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In Security Central.

Kyara arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Kyara has arrived.

Niko, at the monitor which has by now become 'his', seems absolutely enthralled in alternating between paperwork and monitor-watching. Really. Can't you just see the enthusiasm?

Kyara slips around the security reception desk, a box in her hands, gliding up to the, uh, enthusiastic officer with a soft "Good afternoon, Niko."

Niko looks over with a smile, setting aside his pen. "Hi, Kya. Can I help you, or are you here just to keep me from perishing of paperwork overdose?"

Kyara grins. "The latter." She offers the box. "This may approach a cure. I heard you like baklava..."

Niko nods his agreement to that. "Matter of fact, I do, yes." He takes the box with a pleased grin. "Is that what this is?"

Kyara mhmmms. "I bribed one of the cooks. I even had somebody sample a bit- they raved."

Niko puts down the box, then gestures towards its top. "May I?"

Kyara gestures grandly. "Please do. Plates and such are inside. Oh..." She produces a blue soda can and sets that on the desk as well.

Niko chuckles quietly, but is now starting to look a bit puzzled. "Have I been looking under-nourished?" he quips. Opening the box, he grins brightly at the pastry. "Ahh, now that's good stuff." He serves himself a triangle, then asks, "You'll have some, yes? Though the Chief would be put out if we don't save some for him."

Kyara chuckles. "Consider it a sweet apology." She shakes her head, looking a little green. "I'm afraid the stuff doesn't appeal to my taste. That's why I had somebody else sample it."

Niko blinks a few times. "Apology?" he inquires. He shrugs, then, and tastes the pastry, himself. "Mm," he approves. "Gigia doesn't use quite so much nuts, but it's still very good." He does not, it may be noted, open the blue soda.

Kyara hmmms? "Gigia?"

Niko gestures towards the pastry. "My grandmother. Gigia's the term for it in my language. Makes the best baklava I've ever tasted. But what's this about an apology? I don't remember..." He grimaces, then shakes his head. "I was tired. Whatever happened, it's okay."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara chuckles. "I pestered you at dinner." She shakes her head. "That's pretty tired not to remember something that just happened yesterday. Why..." She glances over her shoulder toward the brig. "Oh. The Denners."

Niko inclines his head. "Events of the past several days have kept me busy," he says lightly. "Sleep has kind of been pushed to the back burner. I caught up some last night, though, relatively."

Kyara nods her approval, a touch of sympathy in her eyes. "Someday, I hear, you'll look back on all this and /laugh/."

Niko considers that for a moment, as he munches on the baklava. "No," he says finally, "I don't believe I will."

Kyara chuckles. "I'll remind you that you said that when we're all old and gray and sitting around a fireplace reminiscing."

Niko shakes his head. "Do that," he agrees. "And I'll likely say the same thing I just said." Ah, naive youth.

Kyara seems rather amused. "Oh! Before I forget, would you happen to know when Riley's birthday is?"

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Niko shakes his head. "Can't say that I... aha!" He fires on the Denner with his tangler, looking decidedly smug as the critter freezes. "Therapeutic."

Kyara jumps slightly at the sudden Denner takedown. "Er, yes. At least you're getting some target practice. Anyway... could you find out for me?"

Niko gets to his feet to collect the critter and take it to the brig. "I could, sure, but why do you want to know? He doesn't really seem the type that would appreciate a lady jumping out of a cake. Or maybe he would." He considers that as he returns to his seat and nibbles a bit more on the baklava.

Kyara giggles. "A lady jumping out of a cake? That'd rather ruin the cake, wouldn't it? As for why I want to know," she shrugs, "I just thought it'd be nice to do something, er, nice for him."

Niko nods at the questions, a certain glint in his eyes, then murmurs, deadpan, "How nice." He shrugs. "I could, I guess. Have to wait til I'm off-duty, though. If Anya came in and caught me using her terminal... well, it would be bad."

Kyara glances toward the door. "Why not just ask her? I wouldn't be surprised if she knows."

Niko grins at that. "Well, yes, daresay she does. For that matter, -you- could ask her."

Kyara blushes slightly, shaking her head. "I'm not very good at groveling."

Niko's brows lift. "It doesn't really need to be -groveling-. I mean, it's not like you need her to change a schedule, or like she gave good advice or something. It's just a simple question."

Kyara cocks her head. "Oh. I'd gotten the impression a grovel was required."

Niko shakes his head. "Anya's a nice lady. She might want to know -why- you want to know, but, heck, I asked that, too. She might try to get you to babysit her kid in response for the information, but who knows?"

Kyara's eyes widen. "I... I've never babysat before. Perhaps more baklava would be in order."

Niko's grin turns a bit wicked. "Neither has Clara," he murmurs. With a shake of his head, he adds, "I don't know if Anya -likes- baklava, though. It's better to bribe with something she -likes-."

Kyara nods, clambering onto a chair. "What does she like?"

Niko lifts his shoulders in a small shrug. "How'm I supposed to know? I haven't been here for -that- long, after all. The Chief'd know, but asking him what to use to bribe Anya to get information about him doesn't really seem right."

Kyara chuckles. "He doesn't need to know why I need to bribe her with edibles. Obviously I'm not going to get the security codes out of her with mere food."

Niko shakes his head very slowly. "Uh, you're not going to get the security codes out of her. Period. And this probably isn't the most prudent place to suggest that you want them, okay?"

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Kyara gives you a long look, and shrugs. "Twas merely an example, Niko."

Niko zaps the source of the chittering, almost absently. "Not a good example, Kya."

Kyara blushes slightly. "I'll remember that in the future," she notes sincerely, then glances toward the downed Denner. "I want one of those things."

Niko scoops up the Denner and offers it, though something about his manner suggests that he knows that the critter was not the 'these things' in question.

Kyara snickers, though she takes the creature, almost drooling. "I was talking about /that/." She nods toward the officer's weapon.

Niko shakes his head. "Sorry, can't help you, there."

Kyara nods amiably. "I didn't think you could, Niko. It was merely wishful thinking."

Niko says agreeably, "Wish away, just don't -get- one, huh?"

Kyara chuckles. "Maybe I should. Then perhaps I could get Riley to search me looking for it." She grins.

Niko looks a little confused. "Uh, maybe. No way of knowing." Of course, he could always get Anya to handle the matter for him.

Kyara snickers. "Oh Niko, you're so cute when you're oblivious."

Niko's brows lift a bit. "Thank you, and I'm still tired. I can't be livious yet, not til I get more caffeine."

Kyara chuckles. "You need coffee," she pronounces. "If it can keep surgeons up for thirty hours at a time, it will certainly perk you up."

Niko nods his agreement, snagging his mug and moving to pour from the pot of coffee. "Coffee is a wonderful thing, even if it's rather more bitter than I like. Want some? We've got a spare mug somewhere."

Kyara hesitates, then shrugs. "I've never tried it. New experiences are a good thing."

Niko, after a bit of rummaging, locates a second mug, and pours. "Here y'go. Careful, it's a bit hot. There's sugar and such, too, if you want it."

Riley arrives from the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Riley has arrived.

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Kyara takes a cautious sip, her eyes widening immediately thereafter. "Oh my... it's /bitter/. Sugar, yes, sugar seems like a wise addition. Good afternoon, Riley."

Riley ambles in, a brown paper bag tucked under one arm. Offering something of a polite wave, he drops the bag on Anya's desk. "Afternoon folks, how goes it?"

Niko murmurs, "Told you," to Kyara, then grins towards Riley. "Pretty well, Chief. Want some baklava? Kya brought it." He gestures towards the box before his poor, neglected monitor.

Kyara slips off her chair to get the sugar, adding quite a lot to her cup. "It goes well, Riley." After a moment's thought, she adds cream as well. "Riley, I know that Niko here likes baklava- what's Anya like?"

Niko realizes something, and inquires of Kyara, "How -did- you know that I like baklava. I haven't mentioned it all that much."

Riley's brows perk up at the mention of baklava. But then is that a suprise? Baklava is after all, sweet, and he could live on such things. "Oooh, evil tempting people." He reaches to snag a piece, scooping one hand beneath the other to catch crumbs from the flaky pastry. "What's Anya like? Are you trying to bribe various security types?"

Kyara glances toward Niko with a chuckle. "Ah, some of my resources must remain my own, I'm afraid." She does a double take at Riley as she climbs back onto her chair. "Er, well, yes, but only for non-security information."

Niko's eyebrows hmph softly at Riley's brows' display. Clearly inferior. Niko himself, however, looks puzzled and entirely mystified. He mutters to himself, "... seems... me... strange thing..."

Riley perches on the edge of Anya's desk, munching on the baklava and looking decidedly pleased with the state of the world. "Who am I to get in the way of a good bribing. Um, raspberries usually work really well. I've learned to snag a pint of them if I'm going to ask for something really silly."

Niko clearly makes a mental note of that, murmuring, "Raspberries." He adds to Kya, "It's not -that- big a deal, though. Might as well save bribery for the big ones."

