke, he looked down again at the spread before him on the table. “After you, doctor.” he said, motioning to the table. “That’s Eva for you Lieutenant!” she corrected Tang, glancing at him for a second, before looking down at her plate. “Stop staring, he’ll think you’re strange or something!” she scolded herself before looking up back up with a little less intensity. “I hope you enjoy.” she told him, picking up her fork Tang picked up his fork as well, taking a bite of the escargot. He looked up at her and smiled. “This is good.” he said, after swallowing. “I think you missed your calling as a chef, my dear.” “Cooking is a hobby. Somehow not as fulfilling as saving lives.” he said lightly. “Point taken.” he said, taking another bite. “Still, if you ever wanted to open a restaurant here on ship to work in after hours. I’m sure I could convince Commander Faldek to let me build it for you.” he said, smiling at her. “I had a bar on Risa once, that was enough restaurateur experience for me Thank you!” she replied in between bites. “Bring up the fact that you’re technically almost 300 years old on a first date! That is a sure way to scare a man off!” she thought before quickly adding “ And I seriously doubt Faldek would let you do anything for me.” Tang had to process her comment for remembering that she was, in fact, a Trill, and had had multiple lives, or at least, her symbiont had. “Well, the chief is a man who would take some convincing, but I’m sure if I worked hard enough, I probably could do so.” he said, talking the final bite of the escargot. The silence hung in the air for a few seconds. “So. . .” he began, before his mind froze. ‘Stop staring at her, idiot. She’ll probably think you’re strange or something.’ his mind raced to complete his thought, but unfortunately, nothing was coming to him. Eva held up a finger before getting up . “Hold that thought..” she asked, reaching across the table to pick up the empty metal plate. She made her way back into the little makeshift kitchen, removing the cake from the oven and placing it on a cooling rack. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, trying in vain to bring some order to her curls before picking up the plates containing the Salmon papillotes. “Here we go.” she said, filling up the silence, as she placed the little paper packet in front of Tang. “ You can just rip it open and eat from the package. Like this.” she added gently tearing the top of her own. Tang ripped the package open, allowing the aroma of the cooked fish to fill his nostrils. He let out a slight sigh of approval before taking his fork and cutting a piece of the fish. “My mother used to cook fish like this.” he told her, motioning to the package. “I believe we call it something else however, I’m not quite sure of the terminology.” he said was a shrug and a smile. “Cooking is not my strong point.” “I do hope my cooking can hold its own next to Mama Dalsazashvili’‘s ” She smiled at him again. “So...” she started trying to avoid an awkward silence but coming up short . “ You were going to say something and I cut you off.” she remembered. Vakhtang cut and took a larger piece of fish into his mouth, attempting to buy himself the time to think of something to say. He was horrible at small talk. He smiled lightly as he chewed his food. He took a few extra seconds to swallow before speaking again. “It was nothing really, I was just going to. . .umm. . .I was going to ask what else, aside from cooking, do you like to do in your spare time.” Eva swallowed the piece of fish she was chewing before answering.”Spare time? Do we work on the same ship?” She put down her fork. “Nothing really..” She finally blurted pathetically. “ I work , work , work and try to sleep.” She mentally strangled herself. “What about you?” she asked trying to keep the conversation going. Tang blinked, wondering if he had touched a nerve there. “I umm. . .I enjoy playing the piano, and that’s about it really. I tried to pick up more hobbies, but I haven’t had too much success.” he said, taking another bite of his fish. “Maybe, umm. . .” he paused, silencing contemplating whether or not to complete his thought. “Maybe you and I could. . .uh. . .maybe we could try and find a hobby.” he said, offering up a smile. ‘I just came off like a flirt, excellent.’ Eva picked her fork back up . “ I would like that” she responded, cutting a piece off her salmon. “A musician then. Lucky you! I have no musical ear what so ever.. she said. “ I would like to hear you play sometimes.” she added. “ Impose yourself on him again .. Impressive Eva!!” Tang’s face lit up. “I would indeed love to play for you. It’s rare that I ever have the chance to play for anyone anymore.” he told her, taking one of his last bites of fish. “I’m always afraid to ask people if they would care to listen. I’m afraid they’d be bored by it.” he told her. “ Well I would be delighted to hear some of your music.” she reassured him . “You said “anymore”.. Did you use to play professionally?” She finished her plate, waiting for the answer. Tang shook his head. “No, I have not, unfortunately.” he said, finishing his plate. “I’ve played for family and friends, and have done a few recitals in an around some of the smaller theatres in my hometown and the surrounding area. But other than that, no. I had the chance to enter into the Conservatory at St. Petersburg, but decided to enter the Academy instead.” he told her. He bit the inner part of his lip, as if to scold himself. ‘No need to blurt out your entire life story on the first date.’’ he reminded himself. She had some clever comment about how beautiful St. Petersburg was but the lip biting made her forget all about it. “I was actually all set to be a professor of xeno-anthropology in Paris before the joining and decided to change career path as well. Proof that you can never fully anticipate too far ahead.