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(( Starbase 118 - Sickbay – Deck 502 Freo's Room ))
::Brek had spent the past few minutes reading all he could find on noncorporeal entities, but it left him frustrated. They were all so different... although it could be said that they often shared a common trait: a passion for obsessive behaviours.::
::He glanced at Ensign Freo, and discovered that she was actually staring at him. It was a disturbing look, like the one a ghoul might have: black and empty. On Ferenginar there were no such things, but when you live among Humans, you soon get familiar with the fanciful bestiary Terrans have created to 'amuse' themselves.::
::Most humans pretend that every legend has a source of origin, something that until now he had always mocked with vigour. These humans were fools, and everybody knows how quick fools and their money are parted! However, now that he was here in this room with this odd woman, he wasn't so sure of anything any more.::
::He went to the replicator, and stood there a while, unable to decide if he wanted to eat something or not. He cast a furtive glance behind him, and relaxed. The ensign had resumed her usual attitude: looking in a vapid way at nothing in particular. In need of a distraction, Brek tapped his commbadge.::
Brek: =/\= Dakarai, I was thinking, about that Secretary who is having a fit over what he saw in sickbay. We can always compromise. If you receive more demands from our trembling diplomats, there is plan B. =/\=
Dakarai: ::With a rather hesitant voice, fearing the worse.:: =/\= It's reassuring to find you in a more diplomatic mood, Lt. What is plan B? =/\=
Brek: =/\= We go for a training operation. Set everything to look like the diplomatic building is affected by an exotic virus, then we run all the tests we can possibly imagine to check how well we perform under such 'dire' circumstances. We haven't had one of those exercise in ages, it will look credible. And from the outside, our tower will appear to be in quarantine. =/\=
Dakarai: =/\= This means that all appointments would have to be cancelled... It will be chaos =/\=
Brek: =/\= You need to break eggs to make an omelette. =/\=
Dakarai: =/\= It works the other round, actually, but never mind. Thanks for the idea, I guess you are right, that's the best we can achieve without a quarantine order. If everyone acts with discipline, it could even become a real quarantine, in all but name. =/\=
Brek: ::Shrugging at what he has just heard.:: =/\= Discipline all round... that's the stuff of dreams, Dakarai. If we go that road, we'll only replace diplomatic unrest with a different blend of disruption. So you make sure to use this option as a last resort only, understood? =/\=
Dakarai: =/\= Maybe that you should give the order, then? =/\=
Brek: =/\= I can't judge the situation from where I am, Ensign. Use your common sense and everything will be fine. Brek out. =/\=
::He was ready for a snack now, put was put off by the sensation of a presence right behind him. He turned round and stepped back, startled. Freo was there, just a few inches away from him. She was staring at him again. Her eyes were as dark and unpleasant as ever. Those weren't natural eyes at all, so he made an attempt at squeezing away from her, but she followed him, as silent as a ghost.::
Brek: Are you trying to hypnotise me? You won't manage, you know. It's all to do with the way my brain functions. Only latinum works on my species. ::What felt like a long silence followed.:: Do you want to eat something? Or maybe you need some pen to write? You know, in order to get what you want, you need to communicate at least a tiny little bit...
::The move came suddenly. She touched his left ear, stroke the outer edge with her fingers. He slapped her hand, as if he was being troubled by a particularly large flying insect.::
Brek: You don't want to do that, ensign. My sense of decorum has finite limits.
::She seemed to be somehow encouraged by his words and repeated her gesture. That's when, out of reflex and a little bit of panic too, he hit her in the face with the back of his hand. She looked at him confused, and for a fraction of a second he could swear her eyes were normal again, green and lively. The spark soon vanished though, and she wandered back to her chair, as haggard as ever.::
::Brek's first reflex had been to contact the Captain, but he developed second thoughts about this. How would he word the incident anyway? 'Ferengi attacked by female' send help!' That was newsworthy all right!::
::No. He would wait quietly here, until someone in sickbay found a way to help Freo...::
tbc
Lt Brek
Chief Diplomatic Officer
SB118/USS Victory
Also simming as Ensign J.B Dakarai, Diplomatic Aide, SB118
And Ensign Freo, Science Officer, USS Calgary
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