<USS Avalon> "Meeting the Team"

    Lexie was happily enscounced with a cup of coffee and a load of reports 
when something tingled the edges of her consciousness.  She turned and almost 
fell of her chair.  "You!"

    He'd been in the middle of, "Can I..."  He'd stopped as spoke.  "It can't 
be.  My luck can't be that bad."

    She slipped from the chair and stood, facing him, hands going to her hips, 
stance set as if expecting an attack.  "What are you doing here?"

    "I work here.  Don't tell me.  You're not..."  His sentance trailed away as 
if he was incapable of completing it.

    "The new Forensics Science officer." She nodded.  "Yes, I am."  She pointed 
to the pip on her collar.  "Ensign."  She glanced at his and raised a brow.  
"Warrant Officer?"   She wanted to laugh.  Warrant officer Tivan O'Neal.  Oh 
how the mighty had fallen.  "What happened?"

    "Some female who didn't like rejectiong filed a charge against me.   
StarFleet in its infinite mercy," this said a bit sarcastically, "gave me a 
choice be booted out of Fleet entirely or be demoted to Warrant Officer with a 
chance to work my way back to Ensign.  So here I am."  He shook his head.  "I 
guess that shot goes out the window."

    "Why?  You think I'm incapable of working with you without prejudice?"  It 
was her turn to shake her head, her ponytail swinging from side to side.  "You 
never knew me, that was your problem.  And you don't know how to take no for an 
answer."  She remembered his face when she'd broken his hand.  Shocked.  
Absolutely shocked that a female would turn him down.  She'd bet money there 
was more behind his demotion than he was saying.  She had put off looking at 
personnel files, that had been a mistake.  She'd rectify it as soon as she was 
done with him.

    "Listen, Lexie, I know I made a mistake, but I really want this to work 
out.  Take it easy on me."

    "First of all, until I tell you otherwise, it's Ensign Daros or simply 
Ensign.  Second, as long as you do you job and don't give me attitude, we'll be 
fine."  He'd been a year ahead of her in the Academy.  She hadn't heard what 
had happened to him after graduation.  She wondered if he'd really changed.

    The door opened, postponing any further comment on his part.  Two people 
entered.  Their insignia designated them both as Petty Officers.  One was male, 
tall, dark brown hair, but blue eyes. The other was female, short, red hair 
hanging in a long braid down her back and green eyes.  The rest of the team.

    They saw her and brought themselves close to something resembling attention 
and Lexie smiled.  "Relax.  I'm assuming you're Mabry and Teath?"

    The male spoke up. "Yes, Sir...Ma'm."  He nodded toward his companion.  
"She's Hadria Teath and I'm Drake Mabry."

    "Ensign Lexie Daros."  She held out her hand to each of them in turn.  
"We'll all be working very closely together.  As long as there's no command 
staff around, you can call me Lexie.  Otherwise Ma'am is fine.  Why don't you 
all grab something to drink and let me get a look at your files.  Then we can 
get down to work."

    Tivan arched a brow, but went off with the others.  They headed for the 
replicator and she took the chance to pull up their personnel files.  They were 
all certified in the various areas, but there were specialties attached to 
each.  O'Neal was a biochemist.  Teath was the linguist.  And Mabry a weapons 
expert.  All in all with her own specialties, they made a good team.  She 
didn't delve any deeper for the moment, but tagged them all for further study.

    "Do we meet with your approval?"  Mabry spoke with a twinkle in his eye.  
He held out a fresh cup of coffee.  "I hope you take it black."

    "It'll do," she replied. "Thank you.  She left his question unanswered.  
"I've been going over the reports from the last six months.  I've got a few 
questions, so if everyone will take a seat, we'll get down to it."  They 
gathered on chairs around her and began answering her questions.

    The work was interrupted by a comm.  "Snuffy to Daros. Welcome aboard.  
When you get your affairs together, let's meet."

    She tapped her commbadge. "Daros here.  I have a few hours work and then 
I'd be happy to meet with you, Lieutenant.  I'll see you in your office at 
1500, if that's all right."

    She closed the comm and went back to work.  She wanted to get through the 
reports before lunch.

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