Kyara grins. "Raspberries it is then." She looks over at Niko with a chuckle. "I'll see if I can get it out of her for free first."

Riley pauses a moment to lick the remains of the baklava from the tips of his fingers, "What are we trying to find out?"

Kyara coughs, throwing Niko a warning glance.

Niko lifts his shoulders in a small shrug. "She doesn't want you to know, Chief, or we'd just ask -you-." He seems a bit amused by the situation.

Riley glances around, one of those 'Where are the hidden cameras, cause I don't get the joke' looks. "Uh... Okaaaay... As long as everyone's having fun."

Kyara smiles brightly. "Baklava, coffee, and the evil security types- of /course/ I'm having fun, Riley. Aren't you?"

Niko murmurs something about the enthrallment inherent in watching monitors.

Riley looks somewhat non-plussed, but offers something that's almost a shrug as he slides down off the edge of the desk to rummage through the brown bag he's brought. "To each his own."

Kyara chuckles, watching Riley. "What might you have there?"

Riley glances up from the bag, tugging out a can. "I might have a bag, but then again, I might not. It could be that you have an overactive imagination." Grinning, he heads back towards the year of Security, going about the process of upending a can of dog food into a bright red plastic dish.

Niko snaps his fingers, and ducks under his desk, emerging with Pen's ball. "Got to keep track of this," he murmurs.

Kyara rolls her eyes, amused. "And where is our Lt. Commander today?"

Riley whistles quietly and the black and white mutt comes loping up from beneath a desk to munch on the food. Straightening up with a great deal of care, he grins. "He came down with me this morning and has been either sleeping under desks or getting taken down to the atrium to play. The most quickly spoiled animal on record."

Niko grins brightly at the dog's arrival. "Aw, but he deserves it, Chief." He tucks away the ball, the better to remember where it is when Pen's done eating.

Kyara chuckles, sipping carefully at the coffee. "I must ask- why is he a Lt. Commander rather than a dog?"

Riley slides into a chair, turning it backwards first and then leaning to poke at a terminal. "He does, he's cute, he's furry, he plays fetch, how much better could he be?" He grins at Kyara, "Because it would be innapropriate to have a pet in Security. Besides, this way he ranks most of the staff, so if he wants his ball thrown, they must oblige."

Niko, looking decidedly amused, shakes his head. "I'm all for having him rank everybody," he says cheerfully. "Everybody ranks -me-, after all. Might as well have 'em be ranked by Pen."

Kyara laughs. "You're right. He is spoiled."

Riley snickers quietly, still tapping away at the terminal, "He deserves to be spoiled. He's spent almost a year in quarantine, poor puppy."

Niko shakes his head at that, muttering about irresponsible pet-owners. Polishing off the last of his section of baklava, he brushes the crumbs from his uniform--it's clean, he must have groveled enough to laundry--and takes up a bit of paperwork. "Well, he's a Security puppy, now."

Kyara chuckles, setting her cup on the nearest desk as she slides off her chair. "Silly. Anyways, have a good day, boys. Riley, when's Anya due to be on duty?"

Pen finishes off his food and comes trotting over to grace the people with his presence. Ball? Ball? He's wearing a collar the same gray as the Security uniforms, with a Lt. Commanders pips attached.

Niko seems more than agreeable to setting aside his paperwork in favor of throwing the ball for the Lt. Commander. "Hey, buddy," he greets brightly, lifting a hand to Kyara before rummaging for the ball.

Riley glances up at a clock, "In a couple of hours, she'll be in for her shift and all." He waves lightly as well.

Kyara nods, heading for the door. Just before she slips out, she pauses to look back at the dog. "Maybe /he'll/ win an argument with Lexington," she grins.

Kyara heads towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Kyara has left.

Riley glances back as Kyara leaves. The dog's pleading expression for you to throw the ball garners a grin. "What in the name of all that's holy was that about?"

Niko peers after Kyara, then shakes his head, a faint grin crossing his face. He waits what seems to be an appropriate interval of time, then tosses the ball after her. "She's just odd is all. It's nothing too weird, Chief."

With a delighted yip, Pen goes bounding into the hall at top speed.

Riley lifts one shoulder slightly, another near shrug, "Hey, if she wants to bribe people, who am I to complain. Anything wild and crazy happen since I've been gone?"

Niko peers after Pen with a grin that's just as delighted as the dog's yip. "If I could only get him to do that when the Sectassians are passing," he murmurs, clearly tempted. Then, with a shake of his head, he says, "Nothing too crazy. More complaints about Denners, but that's routine, eh?"

A startled yipe can faintly be heard as one very startled young Stilvanian almost gets bowled over, as well as a yelled, "Niko! Watch where you throw that thing!"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Riley glances up as the dog comes trotting back in, proudly bearing the ball. "Yeah, we really need to get rid of those things. I hauled another one out of my bed this morning."

Niko peers into the hall, calling, "Sorry, Kya!" He bends down in an attempt to wrestle the ball away from Pen, nodding an emphatic agreement. "Denner come up with a way to gas 'em? We get them to hold still, we can use the scanners to find 'em."

Riley mmhmms thoughtfully as he continues working on whatever it is he's working on. "He says he's found something, he just needs to work the bugs out."

Niko lobs the ball into the hall once more, then actually starts on that paperwork again. "Bugs would be bad, yeah. Denners are bad enough. Get 'em infested with bugs, though, and that'd be so much worse."

Riley represses a snicker, "Somehow I don't think that's what he meant. He looked rather stunned last time I talked to him."

Niko's brows arch a bit. "Been sniffing whatever it is he's making? D'you have any idea what it is, Chief?"

Riley shakes his head as he frowns at the terminal's readout. "Not really. He says it's something that works with their nervous system."

Niko nods agreeably. "I'll nag him about it later. If we could get the equivalent of a shot from a nerve tangler..."

Riley nods crisply, "That'd be the best of all possible worlds. Stuns em, no lasting damage, and the best horrified looks on their little faces."

Niko chuckles quietly at that, nodding his agreement. "Yeah. That'd be grand." After a moment of consideration, he suggests, "Maybe Clara'd have an idea for something that could do that."

Riley flashes a brief grin in your direction, "She is a miracle worker, you never know. You could go ask her?"

Niko murmurs, "I'm obvious. I'm really -that- obvious." With a chuckle, he lifts his shoulders in a shrug. "I could. If you like. Probably should wait til I get off shift, though."

"Yes, you are that obvious. But it's amusing." Riley grins again, turning back to his monitor. "Whichever you'd prefer. It's quiet though, if you want to head off for a bit you can with no trouble."

Out of the corner of your eye, you see something moving. You get the impression that it's very, very cute.

Niko shakes his head. "S'okay, Chief. I told her I'd find her sometime today--got some things to talk about. I'll bring it up then."

Riley mmhmms amiably, "Just thought I'd offer. I'm a firm proponent of letting folks have spare time when it's findable seeing as I just as freely usurp it when something's up."

Niko nods agreeably, half an eye on his paperwork. "And I appreciate it. But it's nothing all -that- urgent, right? It can wait til I finish up here. That's not too much longer, anyway."

Riley nods, still tappity tapping away. "Sure can." He grins, "But then I'm a firm believer that things can wait most of the time."

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

Niko quips, "Imagine that." With a shrug, he adds, "It usually can, for that matter."

Riley nods, "True enough. There's no point in worrying about the stuff until it -needs- to be worried about. It's a lot better for stress levels."

Niko inquires, after taking a swig of his coffee, "Stress? In this place? Oh, you've gotta be kidding, Chief?" He chuckles quietly, then gets to his feet, disappearing into the hall to retrieve Pen's ball. "Dogs -are- superior lifeforms," he adds, as he returns. "If only because of the way some folks treat 'em."

Riley hmphs softly, leaning forward to continue typing away. "Dogs are wonderful. THey have so little to worry about. THeir lives are simple, and they offer unconditional love."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko hunkers down to pet Pen, nodding his agreement. "Issa good boy," he murmurs. Looking up, he adds, with a grin, "Shoulda done this ages ago, Chief. Oh." He snaps his fingers, sending the ball skidding into the hallway in the process. "S'right. When am I heading to the wilds of the Monoliths? I know sometime next month... anything more specific than that?"

Riley pauses a moment and then ahhs. He climbs to his feet and goes to snag a folder from atop a filing cabinet. He offers it, "Here's all the info."

Niko blinks as he reaches to take the folder. "Hah. Yeah, this'll be helpful. Thanks, Chief." He starts to page through the information, then rummages for some paper to jot down a few notes. "Looks like it'll be... interesting terrain."

Riley reaches down to scritch the dogs ears throuroughly, "It's kind of fun though, the weather's usually nice, and there's lots of marshmellows." He signs off the terminal he was using and heads into his office. "Let me know if you're up for it."

Niko lifts a hand in farewell. "I'll do that, Chief."

Riley walks towards the Chief Addison's Office.

Riley has left.

[Time passes.]

