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"Getting There"
(Cont. from "Nightmares")
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Setting: USS HATHOR, Mess Hall
Stardate: 63076.0600

With the ship on its way to the VALLA ROYAL unseen and undetected thanks to their cloaking device, Aki had been able to address a most urgent need; breakfast.  Getting up early in the morning had never been an issue for the Asian woman, but the normal routine had been vast aside due to the urgency of getting their mission underway.

The aCSciO stood in front of the replicator, debating as to what she would have while keeping in mind that these devices were not as capable as those found on NEW ALEXANDRIA or even on the USS ANUBIS. Seconds turned into minutes as Aki found it impossible to make up her mind, not something that she was used to.

"Maybe you should speak to him," Eve said as she walked up to stand next to the aCSciO.

"Speak to whom?" Aki asked, startled by the unexpected arrival of the ship's Counselor.

"Elliot!" Hex replied a she walked into the Mess Hall and directly made her way to the replicator as if ignoring the people to whom she had just spoken to.  "Glass of milk, 45 degrees centigrade," the Kzinti demanded of the machine, her voice rough as her mannerisms.

"How did she?" Aki gasped as she watched the Sec/Tac officer pick up her warm glass of milk before she headed for a table near the far corner of the room.

"Sorry to say this Akira, but even a blind man would see that there is something unresolved between he two of you," Eve explained while she made a mental note to set up some one-on-one time with the Kzinti woman.

"I just don't know what to say to him," the aCSciO admitted, her shoulders having drastically fallen in a show of defeat.  "I can't even figure out where to start about how *I* feel, so I can I be expected to talk to him about it?"

"Could always toss him into the nearest air-lock," Hex mumbled as she took a sip of her drink.

Eve spun on her heels ready to chastise the Kzinti for what she had said but after thinking the whole matter through, the ship's Counselor turned back to face the aCSciO.  "Well, you have to admit that Hex's solution does have a certain simplicity to it."

"What?" Aki questioned, unable to bring herself to accept that Eve had actually supported the notion of spacing a member of the crew.

"Think about it," Ensign Dalziel began in a very serious tone.  "It would solve your immediate problems as to what to say to him and in time it would make you feel better in that you would not have to think about this matter anymore."

"Because *killing* someone is such a better way of dealing with this," Akira stated, clearly upset by the idea that had not only been mentioned but supported and explored.

"Your only other option is to talk to him," Eve said, the smile on her lips hinting that this had been her intent all along.  Now there had been no way for the aCSciO to deny the fact that she had needed to speak to Elliot.

Aki and Eve looked at each other for awhile, not saying anything yet sharing a great deal between them.  Their moment of mutual understanding was interrupted by the Sec/Tac officer who returned her empty glass to the replicator before she offered a few departing words.  "Here's your chance."

Aki's eyes opened to their fullest as she watched Hex step out of the Mess Hall just as the COO stepped in.

"Just let the words come out," Eve whispered to the Asian woman as she squeezed her hand in a show of support.  As the Counselor left, a faint grin formed on her lips as she found comfort that no air-locks had been near this location.  "Ensign Thomas," the Counselor added as she walked by Elliot, leaving the man and woman alone in the room to say what had needed to be said since their return.

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Dawn Bohr <serra.moon.angel@gmail.com>
Ensign Akira 'Aki' Mitshiba
Assistant Chief Science Officer
USS ANUBIS