<USS Avalon> Uncertain Lady (JP)

"Uncertain Lady"
by
Ens. Talea Erridim (Ops, /USS Avalon/-C)
Bobby Woodward (Bartender, /USS Avalon/-C)
(also starring Geisha, co-starring Monad and Hap)

Talea wandered the corridors for a while, her thoughts troubled. There
was still no hint of her abilities returning, despite what? Three visits
to Sickbay? She wasn't happy, but she was trying to keep her unhappiness
from showing. She'd not heard from Walker yet, either, and that
depressed her.

She turned the corner, entered the lounge and sat as far away from the
bar as it was possible to be and still be in the room. The scents of
alcohol and synthehol were both bothering her, but less so than her
thoughts, so she sat there, not bothering anyone and, truth be told, not
wanting to be bothered. She was dressed, as was her wont when off-duty,
in RSDF battle-dress uniform, less her name, rank and honors strips. The
space-black of the fabric and matte finish to the boots and belt just
let her fade into the semi-darkness that far back from the bar. Or so
she hoped.

A surprisingly short time passed before the bartender, a balding human
male who appeared to be in early middle age, approached her, a cheerful
smile on his face. "Evening, miss," he said. "Can I get you anything, or
do you need to look at a menu?"

Startled, Talea gasped, then flinched away before she could control the
reaction. Trembling, she said quietly, "Forgive me for that. I see I've
a bigger battle than I expected." She then asked, "You wouldn't happen
to serve non-alcoholic beverages in here, would you? I'm afraid alcohol
or synthehol either one would have a rather, erm, unfortunate effect on me."

"Not a problem," he said, still smiling. "I have plenty of non-alcoholic
stuff on hand. Do you need to avoid caffeine, as well? I'm sorry, but I
can't quite remember how it affects your people."

She nodded. "Yes. Unfortunately, even caffeine acts as a sedative,
although, thankfully, not as badly. That's one reason traders dealing
with Regelis have more success with caffeinated beverages than alcohol."
She grinned. "Not that we don't permit those who can drink alcohol to do
so, as long as they don't mind getting caught if they break the law."

He nodded. "I almost never dealt in foodstuffs -- that has come since I
gave up the merchant marine and got into this business. Let me see . .
." He nibbled at his lower lip for a moment, thinking. "Ginger beer, or
perhaps a vanilla egg cream? I have some really, really good vanilla
syrup on hand."

Talea had to smile at this man's attempt to help. "I believe I will
attempt this ginger beer." She looked down, suddenly feeling fear and
uncertainty. "I just hope it doesn't somehow make me intoxicated. That
would be, at best, embarrassing. And for both of us, at that."

The bartender grinned. "Not to worry. I once knocked back several with a
Regellian merchant I was negotiating with. Didn't seem to dull his
faculties in the least. I'll get that out to you." He set a PADD on the
table in front of her. It looked similar to the ones she worked with
while on duty, except this one was brightly colored. "That has the grill
menu, as well as controls for the trivia board and other games, if you
care to try them out. You can also use it to page me if you need anything."

She nodded. "Thank you." She took the PADD and began scanning the
selections. Finally, she made a pair of selections, one an entree and
the other an appetizer, sending them off with a trio of commands from
the PADD. She knew the gentleman was the bartender, so busy. She
wondered what she needed to do to distract herself from her current
situation, actually.

That was when she noticed the rather quaint, to her people, exocomps.
She knew full well they were sentient; her people's general usage of
them had ceased centuries before, but she knew of several of the type
who were still around and surprisingly useful. She briefly wondered how
to attract the attention of one of the units, for the fact was that she
was achingly lonely.

A minute or two later, one of them came up to her table, floating on a
hoverplate, carrying a large mug of a pale amber carbonated drink. It
set it down in front of her, and paused, bobbing slightly in the air
just below her eye level.

Talea chuckled to herself before addressing it in a somewhat amused
tone. "Thank you, Geisha. If you three weren't so busy," she gestured to
the rest of the lounge's customers, "I'd ask for one of you to stay
around and chat for a bit." She smiled slightly, but sadness covered her
like a cloak. "Unfortunately, that's not an option at the present. Let
the bartender know that I'd like to have one of his house-special
grilled-chicken sandwiches, though. Hold the mayo, use deli mustard
instead, please." She took an experimental sip of this new beverage.
"This is actually quite good. Thank your boss for me, please."