“ She blurted. Tang set his fork down on table. “Well,” he began “The choices we’ve made seemed to have worked out well, for the both of us, it appears.” he said, taking a sip of his water. Eva nodded in agreement as she got up again to take plates off the table. She stopped mid way between the kitchen and the table looking in Tang’s direction. “I apologize. I am just horrible at small talk. I really hope you don’t think I’m awkward. “ she said, her spots getting slightly darker as she blushed. Tang let out a chuckle which betrayed his relief. “I’ve been sitting here hoping that you weren’t thinking the same of me.” he reassured her. “Small talk isn’t exactly my specialty either.” The Trill laughed genuinely. “Let me get us some cake and coffee and we can start over.” she said relieved. She winked in his direction, turning around and heading in the kitchen. Tang smiled. “That sounds like a good plan.” he felt his eyes follow her into the kitchen. You’re staring again, idiot.’ he scolded himself before looking away just in time before she turned to face him again. Eva walked back in carrying a french press filled with a special blend coffee she normally didn’t share with anyone and a piece of cake for each of them. She stopped by the table. “Let’s have dessert in the sitting area. It will be less .. Formal.” she proposed before putting down the plates on a small coffee table. “I wasn’t just being polite when I said I would like to hear you play by the way.” she said, taking a seat on the sofa, sitting with one leg folded under her casually. Tang stood up and walked over to the sofa. “Thank you, I appreciate that.” taking a seat right next to her. “Nor was I when I said I’d enjoy to find a hobby the two of us could do.” Eva handed him a piece of cake as he sat down. “I have no objection in spending more time getting to know you in the mean time either“ she said with a smile before bringing a small piece of cake to her lips “Tell me about Georgia. I have been to Russia but never ventured into Georgia. How was life growing up there?” she asked, not over thinking her questions for the first time since he walked in. He took a bite of his cake. “Georgia, at least Batumi, is very beautiful.” he started. “Its right on the Black Sea. It wasn’t too crowded, but big enough and and busy enough where there was always something to do while I was growing up, whether it was playing the piano or swimming in the ocean. I feel very fortunate to have grown up there.” he took another bite of his cake. “What about you?” he asked her. “I’m not too familiar with Trill, how was life growing up there?” Holding her coffee she answered. “Wish I knew, I grew up on Earth actually. My Mother is human. I did not set foot on the Trill homeworld until I was almost in my twenties. Trill is a beautiful place though, and much warmer than Montreal was .” Tang silently cursed himself for making the assumption. “I’ve never been to Montreal, either.” he said, trying to recover. She grinned, think of the best way to describe the metropolis. ”It’s big, busy and beautiful. Except in the winter..” she paused to mark her profound dislike of the seaso. “then everything freezes over, well pretty much like Georgia I guess .” “Actually, we were pretty lucky, it snowed very rarely in Batumi. In the eastern and more Northern parts of Georgia, it was more like Russia, though.” he told her. “I do enjoy the snow though, but I have to admit, it was nice to leave it in the mountains, so to speak.” he smiled. His mind raced on about home, he wondered if he’d ever see it again, if the power that be would allow him on Earth. “I do have a holo program of the old Montreal, if you’d like me to show you around sometimes?” she ventured before burying her nose in her coffee cup. Tang’s mind snapped back towards Eva, “I’d love that,” he told her, the smile returning to his face. “I wish I had a holo program of back home, but unfortunately I do not.” he said, pursing his lips. “However, I’m sure that a tour of your home would be wonderful.” Eva smiled putting her coffee down. “Well, we do get shoreleave sometimes .. .“ she stopped mid sentence, shoving a big piece of cake in her mouth. “STOP TALKING .. Now!!” her brain yelled. She gladly obeyed it, smiling awkwardly with her mouth full. Tang set his now finished plate of cake down on the coffee table. He returned the smile, it was a distant smile, though. His mind racing through what the next few days would bring for him. He wasn’t sure he really want to go through with it. ‘They’re probably going to lock me up in a cage somewhere.’ he thought to himself. “I wonder just how different this universe is from mine.” he blurted out. Eva winced slightly.”I did not mean to make you uncomfortable... “ she started. “ No one can really know though. Hopefully it will be very similar.” trying to keep her tone light. She patted his hand slightly, trying to somehow comfort him. “You didn’t make me uncomfortable at all.” he reassured her. “Its just something that I’ve been thinking about ever since the jump.” he took the final sip of coffee. “Its. . .just. . .” he looked at her, holding his thoughts back. “Look at me, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be unloading my issues on you.” he said, smiling warmly at her. “Especially not after you’ve treated me to such a wonderful evening,” he said, allowing his arm to slip around her shoulder. Eva leaned slightly against him. “Vakhtang, It’ alright with me if you want to talk about it.” She looked up at him. “I’d like to know what you’re thinking.. plus I am trained to listen.” she said gently. Tang took a deep breath. “I just am wondering if I’ll ever get to see my family again.” he said. “There’s two Vakhtang’s out there now, and the other one might just be waiting for us to show up at Maturin Station, which is another issue altogether.” he told her. “But either way, this is -his- universe, not mine. I’m. . .the outsider, for lack of a better term, I guess.” Eva nodded before taking another sip of coffee, wishing there was something she could do or say to make it right. “Well... “ she started, trying to find the right words. “I guess that no matter what happens next, you’ll know soon enough.” she said, knowing full well her words could not change the fact that his assessment of the situation was spot on. Tang nodded, “Indeed.” he said, he voice becoming a little more distant. He let out an audible sigh, instinctively pulling Eva a little closer to him. “I guess,” he paused for a second, trying to gather the words. “I guess whatever happens, I’m going to have to find a place for myself in this universe.” he looked down at her, his arm tracing gently up and down her shoulder. Eva tilted her head back to look at Tang. “In the mean time, You will know where to find me if you need someone to talk to.” she said before letting her head rest on his shoulder. He squeezed her shoulder gently, letting the silence hang in the air momentarily. There was something there, between the two of them, Tang could feel it. “Some how,” he began. “I don’t think I’m going feel alone here.” he ran arm back up her shoulder and through her hair once. Tilting her head once more to face him, Eva smiled . “Not if I can help it.” she answered softly.. Tang gazed into her eyes for a moment, before leaning down and giving her a soft kiss on the lips. “Thank you for inviting me here tonight.” he whispered.

Riker> I should have picked the Beethoven bust. at least it didn't talk!

The light was dimmed in Main Sickbay to let the overnight patients get some rest. The doctor on duty was quietly chatting with the nurses by their office while Eva sat at a desk, a coffee by her side. A small overhead spot provided her with enough light to finish the report on Captain Weyl's death that was expected by Dr Mele. After reviewing that Weyl's prior physical exams results were attached to the report she went on to finish the part concerning the autopsy findings. " The artifact has altered the deceased arm's to a molecular level, becoming part of the subject .... " her own recorded voice said before Eva stopped the playback. Picking up the PADD,she added a few notes, joining some high resolution holo images of the artifact pre fatal jump. " ... Merging with the body, the artifact was able to use the bio-electric current within the subject, as a power supply.." Eva fast forwarded the recording. "Neurocortical monitor reading used to monitor the patient during the jump clearly show an hyperactivity of every region of the brain simultaneously moments before death. ... " She paused for a moment , picking up the PADD. After taking a sip of lukewarm coffee Eva wrote : Neural scans given to the patient between the test jump and the actual jump showed several synaptic lesions. The artifact was then suspected of taping directly into the subject's bio-electric pathways. - See attached file number 3-04. The comparative tests to determine the correlation between the jumps and the effect on Captain Weyl health came to the conclusion that the "longer" the jump , the more damage it would cause on the subject's brain. -See attached file number 4-55 "Correlational Study Results: Weyl’s Quantified Health Matrix Vs. Tesseract Jump energy usage." Submitted by Lt.jg. Dalsazashvili. She paused for a moment before concluding her report : After review of the post mortem exam performed on the patient, it is my professional opinion that Captain Weyl died as a result of the artifact used for the jump . The patient body was already weakened by prior usage of the artifact and the last jump overtaxed the neural pathways, effectively draining all bio electric current from brain and body resulting in a cascade failure of all neural functions almost instantaneously followed by a heart failure. *************** The Trill doctor proof read her report, It was complete and accurate. By all account no wrong doing by the medical or engineering crew was ultimately responsible for what had happened as result of the jump ; it had even been expected by the deceased himself. And yet , as she slipped the report under Mele's office door , Eva still could not shake off the feeling that something fundamentally wrong had taken place .

V'roy .. grown women like Twilight because they're married to guys like you!

"No I'm sorry. Never seen her in my life." That's what the Ferengi trader had said when shown Allaly's photo. Saranni engaged the auto pilot on his small ship. Letting himself sink in the beat up seat. Picking up the PADD he had shown the Ferengi and he lost count of how many others. Jaz ran his fingers on the digital photograph, tracing the contour of his wife's face. She was lying on the bed, her red hair like a fire against the pillow. The most beautiful sight he had ever seen and he was truly still shocked by the fact that she loved him." I love you Sar. You do know that now that we're married. I'll never leave you alone. " She smiled shifting her body side ways to face him. " I'll always be right there next to you. You'll be so tired to see me that you'll take a posting on the most remote dig you can find just to get away from me." Saranni looked at his new bride." Don't even kid about things like that. I'll never want to be away from you." The memory shifted. The same nightmare, living nightmare, fast forwarding 11 years. "You're transport was attacked. You're lucky to still be alive." The doctor said when he woke up. "Allaly?" he asked as soon as he could speak. He repeated the question over and over again until someone finally answered him. " No trace of her. We suspect pirates. I regret to inform you she was probably sold as a slave. We'll keep the file open." The actual words might have been said with more tact but the message stayed the same regardless. Saranni opened his eyes, still starring at the picture. "You had promised me you would never leave me... I love you" he whispered as his eyes filled with tears. * ********************************** Hearing the soft knock on the door, Layben Jaz put down the tray of dirty glasses needing to be recycled into the bar built in replicator. “We’re closed” he said loud enough to be heard through the door, hoping in vain that whoever was behind the door would get the message. He approached the door, opening it “Look buddy, we’ll open again….” He stopped mid sentence recognizing the old man standing there. “I can come back tomorrow son, if you’re too tired to talk to me after I traveled all this way to see you.” Jebel mentally rolled his eyes at the passive aggressive remark. “Come in” he said, opening the door wider for his estranged father to step through. The old man walked in the small bar, looking around. “So, this is your Risan resto bar …” Layben answered patiently “ Yes Father, it is”, ignoring the unmasked disapproval in his parent’s voice. Awon Val, removed his hat, exposing his white thinning hair. “Have a seat, please. I must finish clean up.” Jebel said, turning his back to his dad before retrieving the tray of dirty dishes. He patiently waited for the older man to start talking. He knew an unpleasant topic was about to be brought up. It was one of the reasons why he avoided his father. “I’m taking my retirement next month” chirped Val. Layben dropped the tray on the bar, mumbling some indecipherable answer before rubbing his spotted temples; he knew exactly were this was going .“Son, I want you to come back with me to Trill and take over the company. It’s your family duty!” Jaz closed his eyes. “ We’ve discussed this before…I have not changed my mind.” The old Trill’s face flushed . “I’m offering you the chance of a life time! You’re a grown man, not a rebellious teenager. Who has a life dream of running some watering hole on a beach in Risa!?” Layben dropped the rag he was clutching. The volume and tone now matching his father’s : “ I do! Me! I want nothing to do with your company. With your “legacy” I own this place and I happen to like it! “ Awon’s eyes narrowed. “ Why? Have I really raised a son with no ambitions?” Layben faced his father. “Why? I’ll tell you why! Because I do not want to end up like you!” An accusing finger pointed at the white haired trill. “ I do not want to missed out on my life and loose the ones I love because I was too busy running a successful business.” The old man’s jaw dropped as his son went on . “I do not want to end up alone like you. Happy? I said it! Now get out of my bar, get out of my resort. I have a lovely lady waiting for me at home and I’m already running late.” *********************************************** Eva buried her nose in yet another coffee cup, ignoring the gossiping nurses, knowing full well they had overheard her asking out the Georgian engineer. After a few minute she put down the cup and looked up smugly. They were still stuck in an other universe, she still had patients to check upon and a couple reports to file for Mele, but right now she enjoyed the fact that, once the jump was successful , she'd have a date. That fact made her feel happy and a little less lonely. * Reference to the log "Memory Lane"

