<USS Avalon> =/\= A Chance Meeting =/\=

=/\= A Chance Meeting =/\=

Kaera stood by the low stone wall, staring out over the vast expanse of color 
and shadow.  The whole time she'd lived on Earth, she'd meant to come here, 
but had never managed to find the time.  When she'd been ordered to leave the 
ship for this shore leave, she'd known it was finally time to visit Earth's 
North American Grand Canyon.

She walked along the path, away from the lodge, her eyes glued to the 
majestic scenario.  No wonder they called it Grand.  It seemed as eternal as 
space.  
Hard to believe it was the product of a stream of water, the river she could 
glimpse far below as it twisted and turned between the steep rocky walls.

"First time you've been here?"  The voice behind her was deep and smooth, 
with a rich accent Kaera didn't recognize.

"Yes."  She turned to see who was following her.  He was quite tall, and she 
had to tilt her head to look up into his face.  Not Terran -- or not entirely, 
anyway -- though it was hard to tell what he was.  Distinctly humanoid, 
though, with skin the color of well-creamed coffee, and hair like Earth's 
moonlight, streaming past his muscled shoulders.  "I've been meaning to visit 
here for 
several years," she explained lamely, "but never had time when I was a 
student."

"Would you care for a guided tour of this part of the Rim?" he inquired.  
"I'm Cam; I work at the Lodge."

"Kaera," she responded, offering her hand in the Terran fashion.  "I'm an 
Information Specialist -- a ship's librarian, mainly."  As he took her hand 
(his 
handshake was firm but undeniably sensuous), a thought occurred to her.  "Are 
you a paid escort?" she blurted.

Cam laughed.  "Maybe I should be one; you're not the first person who's asked 
me that," he replied, still chuckling.  "But no; I'm an instructor in yoga 
and several martial arts from various worlds.  Although," he added in a voice 
as 
soft as velvet, "I will be happy to escort you while you're here, Kaera -- 
free of charge."

She knew then that he found her attractive.  That wasn't too surprising; she 
knew she was pretty by most humanoid races' standards.  Since she had entered 
the refugee camp after the war, she'd downplayed her looks, wearing few 
cosmetics and styling her hair severely.  It helped to distance her emotions 
from 
that difficult time of hunger and privation, when she'd done anything she could 
to survive, to have a few morsels to eat.  And as she watched Cam's face, she 
realized that he was sensitive to her feelings, whether it was through body 
language or whether he was a true empath.  And she suddenly wanted to find out 
which it was.  At least he didn't seem to have a problem with her being 
Cardassian!

"Thank you," she said, her own voice quiet.  "I'd love to have your company, 
Cam.  Thank you very much."  And she took his offered arm to walk along the 
Rim path.

(to be continued if the writer doesn't get bogged down with OT at work!)

Other related posts: