Subject: Grail: "Last Look Back" - 'The Fouth Pip'
<<Stardate:47307.17- 09:20>>
<<Grail Stardrive>>
Commander Epic Terrakian entered the Transporter room and
immediately extended his hand to welcome Captain Hillary Singh. She was
shorter than he remembered, but then, he was probably taller than she
remembered.
"Welcome aboard the Grail, Captain. I have made accomodations for a
short stay until repair efforts on your vessel are completed.", Epic
offered, then added as an afterthought. "Or until you are ready to go."
"Thank you, Captain.", she spoke softly, shaking his cold hand.
"Commander, actually.", Epic responded, conducting her with gentle
effort toward the doors. "No promotion has yet been offered. It is
possible the Grail will be recalled to Deep Space 9 to await the
assignment of a new Captain."
They walked the corridor toward the turbolift, Hillary unable to
take her eyes from the face of the Betazoid who walked beside her. If it
were not for the same chilling blue eyes, she would have thought it
impossible that he could be the same man. But he was.
"If that were to be the case, we will be escorting you back, as
well." Epic tried to distract her scrutiny, to no avail.
"Commander Terrakian...", she finally started.
"Epic.", he corrected her. "Please."
"Epic.", she conceded. "Thank you for your timely rescue."
"We're on the same team.", Epic answered, giving her elbow the
gentlest nudge with his own.
The contact was familiar and friendly and might have been
presumptuous from anyone else. But Hillary accepted it in its spirit.
Accepted it, and appreciated it. It relaxed her tension. Enough for her
to say, "You wouldn't think so to compare our uniforms."
Epic looked down at her uniform, the regulation jumpsuit, gray on
black. Then, he considered his own. He shrugged as the turbolift opened
to admit them. Hillary got on first.
"Deck 19.", Epic ordered.
=^=Commander Terrakian.=^=, Cara Hatchers voice came to him from
his commbadge. =^=A priority One subspace message has been received for
your eyes only.=^=
"Thank you, lieutenant.", Epic replied. "I will take that message
in Room 1901."
=^=Acknowledged.=^=
"I guess we'll know Starfleets mind soon enough.", Epic said as
they exited the turbolift.
They walked silently for a few moments, Hillary trying not to
stare, but it was a futile effort. Finally, she just said what was on
her mind. "I have heard very bizarre rumors about you over the years."
Epic smiled slyly as he looked at her from the corner of his eye.
But, he said nothing.
"`Commander Dracula'?", she queried, looking at his solid black
unifom and knee length black polished boots.
Epic shrugged. He could sense her... excitement. It wasn't what he
would expect from the... matronly.. woman. But, he knew `the feeling'.
He usually welcomed `the feeling'.
They stopped at the door to her temporary accomodations. Hillary
tapped in the command code that would restrict access only to her while
Epic made an exaggerated pantomime of looking away.
"Zero-Six-Five-Zero.", she told him despite his effort to allow her
her secrecy. He looked at the mischief in her eyes and favored her with
a sinister look of his own. Her excitement trebled. They entered the
room.
Epic went immediately to the desk monitor in the main living area
and activated it.
"Shall I give you privacy?", Hillary offered as she stretched out
on the sofa. Epic shrugged in negation.
"Decode encrypted message. Terrakian Beta Alpha Delta Six Six Six."
The scrambled screen reintegrated into the Starfleet Identification
Symbol.
An image of Admiral Shelby appeared, her blond hair swept up in a
characteristic bun. "Commander Terrakian.", she spoke seriously. "Having
reviewed your reports and considering the unexpected boon of the Q's
interference, it is the decision of the Council to grant you the field
promotion of Captain and to instruct you to continue with the mission as
originally drafted. Good luck, Captain Terrakian.
"Also, there has been Intelligence reports indicating a rise in
Romulan activity in that region. It is unclear as to whether this
activity is a response to the spontaneous wormhole, or your presence. We
recommend your expediant withdrawal from that location.
"Once again. Good luck, Captain."
The screen went blank.
Epic closed the screen and stood. He turned to look at Captain
Hillary Singh only to find her standing right behind him. She had let
her silvery hair down and `the feeling' was pouring from her in a
torrent. She removed one of the solid gold pips from her own collar and
replaced the dark one at Epics collar with it.
"Congratulations, Captain Dracula.", she teased. Then, on an
impulse that Epic sensed coming from a light year away, she kissed him.
Hard.
Epic found himself at a complete loss about how to respond.