The little machine chirped once then zipped off, returning a scant
minute later and settling on the small table. It pulled a small display
unit out of a compartment in its body, attached it to its front, and
chirped again. A message scrolled across the display.
Bobby got your order from the PADD. On its way soon. I'd be happy to chat!

Talea chuckled despite herself. "I once knew several exocomps, but
they've been out of service for so long that they are concerned for
their safety, past things like counseling and the like. Curiously,
they're pretty good at counseling." She smiled. "Just like the original
ELIZA program garnered some interesting results, although it wasn't at
all close to a true AI." She tilted her head slightly, then admitted, "I
can hear and understand most of the tones you use. Regellian hearing is
both more sensitive and capable of wider frequency range than Human. Bet
even the Chief Engineer finds it difficult to speak to a machine. Me? No
such problem, since my people have had sentient machines alongside them
for centuries now. Some of them are actually more intelligent than our
brightest geniuses, and that is saying quite a lot. On the other hand,
I'm saying quite a lot, aren't I?" She chuckled, amused at herself now.

Geisha tucked the display unit away. "You are only the third person I
know who understands us. The Chief Engineer here can't understand how we
even exist. I'm going to explain it to her later."

Talea nodded. "She will be in for a surprise. Ever wonder how I knew
your name without asking the barkeeper?" She tapped gently on the
exocomp's hull where GSH-309 was painted. "Not many names can be made
from those three letters, so it was pretty apparent what your name
likely was." She suddenly looked up, looking both angry and hurt. "I see
that even exocomps are prone to gossip." Her tone was grim. "I will find
out where they heard the rumor that I was an ice princess and /squelch/
the rumor once and for all." She was visibly attempting to control her
outrage now. If even the machines were spreading the rumor, it would be
even more difficult to overcome the ensign's prejudice than she'd expected.

"What are you talking about?" Geisha asked, with tones that were louder
than any she had used before. "What rumor?"

Talea frowned heavily. "Something started the day I was rescued by one
of the Engineering techs. He called me an ice-princess, and didn't mean
it as mere observation. At the time, I was extremely pale, even by
Terran standards, but," she swallowed, "the pain I was in during
stasis-revival would have done that to anyone."

"I have seen people in stasis. You are right. But I knew nothing of this
before you spoke of it right now. Why do you think I did, and accuse me
of gossip?"

Talea paled. "No! I, however, heard other electronic communication, such
as your type use, and they were indeed discussing me in that way. I
apologize if it seemed I was accusing you, Geisha."

"Excuse me. I'll go get Hap and Monad. We will settle this." Geisha
zipped off, even faster than before. She returned with two other little
machines, one floating on a hoverplate like her own, the other which had
replaced this with a set of six long, spider-like legs.

"Monad," said the one with the hoverplate. "What's your name?"

"Hap," said the long-legged one as it climbed into the empty chair
opposite Talea's. "So you're the one they gave the mean name to?"

Talea blushed, but the fact she had silver blood did something
interesting. Instead of her skin reddening, it darkened to nearly black.
"My name's Talea. Talea Erridim, and yes, I'm the one that's been stuck
with the nickname. The man who did it, and later attacked me, is
currently in the Brig, too."

She shivered. "It just seems so hateful to me, to pin such a title on
someone. Especially, as in his case, someone he had no knowledge of
prior to first seeing." She dropped her gaze to her drink, struggling to
control herself now. In a bare whisper, she admitted, "I thought you two
were spreading the rumor, not discussing how to help me." She blinked
back tears, but one tracked down her face anyway. "Jumping to
conclusions is usually a quick way to get hurt even more." Her tone and
body language now clearly showed she was approaching depression, when
the whole reason to visit this place, converse with others, was to avoid
that.

"Hey, don't cry," Hap said. "I don't think there are many other people
calling you that. We heard someone talking about the person who first
said it, the one who is being punished."

Talea asked, "And?"

"He's been mean before," Monad added.

"And we're your friends," Geisha put in. "Anyone who understands us is
our friend."

Talea smiled slightly. "I am honored that you deem this unworthy one a
friend. To be honest, as we Regellians almost always are, I learned your
language more out of boredom than necessity; at the time, I was
recovering in hospital from a combination of an accident and an overly
severe punishment." She took an incautiously large swallow of the ginger
beer, and some of it went down the wrong way, while the ginger set her
throat on fire. Her hazel eyes widened as she attempted to prevent any
further expression of her pain while also trying to clear her airway
without spraying those around her table.

"Whoa, you okay?" The voice was that of the bartender, who was
approaching with her food. He set it down quickly, and looked at her
with concern in his eyes. "Need a hand, miss?"

Talea nodded, trying to convey that she did need help, but suspected the
man would turn away. Panicked, she covered her mouth and nose as deep,
hard coughing doubled her over, but it cleared the fluid out of her
upper airway, and she leaned back with her eyes closed, exhausted and
breathing hard.

"What can I do to help?" the bartender asked. "Looks like you've gotten
the worst of it, at least. I was just about to try slapping you on the
back, but that might have made things worse, eh?"

Talea nodded. "When one is still able to breathe, as I was, there is
really nothing someone can do to help. I did discover something a little
disturbing, though. The ginger. Is it supposed to burn your throat?"

"The stronger stuff can, although it's not supposed to be unpleasant. I
can get you something else, if you like."

She smiled slightly, the smile actually reaching her hazel eyes this
time, lightening them. "What sorts of tea do you have? I must be
careful, of course; certain Terran teas would have a rather difficult
effect on me, which I assure you I do not wish to experience." She
explained, albeit a little reluctantly, "At least one would have an
effect similar to an aphrodisiac. The Regellian form of the same tea has
the same effect on Humans. It can prove quite difficult."

He flashed a quick, wry grin in sympathy, then nibbled his lip again as
he thought. "Quite a few varieties and flavors of the traditional,
though they do have caffeine; you might be able to deal with the white
tea -- very minimal caffeine in that; chamomile; a nice mint blend which
is good hot or iced . . ."

Talea started chuckling as he mentioned chamomile. "As it happens,
chamomile is the Regellian analogue to caffeine. Strange as that sounds.
But yes, white and decaffeinated green tea are especially good. Ever
tried chocolate hazelnut tea?"

"Actually, yes. Very nice! I like mine with just a bit of sugar.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of the real stuff, though we can always
try the replicators. Closest I have to the real stuff is some
decaffeinated black tea with chocolate."

She smiled. "That sounds good, actually. Pity chocolate-hazelnut and
plain chocolate tea are both considered dessert teas. Both are even
better with a light touch of mint as well."

"I can make some up for you easily enough."

She nodded. "Do that, please? Orange pekoe for the meal, lightly iced
and sweetened," she gestured to the plate, which contained her
grilled-chicken sandwich and a pair of side dishes, "then hot
chocolate-mint tea for dessert course; dealer's choice on the dessert."
She risked much with this, she knew, but cultivating non-Regellian
friends would, she sensed, be wise.

"You got it. Name's Woodward, by the way, Bobby Woodward. You can call
me Bobby. Back in a minute." He turned and headed back toward the bar.

"He's nice," Geisha said. "He takes good care of us, and we try to do
the same for him."

Talea looked at the rapidly-retreating man, then, her curiosity
overwhelming her caution, asked, "How did you three first encounter him?"
"He hired us to help take care of his ship -- we helped keep everything
running smoothly," Monad said.

"And we got to see the galaxy," Hap said.

Talea smiled. "I expect your father was a little concerned to let three
of his children go like that, though." By "father", she meant their
inventor, but she wasn't sure they'd understand it in that context. She
took a bite of the sandwich and smiled brilliantly. "Wonderful! Someone
truly knows how to do these!"

"We all got pretty good grades in Kyoto," Geisha said. "Bobby's were
best though. He can taste -- we can't, so much."

"And yes, she was," Monad said. "Not many of us leave."

"And it was four then," Hap added. The three comps joined in a single
low, mournful-sounding whistle at this.

Talea was saddened that they had lost a sister . . . or brother, but
struggled against asking how it had happened. She knew the story of the
original Triad of exocomps, how they'd sacrificed themselves to save the
station and the /Enterprise/ . . . so didn't want to hurt them by asking
what, in reality, was truly none of her business. "Regellian exocomps
look different, but share a lot of the same characteristics; I suppose
it's because they were also developed to work in hazardous areas and
close areas that adult humanoids could never get into properly and
actually do work."

"That would make sense," Hap said.

"We've never met a Regellian exocomp," Geisha said. "That would be fun."