Niko, peering at his chrono, grins suddenly and gets to his feet. After returning the file to its place and disposing of various mugs, he takes up his box of baklava, gives the puppy a pat, and heads for the exit.

[Travelspam deleted as Niko returns to his room. Naturally, he comm's Clara.]

You say "Hiya, Nick here. Are you busy?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and blares "Hmm? Nope, I don't seem to be. Just idly making random comments at Kramer and being teased about some purchases. Why?" in Clara's voice.

You say "Well... admittedly, my memory of the conversation is a little fuzzy, but I think we were going to get together to talk, hm? And if not, we should anyway, as the Chief had a question--well, no, it was my idea, and he was nice and said I could ask. Didn't even tease me that much." into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and announces "*long pause* Okay...I'm almost afraid of anything Addison would okay, but we did indeed talk about that last night. I'm not on duty right now, if that's what you're asking. Did you want to meet somewhere?" in Clara's voice.

You say "Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe somewhere that -isn't- my room, though? It seemed a bit... small, crowded, intimidating. Whatever the word. Not the place. Or maybe I'm misconstruing things. What do you think?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "A little more intimate than necessary? Sure..." She laughs quietly. "My office? The atrium? Java Quarter? I'm flexible." in Clara's voice.

You say "Hm. Maybe your office. My room's overly intimate, but I'd also rather not be interrupted too much, y'know?" into the communit.

Your communit crackles to life and says "Sounds good to me. Come on down and I'll get a fresh pot of coffee started." in Clara's voice.

You say "Oh... coffee, great idea. I'll be down in a moment. Just have to get out of uniform." into the communit.

[Travelspam to medbay deleted.]

Gesturing back towards the hallway, Kramer grins at Niko affably. "She's back there. Go on in, she said."

Niko lifts a hand towards Kramer, continuing on to Clara's office. "Thanks, Kramer."

You walk towards the Chief Aleron's Office.

Chief Aleron's Office

Bright and airy, this fair sized office is far from pretentious, but instead useful. A large wooden desk faces the doorway, a pair of pointillism paintings in soft pastels flanking either side of the wall behind it. A second desk adjoins to the first, branching back from one side, upon which a terminal and keyboard rest. A pair of fairly comfortable chairs face the desk for visitors, wooden with soothing sand colored upholstery. On one side of the door is a simple brass coatrack, and on the other a bit farther down the wall is a full sized synthetic human skeleton. Along the right hand wall, a low couch covered in brown velour looks frighteningly comfortable, graphic print depictions of Stilvani and Edreeni internal anatomy framed neatly above it. Across the room is a single bioscan bed, much like the ones outside, just as the easily cleaned white tile flooring is unchanged.

Contents:

Clara

Obvious exits:

Medical Bay

You walk here from the Medical Bay.

Clara is standing at the shelf behind her desk, pouring two mugs full of coffee. She glances over her shoulder at the sound of the door and smiles warmly. "Hey there." Her eyes flicker over the shirt, bringing a small laugh. "I like the shirt."

Niko offers a quick smile as he comes into the room. "Kramer said to come in?" At the comment, he glances at his shirt, and grins. "Ah, thanks. One of the few shirts I got on Evinast, which means that my evil sisters had nothing to do with it."

Clara carries the mugs around the desk and heads for the couch, in casual fatigues and a t-shirt herself, although the ever present lab coat hangs on the coat rack along with her cap for once. "Have a seat," she offers. "Yeah, I warned Kramer you were on the way."

Niko takes up residence on the other end of the couch. "Ahh, -warning- him?" he inquires, with a sudden grin. "Is that how it is? Well... I guess that makes sense."

Clara laughs easily, dropping into the opposite corner, although angled to face you so she can lean her elbow on the back of the couch easily. "So what was it that Riley approved of? Or should I fear to ask?"

Niko shakes his head, expression growing thoughtful. "No, it's actually a good thing. Denner's working on some way to gas his namesakes--the best answer would involve something like what a tangler does. I thought you might have some ideas on how he could do that."

Clara takes a long sip of her coffee, gaining that thoughtful academic look indicating her mind is racing. "A gas, huh? Except one that doesn't affect the humans using it. I'll have to get with Denner and see what he's come up with, then...do some testing. I'll have to call Colonel Smythe back too and see what he thinks."

Niko bobs his head in agreement. "Figured gas'd be easiest, yeah. Then we could use the scanners to round up the critters. I'm not sure what Denner's got so far, but he should be in for the late shift."

Clara gives a single nod of acknowledgement, shifting her mug to her other hand to balance it along the back of the couch against the wall. "I'll check in with him then," she agrees, then clears her throat and peers down at her knees. "Um. How was your day?"

Niko grins suddenly. "Oh, it was fine. Uneventful. I spent most of the shift babysitting monitors. Played a bit of catch with the new Lt. Commander."

Clara rolls her eyes, smirking thoroughly. "Uh-huh. I've heard about him, indeed. I can't believe I'm outranked by a furball. Is he as adorable as I'm afraid he is?"

Niko nods, looking decidedly pleased. "He's great. Loves playing catch--though I think we need to come up with another place than the hallway outside of security. He nearly mowed down poor Kya."

Clara bursts into laughter, having to set her mug on the small endtable on her side of the couch. "Oh, that's great! I'll just bet she -adored- that," she decides, snickering helplessly. "Just keep him out of Medbay, is all I ask. I'll come over -there- to visit, but I can't risk contamination in here."

Niko nods agreeably. "Sure, can do. He's usually in Security, except when someone takes him out to play. And he really is -cute-, Clara."

Clara's eyes dance as she grins at the comment. "I'm sure he is. He'll fit right in, then. Security goons always are adorable guys," she offers airily. "Let me guess...y'all even got him a gray collar with the proper pips?"

Niko ducks his head, perhaps at the comment about adorable guys, perhaps at his own answer to the question. "Well... yes. Just so everybody knows his rank, though," he adds, with an amused smile.

Clara shakes her head wryly, still grinning. "It figures. Still, having a dog around is a happy thing. I wish we could do it here, but I'd be zinged so hard the next time I'm inspected, I'd be tossed back into the real world."

Niko murmurs something about stress release, then nods, brows lowering a bit. "And that'd be -bad-. Nah, you can just come visit Pen. That'll work."

Clara glances back up from her knees with a faint smile. "Goodness knows why else I'd visit, as evil as Addison is," she teases.

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

Niko grins in response to the teasing, shaking his head. "Oh, yeah, the Chief's just horrible." He snorts quietly, adding, "He gave me the--ack." He reaches automatically for his tangler, only to realize that, as he's off-duty and all, he's not actually carrying it.

Clara glances over one shoulder at the sound, then back with her nose wrinkled in a grin. "Easy to get used to being armed, isn't it? He gave you the...?"

Niko peers about for the Denner once more, then says, turning his attention back to the conversation, "He gave me the info about the trip to the Monolith Mountains. It looks like it'll be... very interesting."

Clara lets her smile fade to an utter deadpan. "I should hope it will be. I'd just hate to see y'alpine away from dullness and boredom. Still, I'm betting you do have a good time."

Niko groans very quietly. "Ack, Clara, that was -bad-, and I don't even have my pad to make a note of it. I'll just have to remember." Chuckling, he adds, "It should be fun, yeah. The weather will be pretty good. As long as I don't make too big a fool of myself, I'll be fine."

Clara snickers quietly, pulling her legs in to rest tilted to the side on the couch, boots just dangling off the edge. "Thank you, thank you. I do try." She leans forward slightly, leaning the side of her head in her hand. "You're going to do fine. He wouldn't send you if he didn't think you would."

Niko says thoughtfully, "Unless he's sending me in the hopes that I'll get a little better. I am not," he adds, a bit sheepishly, "Skilled at ducking."

Clara arches her brows in surprise, head tilting downwards slightly. "You got tangled?" she asks quietly, making a guess. "It happens to everyone early on, Niko. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

Niko nods in answer to the question. "I'm not ashamed," he says candidly. "I made getting tangled into an art form. And it hasn't happened here... well, not yet, at least. I'm just highly in favor of using -paint-, as opposed to a tangler."

Clara makes a small, approving nod and leans back again, folding her hands in her lap. "Good. It's not any fun, but it's better to do it with a little grace, I always though." She smirks, shrugging. "Although I don't know how graceful one can get without motor control. Paint's -far- better, and lasers are even better than that. Just more difficult to use in a natural environment."

Niko nods affably. "Yeah, but there's Zimmies down in the Quarter. I'm just glad that we've not gone yet; Anya's been talking about how much better her efficiency's going to be than mine--and rightfuly so."

Clara perks up at the mention of the establishment, eyes widening with delight. "Zimmies is still open? Oh, wow...that brings back a few serious memories. Whew, I'll be Anya could likely shoot the hair of a horse, too. Security all puts on civvies, goes down, and whoops the heck out of a bunch of cadets?"

Niko nods, expression amused. "A bunch of kids, yeah," he says, lips quirking at the k-word. "Not necessarily cadets; some natives, too. The Chief says that they like to watch the kids' faces when they realize that these fogies are actually any good."

Clara falls back against the arm of the chair, laughing and clapping her hands together to lace her fingers. "I'll just bet! Especially since I've -been- one of the kids that got knocked down a peg or two. I don't remember Riley, but then again, it was several years ago. Our weapons instructors were always tickled when we got beat, since we worked so much harder."

Niko inclines his head in a nod, though he clearly doesn't find the joke -quite- as amusing as you do. "Seems like a good incentive, yeah. 'Got to do better, so we can beat the old fogies.' Yeah."

Clara finally stops snickering, although she did indeed find that wildly amusing. (Especially since her player's been in similar situation.) "You realize that as an officer, the cadets figure you're an old fogie now, right?" Her smile broadens slightly. "You're not, though. Not by a long shot."

Niko's brows arch. "That'll be a switch. Kaycen's been keen on calling me 'junior', and even Anya's nearly slipped up and called me 'kid', even though the Chief's given orders to the contrary." He shakes his head, still apparently finding that order amusing. "It'll be odd to be considered -old- by someone who isn't a small child."

Clara's brow furrows in good natured confusion. "Addison -ordered- folks not to call you 'kid'? A real order? Huh...the man constantly amazes me. Ah well, it's a good command." She shakes her head thoughtfully. "You're a full officer, and rate a 'sir' from most folks, so a modicum of respect is a good thing."

Niko wrinkles his nose just a bit at the s-word. "I -am- the youngest officer in Security, though, and it's better than -some- of the things they could call me. But I understand why he did it." He grins faintly. "Well, after I asked him about it, at least."

Clara thinks this over, pulling her knees up to wrap her arms about them. "He got called 'kid' too? Youngest blasted admiral I've ever met," she muses, then smiles up. "I promise not to call you kid? You make it pretty easy to forget your rank, anyway," she adds, almost shyly.

Niko's head bobs in a nod at the question. "'Boy' before 'kid', matter of fact." With a chuckle and a sudden grin for your last statement, he adds, "I'm not really sure how to take that. I -think- it's a compliment..."

Clara manages a small nod, smiling down at her knees. "It is, yeah." She glances up with a brow raised dryly. "You'd rather I addressed you as 'Ensign'? I'd rather not, since that'd mean reciprocating, and my own rank's just confusing."

Niko wrinkles her nose. "Clara, please," he says plaintively. "I've got more than enough nicknames--you can pick any of -them-, but 'Ensign' still falls off when I turn around too quickly."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara chuckles, waving a hand lightly. "You'll get used to it. I still keep expecting to be called 'Cadet Aleron' every time I put in an official call. I'll stick to Niko? It fits you," she adds.

Niko nods affably. "That works. It was the first of the nicknames, so I'm the most used to it. Beats what Anya calls me," he adds, with a laugh. "'Flowerchild'. Honestly, I never should have let her see that shirt."

Clara blinks in suprised amusement. "Flowerchild? Oooh, from that flowerdy shirt you were wearing when we first met, yeah. I know how that goes, really. I have a few interesting monikers from my jacket. It's a good shirt though. Very...uh, noticeable."

Niko just shakes his head. "It's Losi's fault, evil child. She made me promise to wear it. I can't admit that I like it, though," he adds, with a grin. "Goodness, no. Then she'd -win-."

"Little sister?" Clara asks, starting to absently draw circles on the cushion of the couch with one hand. "No sibling rivalry going on there, I can tell. Nope, none a bit."

Niko nods, a fond grin crossing his face. "She's actually a sweetheart--the one I was holding, in that picture you saw. She just likes teasing me. She and Cip took me out shopping, last time I was home, and that's what resulted."

Clara shakes her head, leaning forward the distance and reaching out to tap at the patch on your knee. "Looks like you either need to go again, or visit the Supply Lieutenant for a casual uniform. Not that I have room to talk. You have more civvies than I do."

Niko peers at the patch--or maybe your hand. "Is there something wrong with it? It's not torn or anything. That's why the -patch- is there."

Clara grins as she pulls back and resettles with her arms wrapped around her knees. "It's fine, silly. I was teasing you, is all. Actually, you look really nice in that. I tend to forget that men can wear more than a uniform, at times."

Niko ahhs softly, a quick grin crossing his face. "Okay, that's better. And I mostly lived in uniform on Evinast. The change is nice."

Clara tilts her head against the wall, bemused. "I only have one dress that's not uniform," she admits. "But then, the AF's done my shopping for me for ten years now, so I guess I got lazy. Still, the lady at the store said it was pretty, so I took her word for it."

Niko suggests, with a quick smile, "I'm sure it's a very nice dress, Clara, but it doesn't matter. You'll look great in whatever it is, I'm sure."

Clara seems somewhat taken aback by the compliment, then actually blushes and drops her eyes. "Thank you," she replies. "I...don't know what to say."

Niko says mildly, "You said 'thank you'. That's generally a good response." With a grin, he adds, "You -do- know how gorgeous you are, don't you? I can't be the first person to have said something like that.

Clara clears her throat, for some reason reddening a bit further as she shrugs slightly. "Aaah, that's kind of hard to say. Both Rhys and the Chief have mentioned that Fleet men tend to look past a uniform at a woman...but other than that? Not since, er, not in six years. No."

Niko shakes his head slowly, clearly a bit puzzled. "Then all the men who've been around you for the past six years are either visually impaired or..." He grins. "Well, less candid. Am I saying too much?" he adds, expression shifting to concern. "I really -don't- mean to embarrass you."

Clara glances back up, managing a small smile. "All the men I've been around have either been other doctors, men in my troop, enlisted, or old enough to be my father, too." She sighs faintly and shakes her head. "You're fine. I actually prefer you to be completely honest."

A slow smile crosses Niko's face. "Well... yes, honesty is generally good. -Complete- honesty, though, could be embarrassing for both of us."

Clara lifts a brow slowly, head tilting as her curiosity is piqued. "Oh, don't tell me that, Niko. Haven't you ever heard that curiosity killed the physician? Well, something like that, at least."

Niko shakes his head, expression mingling amusement and that embarrassment he mentioned. "Sorry, Clara. Maybe in a few months. Now really -isn't- the time."

Clara lifts her head, expression faded into a gentle smile. "I was teasing you, hey? You don't have to say a word, if you don't want." She clears her throat again and turns back to reach for her mug. "Anyway, ah...did you find out when you're leaving for the Monoliths?"

Niko's head bobs in a nod. "Yes," he says, looking a bit relieved at the segue. "Miazaki fifth--just over two weeks. And we'll be gone for about a month."

Clara nods affably, expression returned to neutral although harboring just a hint of the earlier blush. "Sounds good. It's a good time of year for it, too. A whole month? Heck, you'll forget how to live like a civilized human being. It's fun, though."

Niko nods once more, saying airily, "Civilization's overrated, anyway." With a smile, he adds, "It'll be good to get away from the diplomats and the Denners and the paperwork and such." He hesitates, then adds quietly, "I'll miss Anya, though. And the Chief. Well, and you, too, of course."

Clara waves a dismissive hand, unfolding to rise to her feet with a bright grin. "Naah, don't even worry about the lot of us. Anya will keep us all in line, anyway. More coffee?" she offers, sweeping up her own mug.

Niko shakes his head. "No, thanks," he murmurs. "I'm fine. And Anya -will- keep y'all in line. Has she set up a time for you to look after Addie?"

Clara shakes her head affably, sweeping off around the other side of her desk again to face away while she refills her mug. "I haven't had a chance to talk to her about it yet, no. What with the few emergencies lately, flight physicals, and whatnot, it's kept me pretty busy."

You hear a soft purring noise from... somewhere. Maybe there's a Zaeltan stuck in a wall. But if there is, Riley didn't put it there.

Niko shakes his head fractionally at the dreaded p-word, then nods. His head's going all over the place. "I'm sure she'll be glad to wait on you," he murmurs, with wry understatement. He eyes the wall, with a quiet groan. "I swear, if they've gotten in the tunnels -again-..."

Clara turns about, taking a long drink from the mug as she comes back around, this time to perch on the corner of her desk rather than the couch. "If they did, Denner and I will whip up a gas to knock the poor little critters out, and you fellas can sweep them up. It'll work out fine."

Niko chuckles very quietly. "Clara, you've just got to stop being logical. You're taking all the fun out of my complaining."

Clara sets her mug down and makes a half bow, hands pressed together like a Japanese monk. "Very satisfactory," she approves, then grins. "It's part of my job to blow the wind out of you fellas' sails sometimes, y'know. Therapeutic deflation of ego."

Niko hmphs softly, though he's obviously amused. "You must've given Anya lessons--or maybe it's a woman thing. My sisters do exactly the same thing."

Clara snickers, folding her arms. "It's a conspiracy, yeah. All of us women got together and decided to make sure men never got too full of themselves. Is it working?"

Niko sets aside his coffee mug and stretches, legs becoming a traffic hazard worthy of Dizz, were we on another world. "It surely is," he says, with a grin. "And just in time, too. I was about due for an ego-deflation."

Clara snaps her eyes away towards the rendering of Edreeni anatomy on the wall rather than be caught watching the stretch and presses her thumb and index finger together as if holding a pin and poking it forwards. "Pop. You're deflated."

Niko says mildly, "You joke, but Losi actually -uses- a pin, the little monster."

Clara's gaze falls back, astonished. "You're joking...really? That's -awful-! She really tries to hurt you?"

Niko looks a bit abashed. "No, it was a joke... well, kind of. She was pretty young, and misunderstood something Gigia said to Mom. We laugh about it, but only -now-."

Clara is still fairly stunned, slipping off the corner of the desk. "It didn't cause any permanent damage, did it? Wait, no...just a pin probably wouldn't." She utters a slightly nervous laugh and reperches on the desk. "What'd your ... grandmother? Say to your mother?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko shakes his head. "No permanent damage," he reassures. "No damage at all, just stung for a bit--but I yelled, and she got scared, and general chaos resulted." He shakes his head, then adds, "Gigia's my grandmother, yes. And she said--" He pauses, brows lowered. "Hm. Well, she basically said that I was getting a swelled head, that someone needed to deflate me. It was right after I found out about the scholarship to go to Hellas City, and she was still displeased about the whole thing."

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

"A scholarship..." Clara echoes, quietly impressed. "I suppose I can see why you'd have been so pleased about it. Why wasn't your grandmother?" she asks, casually tugging the scanner from her belt and tossing it over her shoulder at the sound of the Denner.

Niko peers after the scanner. "Nice shot, but it still escaped. And Gigia didn't want me to leave. It'd be flouting tradition, all that. I was the first of my family to leave Mathriki, then the first--and only--to leave Hellas. It's been rough on her, but she's accepted it. Mostly."

Clara nods affably. "Thanks. Not much damage a scanner can do, but the noise shuts the critters up at least." Her lips quirk as she peers down at one of her boots. "Most of my family's never been off Earth, but my grandfather was a spacer, sort of. I'll bet your grandmother's actually proud of you, though."

Niko inquires curiously, "How can one be sort of a spacer? And I suppose she is." He smiles fondly. "She's Gigia. That's really all that matters."

Clara can't help but echo the smile, with a hint of approval. "Family's important," she agrees quietly, then chuckles. "Grandpa -used- to work for the government and was even military. Ground forces, like me. He's off in some Guild now, though. He doesn't talk about it much."

Niko nods emphatically to the statement regarding the importance of family, then ahs at the explanation. "Sounds like a busy man," he says, with a grin. "Is this the one who is a linguist? I seem to remember you threatening to have some relative tell my mother all the horrible things I've been saying about her."

Clara laughs quietly, nodding as she edges farther onto the desk to swing her feet. "That's him. He went to school on Earth for it, where he met my grandmother. He tries everytime I see him to teach me a new language, and it never works."

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

Niko inquires, with a quick smile that somehow manages to be a bit hopeful, "Does he really speak Hellenic? I mean... I'm sure he could learn it, but it's rather an obscure language, even if it -is- based on Greek, from Terra."

Clara tilts her head, considering this. "I don't know? I'm pretty sure he knows Greek...saints, even I know a little Greek from med school. But I don't know about variants of it. He's in his seventies, so I'm sure he's had a little exposure to a lot of languages by now. Why?"

Niko makes a rather dismissive gesture. "Just curious." With a quick smile, he adds, "Just wondering whether I needed to warn Mom about strange grandfathers bearing tales."

Clara laughs merrily, shaking her head. "I doubt it. He stays at home most of the time now with his wife. I catch up with them and my aunt and uncle on vacation sometimes since they all work for the same company." She straightens, mildly embarrassed. "But you didn't come visit to hear me natter about my family. What about you? You're the oldest of all your siblings?"

Niko rests an elbow on the couch's arm, pillowing his chin in a cupped hand. "I like hearing you natter about your family," he teases gently, "But, yes, I'm the oldest."

Clara lets her eyes flicker over the posture, then almost absently reaches back to straighten a stack of paperwork. "Must be nice," she murmurs. "Uh, Niko, if you've got things to do, you don't have to sit here with me. It's okay, really."

Niko's brows slowly lift, and he shakes his head. "I'm off-duty, and I wrote to Losi before I called you. The only thing I have to do yet tonight is sleep, and--" He pauses, clearly stopping the words, then smiles rather sheepishly. "I like talking with you. But if you've work or something, I can make myself scarce."

Clara doesn't pursue the cut off question, almost palpably avoiding it, but does smile back. "No, I'm free. I had early shift today from 0400 to 1200, then went shopping with Rhys. I just don't want to keep you from anything important."

Niko just watches you for a moment, slowly straightening so that he's sitting upright once more. "I'm enjoying myself, and relaxing," he says softly. "I think that counts as something important, hm?" He pauses, then says, "Can I be candid again? Complete honesty, this time?"

Clara reaches out with one foot to drag one of the chairs closer to rest her foot on, leaning on that knee with folded arms as she nods expressionlessly. "If you like."

Niko leans forward, resting his bent arms just behind his knees. "I won't do anything that will make you uncomfortable," he says, gaze seeking yours. "I'll -try- not to say anything that will make you uncomfortable, though that's more difficult. But, you're... well, you're -you-, and you're beautiful and intelligent, and you're actually giving me the time of day, so there are some things that I can't help thinking. I have no control over that. But I'm not going to act on what I'm thinking. I have some self-control. All right?"

Clara returns the gaze for a long, serious moment, then nods once before dropping her eyes, still quiet for several moments more. "If that's what you prefer," she agrees in a fairly quiet voice. "I never imagined you might not have self-control."

Niko pauses a moment. "What do you mean," he asks, perhaps a bit baffled, "If that's what I prefer?"

Clara looks back up from her knees, looking as if she can't decide to retreat behind a grin and a joke or remain serious. "I...I mean, if that's the way you would rather have things, that's fine with me." She coughs and bounces to her feet then, finally breaking into a grin as she straightens the chair. "Anyway, we're off duty, so no worries."

Niko smiles in response to the grin and the bounce. "No worries," he agrees quietly, expression thoughtful. "Clara... I... what do -you- want? It's not all me, after all."

"Hmm? Me? Oh, what any doctor wants. No house calls, all my patients to be congenial, plenty of sack time, and a stack of good books," Clara replies airily, leaning back against her desk again before catching you look and faltering. "But...that isn't what you meant, is it?"

Niko shakes his head slowly, with the faintest of smiles. "No," he agrees. "That isn't. You don't -have- to answer," he adds, "But I'd really rather you did."

Clara heaves herself away from the desk again, almost frenetically, and heads back to the couch to flop back into her corner, pulling her knees back in and staring at them. "That's a really hard question for me to answer, Niko. It's been so long since I was attracted to a man, I don't even remember how to behave. I just remember to be careful."

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Niko reaches out to touch your chin, as if in preparation for attempting to lift your gaze, then retracts the gesture. "Careful... well, careful's good, yes--go -away-." That last is, naturally, directed towards the source of the chittering, though Niko refrains from throwing anything at the critter. He takes a deep breath, muttering about tanglers, then adds, with markedly less heat, "Careful's safe."

Clara's eyes close at the faint touch, followed by the ghost of a sigh as it retreats. "Careful's very safe," she agrees, by now ignoring the random chittering in the walls. "Being back in civilization's confusing." She looks back up, finally abandoning the temptation to make a pun. "But you know about being careful, I think."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

[Uh, I must have edited this out. Niko said something to the effect of knowing what happens when one is -not- careful.]

Clara returns the smile slowly, then looks back down as she nods once. "A distinction worthy of noting. Carelessness has...definite consequences." She swallows, then manages a quiet laugh. "We're being awfully cautious again, did you notice?"

Niko's head bobs in a slow nod. "I think," he says softly, "That there are reasons that you're being careful, just as there are reasons that I am."

Clara is quiet for several long moments, only the random squeal or chirp from the walls echoing in the room before she finally exhales a gust of sigh and pushes up from the couch, grinning. "I'll tell you what. Going through the 'noticing boys' stage at twelve is appropriate. At 27, it's embarrassing. Did you want to change the subject?" she asks forthrightly.

Niko offers a droll smile, then considers your question for a moment. "I don't know," he says finally. "Part of me just wants to avoid the subject altogether. Part of me thinks... get it out in the open, all that. Get it over with." He adds, gesturing towards his shirt with a short chuckle, "Or something else. That vague enough for you?"

Clara stops the pacing she'd started and folds her arms in front of herself as if cold, although the room is comfortable. "That's your choice, Niko. If you want to discuss just what's making us both so uncomfortable and cautious, I can, but it's not the most pleasant topic for off duty relaxing."

Niko passes a hand across his face, rubbing at his forehead. "Clara," he says, words somewhat muffled by the fact that his hand is still covering his face. "My family's matriarchal. I am genetically incapable of making decisions without input." He lowers his hand, adding softly, "If -we- are going to be discussing something uncomfortable, I think it should be -our- decision to do it."

Clara stares for a long moment, then finally realizes that that was actually funny and finds a grin from somewhere before returning to the couch, lowering back down hesitantly. "I don't really think it's genetic, but if it is, can I have a blood sample?" she asks with quiet humor. "I really don't mind discussing it, actually. Now...if this is -our- decision, then that means you have to choose too, mister," she adds, still faintly smiling.

A small, adorably cute creature zips into your general vicinity. It makes a squealing noise, then continues on its way, quickly enough that one would have to have been looking right at it to see it.

Niko starts to speak, then pauses, gaze flickering after the Denner. "I suppose... I mean, I guess it'd be a good idea. Honesty is good, knowledge is power, all that."

Clara tilts her head to give you a speculative look, then prompts gently, "But it sounds like you'd rather not. That's okay with me, too," she adds softly.

Niko shakes his head, with a quick smile. "No. It's okay. It's just not something I think about very often, that's all."

Clara starts to say something, then hesitates and takes a deep breath before venturing, "Was it that long ago?" she asks with quiet interest.

Niko shakes his head, with a slight smile. "It depends on your perspective. My life has just changed a lot since then--I was seventeen--so it's easy to think of it as something that happened a long time ago."

"So young," Clara murmurs with a faint headshake and smile. "Four years is long enough, I'd say. It's only been six for me, so not much longer. A girl?"

Niko nods, with a reflective smile. "Zinha. We were both too young, fell head over heels, and things just progressed too quickly. Neither of us were really ready." He takes a breath, then asks softly, "Have you ever looked back and wondered what would happen if you'd just made -one- decision differently? Said no instead of yes..." He shakes his head.

"Often," Clara agrees faintly, leaning back against the couch sideways to give you her complete attention. "Many, many times." She hesitates, then shakes her head. "And you made the wrong decision?"

Niko nods silently, with a small smile. He inhales deeply, then says, "We both did. It was a mutual decision. Mutual mistake." He is again silent for a long monent, then says slowly, "We didn't know she was pregnant until she lost the baby. Everything... fell apart after that. Not the best of reactions, but we were kids."

Clara closes her eyes, then looks off to the side, expression frozen for a long moment. "I'm so sorry," she finally manages, then inhales a long breath and holds out a hand to you. "I really am. That had to hurt."

Niko enfolds your hand in both of his, nodding slowly. "Yes," he agrees simply. "It did. But it was harder on her." He offers you a faint smile, adding, "She's married, now. Got a beautiful little girl, four--no, five months old. So it worked out well in the end."

Clara's lips quirk to return the smile slightly. "Things always do, though. If that's one thing I've learned more than anything else, it's that it all works out for the best in the end. Is...this why you joined the Fleet?"

Niko nods slightly. "That was part of it, at least. Getting away was good." With a quiet chuckle, he adds, "That was one time when I was very glad of Mathraki's low technology level. My family would have disowned me if they'd found out about it."

Clara glances off to the side, her smile turning a bit wry. "I nearly was," she murmurs, then grins back. "But they never did, and it's all in the past. Both of you sound like you're better off...and perhaps stronger for all that it was painful."

Niko nods slowly. "I think so," he says thoughtfully. "I don't know that I would've gone to Evinast if it hadn't happened--I could still be on Hellas. Not such a bad thing, I guess, but I'm happy with how things are now."

"Amazing how just one event can totally alter your life," Clara muses, then sighs and tightens her hand in yours slightly, moving a bit closer so as not to have to stretch her arm or yours the length of the couch. "I'm glad you're happy now. You seem to fit here."

Niko smiles at that. "Thanks. I'd like to think I do." He's silent for a moment, then murmurs, "Well... now you know my deep, dark secret--and why I'm careful."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Clara glances down at her knees again with a somewhat wistful smile. "My turn, I guess? Scarily, it's a lot like yours, except I was older." She peers back up with a single raised brow and a small grin. "Do you know much about the Academy?"

Niko shakes his head. "Just rumors, mostly. Gators in the sewers, as the Chief would say."
/P>

Clara can't help but laugh at that, the repetition breaking a certain amount of tension. "Most of it -is- gators in the sewers. Anyway, Eddie and I hooked up our senior year. No problem. We both stayed after commission, he in flight school, me in medschool. And then he got his assignment...and I hear he's in the Denali system now. Uh...I had to go AWOL after that."

Niko's brows lift very slowly. "Had to?" he inquires gently, hands tightening ever so slightly on yours.

Clara's eyes focus on your hands as she nods slightly, keeping her voice light. "Mmm. See, regs say that if an Academy student, cadet or commissioned, is with child, it's an automatic and full discharge." She shrugs faintly. "So at seven months, when I was twenty-one, I went AWOL to finish the term. And then I went back to school."

Niko is quiet for a long moment, mulling over your words. "That must have been very difficult," he says finally. He's got questions, clearly, but he's not going to voice them.

Clara manages a soft laugh, shrugging as she looks up with an almost tired expression. "I escaped with just a halfblack, which is how I knew what you were going through the other night. What?" she prompts gently. "What is it?"

Niko gnaws on his upper lip for a moment. "You've got a child?" His tone holds no judgement--carefully so, in fact--but does sound just a bit confused.

Clara considers that for a moment, then shakes her head slowly. "No. Her adoptive parents have a child. I'm no mother," she says with a hint of wistfulness. "To my knowledge, they're here on Linnae somewhere...but I don't know where."

Niko shakes his head slowly, lifting one hand from yours to rest it on your shoulder, gripping gently. "That's a decision I'm very glad I never had to make," he says softly, expression holding deep sympathy.

Clara lifts her hand to rest her fingers on yours at her shoulder, returning your look with one of almost serene acceptance. "It was the -only- decision, Niko. I couldn't care for her, I knew that. And she wouldn't have had a father. Anyway." She sighs softly. "And now we both know what we're both so worried about."

Niko can't help but chuckle quietly. "And found out a similarity that we didn't know existed. How very odd."

Clara nods with a faintly amused quirk of her brows, then starts to climb to her feet, albeit reluctantly. "Very odd indeed. I don't know what it is about Linnae, that I start to notice men again."

Niko rests his hands on his knees as you get to your feet. "Maybe it's something in the air," he says lightly. "I'd suggest that it was me, but, well, your ego-deflating just worked too well for that."

Clara spins about slowly to give you an incredulously amused look. "I'm better than I thought I was, then. Look here, mister Security Officer, I'll have you know that of all the men I've noticed so far, you're the one that I can't help but notice daily. I'd say that's -your- fault," she notes with a grin.

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Niko glances briefly over one shoulder. Not seeing the Denner, however, he turns back to you, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement, and, it must be said, no small amount of pleasure. "Daily? Wow. Well. I'll try to do better, then, ma'am. Can't distract you too much, after all." His tone, one of fond teasing, softens. "I can't say that I'm not glad, though, Clara."

"Darn straight," Clara replies with mock-haughtiness, but can't hold the expression and folds her arms again as she lowers back to the couch, head leaned back against the wall. "You're sure you don't mind? I mean, that I find you attractive?" She seems to be on a bluntness roll.

Niko stares at you for a moment, one short, incredulous laugh escaping him. "Mind? I've been -hoping- for it, just about since I met you. Ask the Chief. He's been commenting on my og--er, noticing you since the week after you got here, I think." He shakes his head, bemused grin crossing his face. "No, I think it's safe to say that I -definitely- don't mind."

Clara peers up at the ceiling for a moment in exasperation. "I'm not asking that man -anything- about romance. Not a chance, no way, uh-uh. I'd already been targeted with a few choice questions about him from others, which is bad enough." Something seems to click for her then as she abruptly turns to face you, startled. "Wait a minutes...you mean, that night? When I walked in security? Were you talking about me?"

Niko asks softly, with a slow nod and an abashed smile, "Why do you think I got so angry with him?"

Clara can't help but laugh, astonished. "Oh, wow...oh, Niko, you have to believe me when I say I had no idea. I just figured it was one of the nurses. Giani, maybe. She's utterly adorable."

Niko's head bobs in a short nod. "I guess," he agrees. "But she's not you." He rakes a hand through his short hair, sending it into as much disarray as possible, then adds, "And I believe you, of course, my heart was right about here for that entire conversation." He gently touches his Adam's apple.

Clara lifts a hand automatically to smooth the hair back down, but almost jerks it back to her lap with an apologetic look. "Sorry," she murmurs. "Bless your heart, I wondered what was wrong with you. I just thought it was job stress."

Niko says mildly, "Clara, if you -want- to play with my hair, by all means, feel free." He grins boyishly then, adding, "Well... not quite job stress, except that my boss was the direct source. I swear, I just wanted to -smack- him. He apologized afterwards, though. He's a good guy."

Out of the corner of your eye, you see something moving. You get the impression that it's very, very cute.

Clara gives her head a quick, remarkably shy shake for such a normally outspoken woman. Grinning down at the couch, she sighs. "I know he felt bad about it. I went and talked to him afterwards...he never once let slip that it was me you two were referring to."

Niko tips his head back and forth, then shrugs. "Well, to be honest, I'm surprised you didn't hear earlier. All of Security knew, pretty much. Anya just about pushed me at you--and, of course, she was right."

Clara glances up with a wry smirk. "I didn't notice because I'd been busy fending off accusations from my own staff about Addison and me. And when you asked me out...it was one of the biggest surprises I've had in a long time. And one of the most pleasant."

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

Niko blinks twice. "The Chief? Huh. That'd be... interesting, I guess. But why was it a surprise?" He finally does smooth his hair back into place, with the exception of one curl that apparently has decided that it wants to stick up at a bizarre angle. "Though I guess I can't really say anything about surprises, as I was morbidly certain you were going to turn me down."

"Interesting isn't the word. Illegal is the word," Clara answers cheerfully, and finally gives in to temptation and lifts a hand to that one stubborn curl, attempting to smooth it back into place. "Not a chance I'd turn you down. I'll admit the age difference scares me, but you're handsome and intelligent, and you groan at my puns. I'd be an idiot to turn down a date with you."

Niko attempts to peer up at his hair to see just what is the matter with it, but, well, that's impossible, so he gives up after a moment. In fact, his head ducks just a bit at the praise. "Okay, see, the ego-deflating will only keep for so long, and you're increasing the rate of return just there. Exponential curve," he adds, one finger tracing the proper shape in the air. "In other words," he adds, with a quiet chuckle, "Thank you."

Clara winces and tugs her hand away again, managing another apologetic smile. "Sorry," she murmurs, then makes that pin motion again with her hand again. "Pop. All better?"

Niko shakes his head, with a faint grin. "Clara, you're allowed to play with my hair. I was just wondering if there was a reason, that's all. No need to apologize. And that's much better, yes. I can hear the ego fleeing... no, wait, that's just a Denner."

Clara coughs slightly and has the grace to look utterly embarrassed. "Um. Niko? Can I admit something to you?" she ventures, then peers over your shoulder towards the skeleton. "You're sure? I could have sworn I got that pesky ego..."

Niko looks a bit puzzled, but nods. "Admit away, whatever you like."

Clara folds her arms about herself again, and actually turns a fair shade of dark red. "Uh...see, I sort of went to an all-girl's school. Actually making physical contact with a man, even something simple, is...well, I'm not really sure how to go about it." She glances sidelong sheepishly. "Despite obvious circumstances that point to the opposite."

Niko apparently takes that in stride, though his eyebrows, in lifting, give him away. Dang caterpillars don't know when to behave themselves. "Oh," he says mildly. "Well. I'll bear that in mind? You seem to be doing pretty well so far, if that's any consolation."

Clara shakes her head quickly as if to clear it, then pushes to her feet and heads for her mug. "Thank you," she replies rapidly, flashing a grin back. "Okay, enough of that. Silly stuff, eh? Oh, bother...it's cold," she adds, staring into her mug with dismay.

You hear a soft purring noise from... somewhere. Maybe there's a Zaeltan stuck in a wall. But if there is, Riley didn't put it there.

Niko grins after you, then peerse into his own mug. "I'd offer mine, but, well, it's likely the same temperature. And I wouldn't say -silly-. It's just something to learn." His expression turns a bit mirthful. "Uh, like drums, kind of." He's learned. He's ignoring the purring.

"Mmm," Clara replies almost noncommittally, then heads around behind the desk to check the coffee pot and sighs. "Sludge. I thought I'd gotten used to not drinking that." She flicks off the pot's power and comes back around the desk and back to the couch, sitting on the very edge and leaning on her knees. "I'm glad we had a chance to talk," she finally says after finishing figiting.

Niko asks softly, "What did I say wrong? And don't say 'nothing', please?"

Clara tenses slightly, but relaxes just as quickly and offers a warm smile up at you. "You didn't say anything wrong," she offers gently. "I'm just still trying not to be nervous and scare you out of here." Her words seem to click the instant after she says them, as she blurts out, "Not that I mind if you leave, though. I mean, I know there's things you likley have to do..."

Niko inclines his head. "I should go sleep before too much longer," he admits. "Nearly fell asleep watching the monitor this afternoon. But not for a bit. And being nervous won't scare me away... but why are you nervous?" His head tips to one side, and he regards you rather quizzically. "Is this something you'd rather not learn?"

Clara starts to stand up again, then abruptly sits back down to peer up with confusion. "Something I'd rather not learn?" she repeats, puzzled. "I don't...think so?" She leans back and takes a long breath followed by a laugh. "Its my natural reaction to coming clean. Nervous energy." She glances over at your shirt. "Tell me about Evinast?"

Niko shakes his head slowly back and forth. "I can't," he says seriously. "It's a secret." Then he grins just a bit. "I didn't really see much, except for Tech--the school I attended. That section of the city centered on the school, catered to the students, all that. I was kept pretty busy. And you know about school. It couldn't have been that different."

Clara nods in an equal deadpan. "I know. If you told me, you'd have to kill me," she agrees solemnly before a snicker breaks through. "It can be different. Did you have to march to and from classes?"

Niko shakes his head. "Some. Not all. What was fun was remembering which was which. First term, that gave me the -worst- time."

Clara mulls this over, then ventures, "I've heard the military program at real schools is maybe a little less intensive, but that you learn more academically. I guess it balances out."

Niko's brows lift. "I think the Academy counts as a 'real' school," he says lightly. "Tech was just a different variety. We did have some great instructors, though."

Clara chuckles at the protest, nodding. "It is a real school. I meant a school where not everyone is a cadet, though. I know what you mean about the instructors, though. I miss school sometimes...but I also like where I am, so I don't think I'll go back."

Niko's shoulders quiver in a mock-shudder. "Maybe I'll miss school in a few years. Now, though... the real world is much more attractive." He starts to sit tailor-fashion, then pauses. Shoes on the couch, apparently, are not a good thing. "What would you study, if you went back?"

Clara reaches out to tap the patch again. "Go ahead, I don't mind," she offers quietly, then leans back against the wall to consider this. "Obstetrics, I think. Specializing in xenobiological gynecology and delivery." She grins over at you, head still against the wall. "Delivering Edreeni kiddos."

An eerie chittering echoes behind you, "To loh kaaa!"

Niko shakes his head. "Even with the three days and all? You're a brave lady." With a wicked grin, he adds, "I put that in my last letter home. I'm hoping that Losi will report the reaction accurately." He moves to sit tailor-fashion, then, adding, "I can see how that'd be handy here, though. You'd have to be sure to learn about the Sectassians. Baby factories." And, yes, he does sound a bit disparaging.

Clara grimaces thoroughly. "Wonderful. I had forgotten that. Prolific race, aren't they? I'm awfully glad most species are at least somewhat monogomous. Or at least, don't much more than pair or triple bond at a time."

Niko holds up five fingers. "If he weren't so obnoxious, I'd be impressed by Saaranus," he says, with a wry grin. That grin turns to a yawn, and he shakes his head. "Hm. Bed would likely be a good idea, I'm afraid."

Clara's lips curve in a slow smile as she nods and edges up to her feet. "I'm glad you came down here tonight," she offers. "Sleep well, okay?"

You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

Niko gets to his feet as well. "I'm glad, too," he murmurs. "And I'll sleep well, of course." He watches you for a moment, with a half-smile, then extends his hands towards yours, palms up. No critter just announced that it sees us, no way.

Clara hesitates, giving you a thoughtful look that darts to your hands, then back up to your eyes as she places her hands on yours. Didn't hear a thing, nope. Totally random. "You'd better," she offers with quiet humor. "You're too big for me to kick out of here."

Niko just takes your hands, nothing too terrifying. He looks for a moment like he's going to do something else, then makes the smallest of headshakes, lips quirking. "Ahh, you'd be surprised." He gives your hands a gentle squeeze, then releases them. "You sleep well, too, okay?"

Clara simply watches you with that same bemused expression, although perhaps a hint of disappointment shot with relief flashes through her features. "I'll walk you out to the elevator?" she offers, taking a step back. "I probably ought to hit the library for a while, at least."

Niko nods agreeably. "Sure. I'm always glad to have your company." If he notices the disappointment or the relief, he doesn't say anything, but instead heads for medbay.

You walk towards the Medical Bay.

Medical Bay

Even the circulation of air can't quite keep the antiseptic smell from this room. Immaculately clean, the tiles of the floor are the same pristine white as the walls. Gadgets and gizmos abound. The highest medical technology available for all the races that might conceivably come to the station are present. A pair of beds near the door provide places for emergent cases, their bioscan devices ready for monitoring. Door lead to rooms for surgery, short-term care, and long-term care. (OOC note: To set your room doing, try 'I'm <doing>'.)

Contents:

Niko, standing by the door.

Obvious Exits:

Chief's Office Elevator Lounge

You walk here from the Chief Aleron's Office.

Clara walks here from the Chief Aleron's Office.

Clara has arrived.

You hear a piercing voice announce, "Kay ay-ay u-nye!"

Clara follows Niko out, still blissfully ignoring any little voices, and nods to the night nurse absently on the way through Medbay proper.

You head towards the Second Floor Elevator Lounge.

Second Floor Elevator Lounge

Despite being one of the major hubs of activity in the Complex, few people linger here. While there are usually people present, usually they are on their way to someplace else. The lobby is nice enough, with broad tapestries hung on richly paneled walls, and floors of veined black marble; but it is

simply too busy for most people to stop and chat in. The occasional tasteful potted plant lurks in the corners, and large mirrors are hung near the elevators for passing lobbyists to check their appearances before descending to the main level. Corridors lead to the northeast and southwest.

Contents:

Riley

Obvious exits:

Elevator General Housing Library Security Maintenance Medical

You arrive from the Medical Bay.

Clara arrives from the Medical Bay.

Clara has arrived.

Despite as much height as any Edreeni, Riley is entirely human. Much to his chagrin, his chocolate colored hair is floomphy-curly, and tends to have a life of its own. His eyes are the exact same shade of brown as his hair, although they are flecked lightly with greenish specks. Large hands and feet, even considering his six foot eight frame, and bluntly normal features add to a relatively harmless image. He has a low clear voice, although it is often affected by a slight accent.

Riley is, oddly enough, -not- in uniform. Instead he's wearing clothing that it is perhaps kind to call 'casual'. Despite his height he's managed to find jeans that are too long and have been rolled up into less than neat cuffs. Said cuffs drop untidily over a pair of scuffed running shoes that might have once been white but now are an ashy kind of gray. He also wears a red and blue plaid shirt of thick flannel. The wrinkled quality of said shirt implies a decided lack of familiarity with an iron. The shirt is unbuttoned and hangs open to reveal a cotton t-shirt with a host of little black and white penguins scattered across it.

A holster at his left hip holds a rather businesslike silver-and black plasma bolter. The odd snub-nosed design is characteristic of nerve-tanglers.

Having gotten kicked out of the library, Riley's sitting against the wall, most assuredly not in uniform. He's got a datareader in one hand and is using the other to pitch Pen's ball much to the mutt's delight.

Niko comes to a halt as he spots Riley, expression a bit concerned. "Uh, Chief? Everything okay?" Naturally, he hunkers down to greet Pen, too, should the dog deign to leave his ball.

Clara backpedals, having been following Niko with a particularly thoughtful expression before her eyes widen and she takes a fairsized step back at the sight of Pen. "Oh...dog. Big dog," she murmurs, then clears her throat. "Evening, Riley."

The black and white mutt bounds up to Niko. Presumably he decides Niko needs a good bath and goes about giving him one.

Riley glances up, "Hmm, oh yeah. I was just reading. They kicked me out of the library, and I didn't want to head back to security just yet. Evening Clara."

Niko is literally unable to keep from laughing, agreeably sits down on the floor, the better to pet and generally fuss over the dog. "Yes, I know, I'll get a shower," he mutters, patiently enduring the bath. "Kicked out?" he inquires, "What, did you try to take Pen in?"

Clara stays back agains the wall by the door into Medbay, watching silently as the dog being fussed over with wide eyes and not interrupting.

Riley chuckles quietly, shaking his head head just enough to set chocolate colored curls to bobbing. "Nope, they just wanted the terminals for research and some meeting they're having in there than me spooling up bad novels." He peers at Clara a moment, "Have you met the Lt. Commander yet, Clara?"

Out of the corner of your eye, you see something moving. You get the impression that it's very, very cute.

Clara tears her glance away from the dog and up to Riley, shaking her head with that same wide-eyed expression. "I haven't actually seen a dog in fifteen years, sir," she replies, startled into formality. "He's...large."

Niko ahhs his understanding, then looks over to grin at Clara, clearly anticipating some form of positive reaction. His expression turns quizzical as he actually sees her, though. "Pen's a sweetie," he offers, adding to the dog, "Aren't you, huh? Just a big sweetie."

Riley places a spread fingered hand over his heart, "Well then, this is Lt. Commander Pen Quinn. Pen, this is Clara. Now be nice and let her play with the ball."

Clara clears her throat and takes a few steps forward before crouching down to venture a grin and a salute. "Hey there, Lt. Commander," she offers tentatively. "He is cute..."

Pen gives Niko one last slurp before trotting over to deposit his red rubber ball at Clara's feet. He looks up at her pleadingly. His black and white tail switches hopefully.

Niko attempts to wipe his face with the hem of his t-shirt, but it doesn't work too well. "Affectionate dog," he murmurs approvingly, before flickering Clara an encouraging grin. "Try not to hit any diplomats, huh? They get annoyed."

Clara reaches out a hesitant hand to scratch behind the dog's ears, grin starting to spread into pure delight. "Oh, he is -wonderful-," she breathes, then scoops up the ball and bounces it off the elevator door for him. "Go get it, fella! Hit diplomats?" she adds up at Niko, straightening and absently wiping her hand on her pants.

Riley chuckles quietly, "He really is very sweet. He got abandoned in Quarantine." He grins as the mutt goes bounding after the bouncy ball.

Niko's head bobs in a brief nod. "With the ball," he explains. "That's bad."

Out of the corner of your eye, you see something moving. You get the impression that it's very, very cute.

Clara aahs and nods her head affably. "If you say so, I won't. No use getting security on my case," she offers with a grin. "Now...didn't you mention something about sleep being a good idea?" she murmurs up, folding her arms.

Riley whistles softly, calling Pen back. The mutt trots back amiably, abandoning his examination of the Denner. "Sleep's a brilliant idea." Gee, he's helpful.

Niko considers that, then nods to Clara. "Yeah. Yeah, I probably did say something like that. But that involves getting -up-, see, and it's comfortable down here." He casts an amused look at Riley. "Gee, Chief, you're helpful."

Riley sighs magnanimously, "That Nick, is my job. I am a sheer bundle of helpfulness. I should set up a retreat on the roof or something and dispense helpfulness."

Clara almost starts at the whistle and actually looks sheepish. Oh, look. There's a security chief there. She rolls her eyes then and holds out a hand to Niko. "C'mon, you. Up and at 'em." She glances over at Riley with amusement. "The Guru of the Complex, huh?"

Niko mumbles something about oracles and mountains and thin air. He gets up on his own, but claims Clara's hand anyway. So there.

Riley pauses to consider this, "Do Gurus get to wear tennis shoes?"

Clara smirks at the mumbling, but doesn't bother to reclaim her hand. "Nope, sorry, boss. Gotta wear a long and drafty orange robe and sandles made out of rope fibers. And shave your head," she adds with a definite air of wickedness.

Riley makes a decidedly displeased face at those particular suggestions, "No tennis shoes, huh? I think I'll give Gurudom a miss then. Ah well, it was a nice thought."

From the elevator, With a ping, the doors slide smoothly open.

From the elevator, Garrand has left.

Garrand has arrived.

Niko's brows lift fractionally. and he grins at Clara. "Very evil, good job. Though I think the Chief'd look good in an orange robe." He eyes Riley. "That'd take a -lot- of orange, though."

From the elevator, The doors slide shut, soundlessly.

Garrand smiles as he enters the lounge. "Hello, Everyone."

Clara mms vaguely, giving Riley a fairly speculative look as well before nodding. "Way too much. I doubt Supply could scrounge that much up," she agrees in deadpan, then frees her hand to offer Garrand a sketched salute, being the only one in uniform. "Evening, sir."

Garrand smiles. "Evening. Miss...."

Riley waves pleasantly to Garrand, not bothering with even the hint of formality seeing as he's srpawled on the floor in jeans with a dog in his lap. "I think I'll give the robe a miss too. I have an ornage sweatshirt, will that suffice?" He groans as his comm-unit beeps, "Yeeeesss Master, I come..."

Niko lifts his own free hand to muffle a yawn, then shakes his head. "Caught," he mutters. "I think I'm going to head up, now. Have a nice evening, folks." He nods pleasantly to Garrand, then releases Clara's hand, moving towards the elevator.

Garrand smiles to Niko as she leaves.

"Aleron," Clara supplies to the diplomat. "Doctor Aleron." Still, her words are vague as she watches Niko head off towards the elevator. "Goodnight," she calls over. "Sleep well."

Riley waves to Niko before ducking briefly into Security, whistling the mutt to trot up behind him. He returns shortly with a uniform jacket replacing the plaid shirt, but the rest of the ridiculous outfit intact. Well that and dogless.

Garrand nods. "It is a pleasure to meet you Doctor."

You push the button.

From the elevator, With a ping, the doors slide smoothly open.

You walk into the elevator.
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