Subject: Re: Grail: The Great Brightness - This House Divided

<<Stardate 43707.30 - 1854 hours>>

<<Ten Forward>>

William Ramius sat at a table near the back of the room, his

weariness apparent as he supported himself with an elbow on the table.

He poked at the remains of his dinner, but paid more attention to the

third cup of coffee that sat beside him, in a vain effort to fight off

slumber. He was in this half leaned over position, looking at the

ever-present PADD beside him, that he didn't notice the shapely form of

the ship's counselor walk in.

Mirka walked into Ten Forward for the third time that day. She had

just realised she had left a PADD behind and since it wasn't in her

room, she thought she might have forgotten it in her hasty departure

with Brinn. She smiled thinking of the ship's XO. She was about to ask

Tony about it when she spotted William Ramius in the back of the room.

She sighed, she had told the man before the meeting that he needed some

sleep, but it was obvious by looking at him that he hadn't listened to

her advice. She walked towards him, a smile on her lips but a worried

look in her eyes

"You know doctor, you won't be any good to any of us if you're too

tired to think straight." She gently scowled while sitting on the free

chair facing him. "Now I thought I told you to get some sleep this

morning, obviously you didn't. Can I know what good reason made you

disregard the counselor's advice" She went on half teasing, half

serious.

Ramius looked up at the auburn-haired woman who slid into the seat

across from him. He smiled weakly, unfortunately the best he could

manage at that particular time. But it was sincere. "Stubborn pride,

Ms.Tzavaras, simply stubborn pride. I refuse to acknowledge that the

only person onboard this ship that can save us from this viral plague is

our new ambassador. I've been a doctor for. . ." and here William eyed

Mirka thoughtfully, ". . .more years than you've been alive, I'd wager.

And now this T'Nek," and he said the name with some heavy spite," comes

aboard, telling me that -all- of us are infected, and that -he's- the

only one who can synthesize a cure. I refuse to accept that." William

poured himself a new cup of coffee from the carafe on the table. He had

long since decided to get his own carafe, rather than subject the

10-Forward staff to constantly refilling his mug. "Could I get you a

cup, Counselor?" he asked.

Mirka shook her head. "No thank you, I only drink coffee in...

extreme circumstances", she said remembering her sudden urge for the

beverage when she woke up earlier after drinking more Tequilla than she

should have. "But," she waved at a waiter, "I'll have a cup of hot

chocolate." After ordering she looked back at Ramius. His eyes were

red and he looked like he could barely hold up his cup of coffee.

"I understand your concern doctor and I agree that the ambassador can

be somewhat...hmm... annoying, but you cannot go on like this. In fact,

nobody can." Her eyes seemed to focus intensely on the carafe on the

table, she looked like she was searching for her words. When she spoke

there was concern in her tone.

"I'm afraid that if the news of us being all infected gets out, the

whole ship will go into panic. The people of the Grail must not know of

the situation in Kerestria, it is imperative that they keep on thinking

that they will find an easy cure there. All this information about

there being only two persons who can help us must be kept a secret.

Unfortunatly, with the number of people present at the meeting, I'm

think that is almost impossible. It really is amazing that there hasn't

been more troubles during the past ten days." She gave a weak smile at

Ramius.

"I'm afraid I'm putting even more pressure on you doctor, aren't I?

However, I insist that you stop drinking that coffee right now and you

get some sleep." Her tone got firmer. "In a few days, we will find a

cure for this disease and when that happens we'll need you in shape.

Plus, you're a doctor, you know what fatigue can do to your body,

getting weaker will only make you more suceptible for the disease and we

can't have another sick doctor on our hands."

"Now, if you don't listen to my advice, I'm afraid I'm going to have

to slip something illegal in that coffee of yours that will make you

fall asleep in the middle of Ten Foward, think how that would look."

She had a broad smile on her face again an her eyes had taken a teasing

glimmer. But she was serious about him resting, Ramius could see the

determination on her face.

As stubborn as William Ramius was, he knew that he wasn't in a

condition to go toe-to-toe with the Counselor. On another day,

perhaps,but not today. With a resigned sigh, William sat down the

coffee crafe,and slid the PADD away from himself. "I don't admit defeat

easily,Counselor, but it's clear that you have the upper hand here," he

paused toyawn. "And a few hours could do me well. Thank you for being

the matchof my stubborn streak." William then stood up from the table,

and walked out of ten-forward.

Mika noticed that he had left his PADD on the table. "Oh, well" she

thought picking it up, "he won't need it where he's going". Deciding to

give it back to him latter on, she returned to her grim thoughts while

finishing her hot chocolate.

Dr. William Ramius

Counselor Mirka Tzavaras