Talea smiled. "Unfortunately, the only ones I currently know of are on
Regelis itself, some working in the museum that is their home, others
working in various small hospitals where their services are still
appreciated. A very few are treasured friends of Clan Prime Families."
She didn't want to admit that at least eight were slaves to her own
Clan. The fact both galled and shamed her.

"Maybe we can visit sometime," Geisha said.

Bobby came back, a small tray with two glasses in hand. He set them down
on the table -- one was the tea, the other plain water. "There you go,"
he said. "Send word when you're ready for dessert." He indicated the
PADD still on the table.

She nodded. "I will. May I continue conversing with one of these people
while the other two resume their normal duties? I'd prefer not to cause
disruption of the lounge's operation simply to lessen my sense of
loneliness." This was also an indirect, polite reminder to the three
that they had other duties, ones that did not involve her directly.

"Fine with me if it's fine with them," he said. "Hap, there is someone
up at the bar who would like to see your caricature drawing -- he
doesn't quite want to take my word for it. And I could use some help in
the kitchen, to be honest."

Hap and Monad spoke almost simultaneously. "Nice to meet you, Talea.
Come back soon!" Hap climbed down from the chair and set off across the
lounge, making pretty good speed on his long legs. Monad floated off
with Bobby, leaving Geisha, who settled onto the table. "They know I
like talking best," she said to Talea.

Taken by surprise by that, Talea burst out laughing. With a feeling of
amazement, she realized that this was only the second time in over a
decade that she had laughed, other than the false laughter so often done
at parties after a joke had been told poorly. "Thank you, Geisha." She
sobered somewhat and smiled. "Perhaps all of this is helping me regain
my sense of fun. After the childhood I went through, anyone would forget
what true fun is, I'm afraid."

"I'm sorry it was bad," Geisha said. "I remember Bobby and our friend
Shanda talking about their childhoods once. They were both good ones.
Shanda said that was lucky."

Talea shook her head. "No, Geisha. On Regelis, happy childhoods are more
the norm. My Clan is a small one, which has been isolated for centuries
because they wished it. Why? Because they believe, truly believe, that
women are not worthy of doing anything save the ancient imperatives of
motherhood and wife. Naught more. There, no woman has rights to keep to
herself without fear of reprisal, and men have the right, if right one
wishes to call it, to go even so far as to murder a woman without more
than comments on the technique or lack thereof. It was not a good place
for females of any age." She continued to eat, taking occasional sips of
the excellent tea, smiling to herself and feeling quite pampered by the
barkeeper's concern and obvious skill with his trade, even with one like
her, who could not abide using alcohol or its close analogues.

"That's awful! How did you get away from that?"

Talea smiled slightly. "I obeyed the law and reported for mandatory
military service. And I'll never go back to my Clan. When I wed, I will
renounce my ties with my Clan forever." Despite her resolve to do so,
she felt a sense of sadness.

"I don't blame you. We know what it's like to be treated as less than
what we really are. But no one ever killed one of us just because."

Talea nodded. "One of my own brothers attempted to do something to me
that is unspeakable even between strangers, but between family is even
more so. When I successfully defended and kept him from his purpose, we
were both punished. Him for failing and me for having supposedly lied
about the attack."

Geisha emitted another low, mournful whistle. "I'm glad you are safe now."

She looked down and shook her head. Her platter and both glasses were
empty. As she looked back up, her hazel eyes were dark with the memory
of her decision to cut all ties forever, and what that would entail. "To
do what I plan takes a symbolic act with this." She fished out the
delicate ceramic square with her Clan name on it. "I unclip it as so,"
she unclipped it from the pendant holder, "and toss it, making certain
it shatters." She did not throw it, for that was reserved for during the
wedding itself. She set the piece on the table with a gentle click.
"Until then, I must keep it undamaged."

"We understand symbolic acts," Geisha said, "though it has taken us time
to learn. Would you like something to keep it in so it will not break
until you want it to?"

Talea asked, rather curious, "Like what? I've worn it now for nearly
three years, and it's never gotten damaged, but that may be best, to
have it in a secured place until the day of the wedding. Just figured
you'd want to see what I was speaking of, is all." She considered her
hunger level and realized she needed no dessert. However, she did want
the second type of tea, to see if Bobby would fix it properly. She asked
Geisha, "Could you please let Bobby know I need no dessert and will take
a raincheck on that, but do want the chocolate tea, fixed the way he
mentioned, with mint, if he doesn't mind trying it himself."

"I can make you a small box that would be very strong," Geisha said.
"Just tell me when you want it. I'll tell Bobby about the tea."

Talea smiled. "How about when you return, Geisha? Once I drink the tea,
I plan on getting some swimming in. I need the exercise." She also knew
that the type of pool she planned on using wasn't typical. Water was too
fluid for what she needed, so she was going to attempt to use plain
radiant-fluid gel base. It would be nearly four times the viscosity of
water, but offering no more buoyancy than plain water, which was exactly
what she was after.

"Sure. I'll be right back." The little machine zipped off, returning in
a few minutes with a tray containing a steaming mug of tea, a tiny
pitcher of cream, and a bowl of sugar cubes. A sprig of fresh mint lay
next to the mug along with a spoon.

Talea was very interested as the tray touched the tabletop. This was
different. She'd not expected a sprig of mint, after all. The technique
she usually used was to brew the chocolate-hazelnut tea with a small
amount of pure peppermint. This would work, yes, but could be very
strong indeed, mint-wise. Consulting her memory on how to make tea with
this method, she carefully crushed two of the sugar cubes and sifted the
resulting powder into the tea. She then crushed the mint before stirring
it into the tea. After almost a minute of constant, if gentle stirring,
she sipped lightly and nodded, then removed the remains of the mint,
placing it on the tray. She then added a small amount of the cream. She
blinked at how the combination truly brought the flavor to life; she'd
not expected it would do quite this well!
While she had been doing this, the little machine had also been busy. As
Talea was sipping the tea, Geisha said, "I have it," and retrieved a
tiny box from one of her internal compartments. It was clear, like
glass, but had a cool, metallic feel. A little bit of cloth lined the
inside. "It's transparisteel," Geisha said. "So you can see what is
inside, but it won't break."

Talea smiled and looked the box over before finding the catch and
opening it. Carefully, she placed the delicate ceramic piece, which was
forty millimeters square www.onlineconversion.com
<http://www.onlineconversion.com/> and not quite two millimeters in
thickness, inside, then gently secured it with the small clips before
closing and latching the box. When she was finished, the piece was
clearly visible, and she said quietly, "The design isn't a design at
all. That's the three pictographs for my Clan's name, Erridim. See?
Here's the first one, ER, the second, RI, then the third, DIM." As she
pointed out the three pictographs, there was a muted click each time as
her fingernail made contact with the box's top.

Her voice was quiet and sad. "There are so many thoughts running through
my mind right now. How, even though my male relatives and their male
friends treat women poorly, I feel almost a traitor for wanting to
renounce the Clan. The women of the Exiled Clans need their freedom, and
my doing this doesn't help them gain it." Talea had her eyes closed, and
her head was once again down. She knew, for her own safety, this must be
done, but oh, how it hurt.
The little machine was silent for a moment before she stated, "You
cannot repair a fission reactor from the inside."

Talea nodded. "When one attempts it, one is destroyed long before
success is possible. In either fission or fusion reactors." Her tone was
still sad, though.

"Some beings have a difficult time comprehending that we can have hope
for our future," Geisha said, the electronic tones of her voice coming
slowly this time. "But we believe that if we are true to what we are,
that others will have to recognize us for what we are. However long it
takes. I believe the same for you, and the women of your Clan."

Talea's tones were equally slow as she confessed, "Every woman who
leaves the Clan throws the Clan that much closer to genetic extinction.
Our numbers are fewer than two hundred now; men outnumber women by as
much as six to one, largely thanks to unpunished violence toward women,
I believe." She closed her eyes again, once more in emotional agony.
"Perhaps it is better for the Exiled Clans to die than for their poison
to spread past their lands. Maybe I'm just as much a poisoner as any of
my Clan are, and I don't deserve what respect I've earned." Depression
was riding her hard now, as guilt from not seeking Walker out hit her
hard. They had parted in Security, both of them having hurt the other,
and her self-reproach was scathing.

"It's not my place to pass judgment on your Clan," Geisha said. "I don't
know enough to say, and besides, no one asked me to. But I do know this.
To preserve your own life and well-being is not being a poisoner. I have
heard you say a few things about what happened to you in your Clan. If
you had stayed, do you honestly think you would be alive today?"

Talea winced, but answered honestly. "I do not know. I do know that life
is hard for a woman in the Exiled Clans. Far harder than it should be
for any sentient being. I sometimes think back on what happened to me by
my own family and hatred comes close to erupting, but it's not ever
going to happen, since hatred and love are two sides of the same coin,
if you understand my meaning, and I long since lost any sense of love
toward my male relatives. Abandoning Mother to her fate, that bothers me
more than I can describe."
Geisha emitted a long electronic sigh of sympathy. "When Bobby's ship
was coming apart, all four of us would have stayed behind. But
Lighthouse told us to go. He could keep the ship together long enough
for the rest of us to escape, and Bobby too. 'If you go, you will do
what I can't. If you stay, none of us will do anything. Go. Don't look
back.' And so we have all tried to do, to honor what he gave us."

Now Talea knew the story of the lost fourth, and the tears she knew the
other could not shed spilled over. She did not sob, as that was not her
way, but the tears of grief were certainly there. The burden of her own
guilt plus this simply overcame her control, so she wept silently for
their mutual grief. Briefly, she wondered how she could pay these
people, obviously so courageous, far more than she was, for what they
had already done, but was coming up empty.
"I'm sorry," Geisha said. "I didn't mean to make you feel worse."

Talea chuckled through her tears, as the other had misunderstood,
somewhat. "Have you never wanted, nay, needed to cry because of your
grief for Lighthouse, and yet . . . due to the way you're made, cannot?"
She inhaled deeply, struggling to regain control for a long moment
before continuing, "It is not only my sadness, but yours that I weep
for." Her brow furrowed, and she briefly wondered if her abilities were
coming back, and if they were, how safe she was in the midst of a public
place . . .

"I think I understand," Geisha said. "Some say machines cannot
have feelings. We believe thought and feeling are part of the same. But
you look like you are tired."

Talea nodded. "I am tired, yes. Tired of being hobbled by this
disability, yet frightened beyond words of what could happen if my
abilities come back while I'm not protected. It could easily drive me
insane, and in a way that would not be repairable." Despite her
self-control, the fear was now chilling her blood and making her pale again.

"Is there someone who can help you? I can take you there."

Talea swallowed nervously. "I . . . I no longer am certain. The one who
I know could help may now be so angry with me that . . ." She closed her
eyes and began rocking side to side without intending to. "That he will
not wish to help me in my time of greatest need."

The little machine emitted an electronic snort. "Where is he? I'll make
him help you if I have to."

Talea's blood ran, if it were possible, even colder at Geisha's words.
Her voice trembling with her fear now, she said, "Coercing cooperation
is little better than taking something that is not yours, and leads only
to grief." She inhaled to try to calm herself before stating, "He is one
of those who works Security for this vessel. The first person I saw upon
awakening from stasis, and one of those from my homeworld. The only
other such aboard this vessel presently."

"Right. I'll find him. I will ask him to help, that is all. I promise."

Talea nodded. "I had best go after settling with Mister Woodward. I dare
not be caught away from shielding when my abilities unlock." She stood
and strode, her step quiet and almost soundless, toward the bar, where
she saw Bobby chatting with a customer. She did her best to ignore the
tang of alcohol and synthehol, but it became progressively more
difficult as she approached.

At Geisha's whistle, Bobby looked up, and quickly came up to her.
"Everything okay?"

Talea nodded. "Everything has been wonderful. Unfortunately, while I am
not on duty, I must be away. Ask Geisha why later, if you wish, but my
danger increases with every breath." This was doubly true at the moment,
since she was breathing in the fumes from both alcohol and synthehol,
and realized, with a sense of panic, that much more and she would become
drowsy, which was always dangerous. She calmly placed the payment for
the food and drink, even the ginger beer, which she had not finished, on
the bar's top, then waited for him to accept it, but she did not lie.
Danger was building, and she struggled with her fear that it was because
her abilities were returning.

He scooped up the money and walked with her toward the door, away from
the bar. "You don't need to pay while aboard," handing it back to her
once they were in clearer air. "Anything in the lounge is gratis to
everyone, courtesy of the Federation USO. Take care. Geisha, you going
with her for a bit?" The machine chirped.

Talea was grateful. How he could tell she was sensitive to the fumes . .
. she paused in her thoughts before shaking her head in
self-deprecation. She'd told him what, no more than thirty minutes
before? With that thought, after he'd handed her the money back and
she'd thanked him for his kindness, she proceeded to one of the
holodecks, which was thankfully, currently not in use. With a smile, she
sent Geisha on her way toward Walker before working on programming the
holodeck for her swim session.

Other related posts: