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"Blame it on a Woman"
(Previous Post: "Sneaking Around in Little Feet Can Be Hazardous to Your Health")

"We are known to our friends by a look in our eyes that we never see in a mirror."
-Robert Brault
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Setting: VALLA ROYAL, Casino
Stardate: 63076.2300

The casino floor was a cacophany of sound, light, and movement. Eve was trying to absorb it all and not look like a wide eyed schoolgirl among wolves. Like everything else on VALLA ROYAL, the size of the place was impressive and the sheer amount of people there was staggering. The Counsellor had no idea how the others were doing in their pursuits, but finding anything or anyone in all this was going to be a challenge.

Meanwhile, Samantha had moved down to the floor, following the woman with her eyes. The woman was at least two or three inches taller than her, and seemed to move purposefully through the crowd. An air of hostility rose within the former officer, even though the exact reason was uncertain. A rush of adrenaline was making it hard for her to stay in control. But all the same, something compelled her to come closer.

Eve knew that her saucy look demanded attention, especially from the male customers, and she played it for all it was worth. After all, she would be working for tips only tonight. But as she walked through the den of gamblers and sinners, her trained eye caught the unflinching gaze of a familiar face, if not with a familiar expression.

It was Captain Sabrina Rikar.

Eve stifled a gasp. She tried not to stare and succeeded... almost. There was pure bile in her Commanding Officer's look as if she wanted to throw down right there and fight. Eve couldn't imagine what she or Dulcinea had done to anger her so... unless she felt somehow threatened. Eve's first concern would have normally been not blowing her cover. But even with their mutual training, Eve believed wholeheartedly that 'Samantha' was not currently aware of their shared history.

Gordy was nearly done showing Dulcinea around. "And finally, this is Samantha. When she isn't gallavanting around the station she's one of the best girls we've got."

"I am the best," Samantha asserted, still scrutinizing every detail about the new arrival. Gordy didn't seem as angry about her absence as she had expected. Perhaps the new girl had distracted him.

"A pleasure," Eve said congenially, hand outstretched.

The redhead wasn't about to play nice with the intruder. "Kamlia's table isn't even cold yet," Samantha spat, her eyes icy daggers.

Gordy could sense the discord between them, but as long as it didn't affect business, whatever petty differences they had were trivial as far as he was concerned. He decided it was time to go back upstairs and count his money and check on his henchmen.

Eve could feel a lump in her throat. Captain Rikar didn't know who she was. "I'm sorry for the loss of your friend."

"She wasn't a friend. She was someone who didn't deserve to die."

"I agree with you," Eve responded, trying to grasp onto something familiar with the current Dabo girl. what the hell had happened to her?

Samantha had readied a retort, but fell silent. Of all the answers she was expecting from the impromptu nemesis, her agreement wasn't one of them. "Just stay out of my way."

"Sure," Eve offered weakly as the redhead stalked off. It was too bad she was already thinking about how many ways she would be breaking that promise.

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Susan M Ledbetter
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Ensign Eve Dalziel
Counsellor
USS ANUBIS, NCC-18501