“Want a coffee?” Sanya asked, holding a steaming cup in front of her friend. Jebel wrinkled her nose. “ I’d rather drink chemical waste.” Sanya chuckled as she took a seat facing her friend. " As you wish" Jaz looked at her, squinting her wrinkled eyes. “ You sounded like an existentialism crisis about to happen when you contacted me.” Leaning forward she put her hands around the young lady's ones. . “ What can I do for you?” She asked the woman who had been her last initiate. Sanya smiled “ You know me well." She looked Jaz in the eyes before adding "I’m questioning the path I have taken. I must apply by then end of the week if I wish to continue my medical internship at the Kem’alta” The elderly woman shook her head " Sanya , Darling. You do know that I cannot choose a path for you. "I'm only asking for your advice, Docent. Not only were you my mentor and friend. You are still one of Trill most respected reconstructive surgeon." Jaz leaned back " I'm just an old lady Darling, an old lonely lady." "You don't look a day over 50 Jebel." Sanya complimented her. "So, what do you think I should do?" " You should follow what your heart tells you. There is a lot of notoriety for a Kem'alta Medical specialist. Lot of good to be done as well. " Jaz stated. "But please Sanya promise me not to forget about yourself in your quest to help others." She looked at the young trill before adding in a very serious voice " When the laurels have dried up and crumbled , that is when you realize that you stand alone in the world. And that , my darling , is a sad, and scary feeling. **************************** "Next month? Of course, you can count on me! Q'apla" Tenan terminated the communication before heading to the dining room where her fiance was reading a PADD. She snuck up behind him , enthusiastically putting her arms around his neck . "We're going on an all inclusive holiday!!" Wallahn cocked his head to face Jaz. "You won that "Discover Earth" contest?" he asked, his tone excited. Tenan giggled. "No silly, we're going to Qo'noS!" Letting go of his neck, she walked in front of his seat. Jaz smiled before taking a slight bow. " Yours truly has been invited as the guest of honor for the 1st Klingon Culinary Seminar!" Wallahn growled "Qo'noS? You could not have written a book about , I don't know, Betazoid cuisine?" Jaz jumped on his lap." Stop it! Not everyone can go around saying that their significant other is, how did the critic put it again? "Qo'noS favorite foreign author?" "No, indeed." He said defeated. He looked at her with puppy eyes , pleading "Do I *really* have to go?" Feigning being hurt Tenan answered" Of course you do! Putting liveliness back in your plate is getting an award for most innovative Gagh cookbook! It's a big honor you know, and Klingons are all about honor." Knowing exactly how to make him accept, she looked down at her feet before adding in a low voice :" Plus, you know I don't do alone very well." Wallahn knew he had lost the battle. He opened his arms for Jaz to come back. " I warn you though. If I get killed in some Bat'leth duel over you, I'll come back to haunt you!" TO BE CONTINUED.....

On a side note.. I hate mother Nature for giving us a little taste of spring before shoving us right back into frigid winter

Eva stepped through the door of her quarters, rubbing her temples. She took her uniform jacket off, throwing it on a nearby love seat. Running physical and psychological tests on MCPO Harvester to discover the underlying source of her insomnia had taken the better part of her double shift. That and the little time-wasting escapade to main engineering for Lt Commander Faldek's amusement. Standing in front of the mirror of her small bathroom, the doctor shook out her curls, freeing them from the tight fishtail braid she wore on duty. She sighed out loud, looking at the dark shadows under her eyes. She looked positively exhausted, yet her body still felt restless. Removing the rest of her uniform, she stepped into a needed sonic shower. ****************** Eva removed the pillow from her face before sitting right up in her bed. The wall chronometer displayed 2:36, she rubbed her eyes before letting herself fall onto the mattress. She let out a small ironic chuckled as she realized that she wasn't getting much more sleep than the enlisted crewmember she had taken off active duty for that very reason 36 hours earlier. Come to think of it, every single one of Jaz's hosts had suffered bouts of insomnia. All five of them had been focused personalities with obsessive traits. Eva shifted to her side to look at the holowall currently displaying soothing waves. "Computer, play Jaz insomnia mix, volume level 3." She closed her eyes as the ocean sound filled her quarters. ************************************* Keeping her eyes shut as if to will her body to stay asleep, Eva sighed again before throwing her pillow off the bed. She slowly opened one eye, hoping it was morning and that she had slept an entire night. The green numbers of the chronometer seemed to mock her, changing from 3:57 to 3:58. She tossed and turned again. "Computer, stop music." The humming of the engines was now the only sound. Eva starred at the ceiling wondering what was keeping her awake, again. The 3 or 4 extra coffees she had drunk before bed were long gone through her system by now. Sure, just like Harvester, the thought of being somehow in a universe where another Eva had been killed not too long ago was on her mind. The thought was eerie, but it wasn't exactly the thought of the other Manticore being wiped out of existence that kept her awake. She did not like the idea of Jaz's life ending with her. Another Trill should, one day, carry the symbiont and its memories as she did those of Jebel, Saranni, Tenan and Layben. Her essence, who she was, should be preserved for centuries. She knew of a fear lots of beings through out the galaxy had; realizing at some point in life that they were mortal and would probably not be remembered once the ones that they knew passed away. Trills were supposed to be different. She was supposed to be different. Death in itself did not scare her, it was only a new beginning. She remembered dying four times already. Not all of Jaz's hosts' deaths had been pleasant nor peaceful, but they all had known that somehow a part of them would go on. How was one supposed to come to terms with their own...finality? The chronometer alarm resonated in her quarters as she still struggled to find an answer.

