When in Rome

Posted on Tue Jan 2nd, 2024 @ 2:45pm by Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis
Edited on on Tue Jan 2nd, 2024 @ 2:45pm

1,631 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: Karadis Quarters/Ten Forward
Timeline: Current

Even though the crew were on downtime, Isabelle was busy informally checking in on people. It sometimes helped to pay visits outside of the official Counsellor’s office. At least that was what she was hoping.

Stepping up to Karadis’ door she pressed the door chime, hoping that Karadis wouldn’t mind her visiting.

Karadis looked up from eyeing the clothes lying on her bed, she wasn’t expecting anyone. She’d not been out of uniform in such a long time, so when finally she’d come off duty, she wanted to feel feminine, well, feminine for a Klingon woman. She’d taken out all the acceptable civilian clothes that she had a laid them on her bed, it was a sorry sight.

“Come!” she called out.

Walking in Isabelle didn’t see Karadis. “Chief? It’s Isabelle.” She stood waiting not wanting to go poking around looking for Karadis.

“I’m in here Lieutenant” Karadis called from her bedroom, “come through.”

Walking across the living area and into the bedroom, Isabelle offered a smile. “Excuse me for intruding Chief, I wanted to check in to see how you’re doing now we’re all back to being ourselves again.”

Karadis just waved her hand. She looked at Isabelle and said “You’re a woman, right?”

Isabelle nodded and grinned. “Definitely.”

Then turning back and gesturing to the clothes laid out she said, “So am I, but look at these, you’d never bloody think so. Seriously, in your opinion, what do these clothes say to you about me?”

“Honestly?” Isabelle gave Karadis’ clothes a look over. “That you’re a woman who is normally pretty reserved. You’re a Klingon female, Klingons aren’t generally seen as feminine, more strong and warrior type.”

“It would seem to me you’ve never spent a lot of time with Klingon women” Karadis replied, actually laughing.

“Believe it or not, we can be feminine when required, it’s just…I…need the right person to be feminine for. Looking at me, what would you suggest I wear to do that?”

“Well that would depend on whether you’re looking for a Klingon male or a Human one.” Isabelle grinned. “If it’s those onboard you’re looking to make an impression on, then might I suggest replicating something a little more...pleasing to the male eye?”

“I…” Karadis began, and then paused, “I don’t always want to please males” she said quietly.

“Ohh...I’m sorry, I didn’t stop to think..” Isabelle blushed. “Then might I suggest whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. If you’re not feeling comfortable, then how are you going to find someone of interest.”

“I, find it difficult to be me a lot of the time” Karadis replied, “My personal character is a strong one, and I…like to be in control. But part of me thinks that could be off putting to potential people of interest, so I tend to bury it.”

Isabelle nodded. “In my opinion you should just be you, don’t let what others think put you off Karadis.” She smiled warmly. “I wish I had the Gaul to wear some of this stuff, I’ve never been that outgoing!”

“If I were to be me, well…it’s probably easier to show you” Karadis replied. “Take a seat next door, I’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”

Isabelle nodded and smiled, then headed out into the living room. Taking a seat on the sofa she waited for Karadis to come out.

Sure enough, five minutes later, a hesitant Karadis came out of her bedroom. Isabelle had offered up the idea of Karadis being herself, so she was. A grey leather bodice with a split along her upper breast line, grey A-line knee length skirt and three inch grey high heeled boots adorned her body. Her make up was simple, but effective enough to show her high cheekbones and piercing green eyes.

“Well, this is me being me” Karadis said in a hopeless tone, “You’d run a mile, right?”

Isabelle gave Karadis a smile. “Not at all, I think you’d certainly get the attention of everybody in the room! It shows off your eyes, it looks good Karadis.”

“I don’t know…” Karadis replied, looking down at herself.

“Again, excuse me a minute please” she said, disappearing back into her bedroom. Minutes later, she re-appeared, dressed in slacks and an over large woollen jumper.

“It’s what people expect” she said quietly, “anyway, I’m hungry and I’m not the best of cooks. I’m going to ten forward to get something to eat, care to join me?”

“Sure” Isabelle smiled and nodded. “It’ll make a nice change to sitting alone in my quarters.”

As they walked towards the turbolift, Karadis asked “What’s your take on Commander Kilbane?”

“Kilbane?” Isabelle smiled. “He is as he appears, a good officer. I think he’s a man who can be trusted.”

“What about outside of him being an officer, do you think he’s handsome?” Karadis asked.

Isabelle smiled. “Maybe he is.” She was doing her best to be modest.

“I mean, yes, he’s an arrogant, self centred tool, with a predilection for his own opinion, but at the same time, he’s also quite adorable with it.”

Isabelle couldn’t help but smile. “I’d imagine he’ll get any woman he wants, it all depends on whether that’s what he wants.”

Reaching Ten Forward, Karadis stepped inside and found a table for them to sit at. Looking at Isabelle she said, “Enough about me, what about you, what are your likes…in all things?”

“Me?” Isabelle got comfortable as she sat back in her seat. “I like all kinds of things, I love hydroponics, cooking, movies, reading, collecting souvenirs, and plenty more besides that!” She smiled warmly.

“I used to collect souvenirs” Karadis replied,”till Kerr told me to stop. Mind you, looking back on it now, he was right, I was collecting scalps from our…ah, sorry, can’t really go there, that was from our Hunder Brigade days.”

“Scalps?” Isabelle looked surprised. “Not exactly what I’d consider collectibles, but each to their own I guess.” She grinned.

At that point, service arrived to take their order. Karadis thought for a moment then said “Steak, rare as it comes, side order of broccolini, carrots and parsnip. I’ll also have a glass of apple juice.”

She looked at Isabelle, “And you?”

“Same, but I’ll have the Steak cooked medium to well and leave off the parsnips please.” Isabelle smiled politely.

One the attendant had left the table, Karadis asked “I’ve got a kind of sixth sense with things. This isn’t your first rodeo in Intelligence…I mean, perhaps in the Federation, yes, but your to calm not to have done this kind of work before.”

“I’m a member of Betazed Intelligence” Isabelle relaxed back in her seat. “Betazoid’s make good operatives thanks to our abilities. I have a feeling my coming into contact with those Borg nanites wasn’t accidental.

“You mean you think you were set up by Commander Dex?” Karadis asked

“Oh...no. Not at all” Isabelle shook her head. “Someone sent us all there, no doubt with a plan in mind. The nanites were probably just a bonus outcome.”

“I don’t know about them being a bonus” Karadis replied, “we’ve no idea if there are any long term effects, plus, what happens if we’re in a situation where we encounter any Borg, will you change, will the nanites force you to do things against your will, will the Borg be able use you?”

"That is a very good question" Isabelle shrugged her shoulders. "I guess that's something we'd only find out at the time. I certainly hope not."

“We need to build in safeguards to stop that” Karadis said “We can’t afford you going rogue, no offence Lieutenant.”

“This is something I believe you need to discuss with the Captain” she added.

Isabelle nodded. "No offence taken, in-fact I think you're quite correct. Devise whatever you must to take care of the problem, if I should become one. I don't want to be a danger to anyone."

“Don’t worry, if you become a danger or threat should we encounter the Borg, the situation will be dealt with in the severest possible way, neither the Captain nor the crew of the USS Blackeagle will be compromised” Karadis said.

Isabelle gave Karadis a worried look. “Thanks, I think.” She smiled a wry smile. “Just don’t write me off straight away okay? Give me a chance to win over and assert some control.”

“That’s the problem though” Karadis replied, “will you be able win and assert any kind of control over the nanites? They are after all a construct of the Borg, programmed to serve them when in near proximity. But even that’s guess work, they could be activated over a tremendous distance and that’s a horrifying thought.”

Isabelle nodded. “That’s very true.” She paused. “Perhaps there’s a way we could access the base programming? Re-program the nanites so they can’t be accessed by the Borg?”

“That’s a very complicated job, way out of my sphere of knowledge” Karadis said, “It’s something perhaps Chief McCrudden may know about, but first I think you need to discuss it with the Captain, let him know the situation.”

Isabelle nodded “I plan on doing that as soon as we’re done here. No time like the present.” She offered a smile hoping Finchley would have some answers.

 

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