Master Chief Petty Officer Harvester is leaving her post, heading for Sickbay, after being ordered to do so by her Chief Engineering officer Lieutenant Commander Beran Faldek. Lieutenant Commander Faldek is watching the Coxeter engineering team move about like busy bees. As soon as he got them working instead of standing around like a cadet review, things started going more smoothly. Besides it's not like he knows how to put that Hexaco drive together anyways, as that one guy said "Let the professionals handle it". Eva Jaz is riding the turbo lift down to Main Engineering, trying to calm down, since ringing the Chief Engineers' scaly neck would not do the crew any good right now. Eva mumbles to herself, "Come and get her yourself? Who does he think he is, really." MCPO Harvester enters a turbo lift opposite the one Eva is using, and tells the computer to take her to Sickbay. Eva exits turbo lift, and while heading to Main engineering is still mumbling to herself. Chief Faldek is busy looking at a screen, then pushes a few buttons, and smiles to himself. "I can't wait to see the look on her face when she realizes I sent the Master Chief to sickbay..." Eva stops the first gold tunic person she sees before asking with somewhat of a forced smile, "Could you please direct me to Chief Faldek ... Please..." Petty Officer Johnson points at the big double doors. "You can find the Chief through there, next to the pool table, ma'am." Eva just nods and heads towards the doors without thanking the young petty officer. Petty Officer Johnson remarks as the officer leaves earshot, "How rude..." Eva approaches Faldek, thinking that right now if she had her ways the little Obsidian Order pain device wouldn't spare him from her wrath. Faldek hears the doors swish open, and turns to look, finding Doctor Jaz. "How may I be of service to you Doctor?" He seems totally oblivious. Master Chief Harvester exits the turbo lift, and heads for sickbay doors, just reaching them. Eva narrows her eyes and moves in closer to Faldek since telling the Chief Engineer how much of an ass he is in front of all his staff would be somewhat unprofessional. "I'm here to get Master Chief Petty Officer Harvester, since, as you put it "we have nothing else to do." MCPO Harvester enters sickbay and spots a Nurse. Nurse B greets MCPO harvester and has her take a seat while she waits for Doctor Jaz to return. Faldek looks at Jaz, slightly puzzled, really putting on a good show, he thinks. "Well Doctor Jaz, as it were, Harvester is no longer on duty. Computer, please locate Master Chief Harvester. The computer promptly replies, "Master Chief Harvester is in sickbay." Faldek looks at Jaz again, after looking up at the invisible speakers, "After our little spat on the comm I decided it was best that I relay the message to her myself." Eva, biting her tongue, "Well it seems that you are not *completely* incompetent, as I first thought." Faldek replies, "If i was incompetent I probably wouldn't be a department head." Eva gives him a wry chuckle, "Just makes it easier to hide your own short comings by hiding behind the work of your crew, as far as I'm concerned. Having recovered her countenance gives Faldek a tweaked version of her, normally reserved for Jaiysa smile. Chief Faldek eggs it on, "Feel free to remove yourself from my department. With a big toothy grin, "Have a nice day." Eva chimes back, "Well if not incompetent at the very least arrogant and not the," looks around, "sharpest tool in main engineering, since you have now managed to really annoy the one person you ask to poke around your brain less than 24 hrs ago." She smiles before cheerfully adding, " Good Day to you!" Eva quickly turns around before he can add anything else and heads out of Main engineering. Beran says slightly louder than normal, "Good riddance to bad rubbish, as the humans say." Eva decides to ignore the comment behind her back, and leaves without another word said.